From Hong Kong to Sydney to Tokyo to right here in Orlando, FL, the iPhone 5 has arrived and the suspense has finally come to an end for many parts of the world. Canada, France, Germany, Singapore and the UK have also seen the iPhone arrive today. 22 more countries will see the smartphone arrive a week after this launch today. Some analysts are predicting more than 10 million sold by the end of September.
While more than 2 million people pre-ordered the new phone in the first 24 hours available, some chose to sit outside stores to camp out for hours… or days.
Hazem Sayed left as the first person, among 600+, to leave the Manhattan, New York Apple store with a new iPhone 5. Deservedly so, as the 54 year old had started the line eight days ago. Mild weather. Wondering if he would have done the same in January?
Last year, Sayed paid a college student $900 to stand in line for him and took the student’s place in time to be the first to walk out with the first iPad2.The software developer fielded many questions from reporters leading up to and after he walked out with his iPhone and even was able to promote his social media application while waiting in line.
Sayed was not alone as there were others who enjoyed interviews from reporters probably promoting themselves and their services. The second iPhone 5 went to a man in a green t-shirt promoting a company that buys old iPhones. “I’m wearing the shirt, they paid for my phone,” he explained. Moments later he showed off his shirt for the cameras looking to generate attention to the website on his shirt. “Wooooooo!” he yelled.
The rain did not stop those waiting outside overnight and early morning in Tokyo, as hundreds of customers lined up outside an Apple store in the city’s Ginza shopping district. Some of those waiting came sporting face paint to celebrate the occasion.
“It’s almost like a festival, people just camping in the center of Ginza, just drinking and playing and talking to each other,” said Taiyo Nakashima, a 34-year-old Web designer. “It’s not really just buying the phone; it’s just enjoying the party, really.”
Here in central Florida, the lines were just hours long outside of 2 Apple stores. Outside the Altamonte Mall, the first person entered the line just before 11:00pm last night. At the Mall at Milennia, the first person began the line about 5:00am today. Our own, Alex LaPlante, pre-ordered his last Friday and casually walked in at his appointed time today to pick up his new phone.
For some the “experience” may be an annual event while some may want to just be able to say that they “did it.” Either way, it’s hard to fault them for their passion… something that we need more of these days.
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Swish Digital: Digital Marketing Agency, Tech News