Business & Tech

Customers Line Up for the iPhone 5 in Royal Oak

Customers camped out overnight at the AT&T Retail Store on Woodward Avenue to be the first in line for the new iPhone 5 this morning. Long lines are expected anywhere the iPhone is sold today.

The first customer to camp out at the Woodward Avenue AT&T retail store in Royal Oak arrived last night at 11 p.m. to get a crack at the new iPhone 5 this morning — and he brought three friends with him, said Jermaine Spight, AT&T senior public relations manager.

"The first customer set up a flat screen TV in the trunk of his car and waited all night with his friends and he was the only one getting the iPhone 5 today," said Spright. "Those are some true friends."   

By 8 a.m. this morning, when the store opened, the line was about 20 people deep and growing.

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Brian Ducharme, vice president of retail sales in Michigan and Indiana said the new phone is in stock and most custumers will walk away with the product on Friday.

"The are are mix of choices so it depends on what you are looking for, but if we run out of something we can order it for you, and it should arrive at your door in about two weeks," said Ducharme.

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The new iPhone is thinner and lighter than the last two generations, but it is taller to accommodate a bigger screen. Apple says its processing speed is much faster than its predecessors, as well.

The iPhone 5 is available for a suggested retail price of $199.99 for the 16GB model, $299.99 for the 32GB model, and $399.99 for the 64GB model with a cellular plan subscription.

iPhone 5 sales could boost economic growth in the U.S. by a third of a percentage point during the fourth quarter, J.P. Morgan anticipates. However, NPR's Planet Money says J.P. Morgan's analysis is faulty, predicting that most who splurge on the new product before the end of the year will likely cut back on other spending, making it a zero-sum game.

Craig Peiser, of Birmingham, jumped in line at 6:15 a.m. for his first iPhone.

"I have never had one before, but I am leaving for Disney World tomorrow and I didn't want to risk not getting one," Peiser said. "I want it for my trip. It has a great camera and there is a Disney app I want."

Peiser said it was also just plain fun to be a part of the excitement of waiting in line with so many Apple enthuiasts.

"I know it's a stupid thing to do, but I wanted to be here. I only wish they had done this is July when it was warmer."

To see if a store near you is selling the phones using this tool on Apple’s website. You can search for both Apple stores and other retailers. Make sure to select "iPhone" from the "Products" drop-down menu, and check with the store to see if the iPhone 5 is in stock.

Are you planning to queue up for an iPhone? Is the whole thing over-hyped? Comment below.

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