If my local O2 and Carphone Warehouse stores were anything to go by, there was no-one queuing and zero buzz for the long-awaited iPhone 3G. But that was 10pm last night; elsewhere this morning, the fans are out in force, with some stores opening at 8am. After a New Zealander became first to buy the handset, long queues were reported this morning in London; Christian Payne broadcast his wait at the Milton Keynes store, reporting that not only did O2’s activation system crash but – in a fit of irony – O2’s signup procedure required Microsoft software…
In the UK, the 8Gb version comes free to those on £45pm and £75pm contracts, the 16Gb version is free to those paying £75pm. There will also be pay-as-you-go. UK online pre-registrations are massively up on last year’s regular ‘ol iPhone, with O2’s website crashing under the strain and selling out, forcing hopefuls out on to the rainy streets.
Here’s the scene in Oslo…
(Pic: sunshwr)
And even sleepy St Albans got in on the act…
(Pic: cybersoc)
Here’s the O2 store in Leadenhall, City of London…
(Photo: timkirby)
One lucky iPhone developer got in a store hours before the queuing proles, but this is the moment the Regent Street store opened its doors…
And here’s one of the first iPhone 3Gs bought in Ireland…
Most excitable reaction, however, comes from Stephen Keaveney…