Apple Launch Day Moments: iPhone Releases Through the Years - Technology
Camping out Apple stores were invented during the release of the first ever iPhone on June 29, 2007. The first generation of the smart phone dubbed as the "Jesus Phone", was available to consumers at 6:00 pm to the tune of $600. People waited on queue for long hours so they brought lounge chairs, mattresses and umbrellas while waiting for their turn. iPhone fanatics in some states in the US brave heavy downpours just to get their hands on the long-awaited smart phone. One Fifth Avenue buyer lined up for hours to get his girlfriend an iPhone that will go with an engagement ring when he gets down on one knee and propose. A 44-year old graphic designer had time to order fine dining while waiting outside the store by having foie gras and sparkling lemonade delivered. A million units were sold in 74 days and a total of iPhone originals were sold worldwide.
The release of the iPhone 3G was perhaps, the most annoying among all the iPhone releases. The device was cheaper than its predecessor and was released in 21 countries. iPhone 3G was available 8:00 am of July 11, 2008. However, the better pricing was overshadowed by the collapse of the Apple iTunes registration system. This meant millions of users weren't able to use their iPhones. A lot of customers were so upset about the glitch in the network that the Apple's stocks fell by 2%. The first customer to leave the store with an iPhone 4G in hand lined up the midnight before. According to Apple, more than 6.9 million iPhone 3Gs were sold and they hit the 1 million mark in 3 days.
The iPhone 3GS saw the light of day on June 8, 2009. During this time, Apple and AT&T allowed pre-orders. Compared to the previous iPhone release, the 3rd generation "Speed" was launched only in 8 countries. Instead of one long line in stores, there came 2 long lines: one for those who placed advanced orders and the other for those who were buying on the spot. Buyers who were on the pre-order list were served as early as 7:00 am while those who intended to buy in the store were served as soon as it opened. This could be a reason for the shorter -than-usual queues in Apple stores. Another factor was the weather. The weather in New York was at its chilliest, foggiest and wettest - this meant that as few as 20 people were in line at 4 in the morning. A bad news for iPhone fanatics who placed orders in advance was the waiting time of about 2 weeks. The same as the previous launches, people patiently waiting in line were treated to free coffee and tea. A million iPhone 3GS was sold in its first weekend and more than 5 million units were sold in a quarter.
The latest hullabaloo to add up to the epic iPhone launches is the release of iPhone 4 in June 24, 2010. Released on a Thursday, iPhone 4G launch was characterized by long lines and lively buyers. Vuvuzelas, the infamous South African plastic horn, blared before the Apple stores opened. In Fifth Avenue alone, 600 people swarmed around the block. Free cupcakes were handed out to people waiting in line. There were also pretty interesting stories of perseverance among iPhone fanatics. A person waited in line for more than 27 hours. The last spot before the queue barricade was snagged by a buyer who line up at 4:00 am. The first buyer to get his hands on an iPhone 4 left the store at 7:00 am. He survived 4 hours of waiting just to complete the online pre-order registration due to a system crash. On the day of the iPhone 4 release, he had to wait another 48 hours outside the Apple store and claim his purchase.
A lot of websites, forums and blogs dedicated to iPhone 5 have similar speculations on the release of the next fantastic iPhone. They all believe that the iPhone 5 will hit the market mid-September of this year. Discussions, speculations and anticipations on the virtual rumor mill about iPhone 5 are testaments to the popularity of the brand and the high that it usually never fails to give to Apple consumers every time a new generation of iPhone is born.
Beyond consumerism, one reason why there will constantly be a long line when the latest iPhone is going to hit the market is the gratification that buyers get after surviving long queues, hunger, and exhaustion. Nothing beats a reward earned with blood, sweat and tears.