Apple Crosses Fingers While Crowds Line Up for iPhone Release

Cell phone addicts everywhere can breathe a sigh of relief on Friday with the world launch of Apple Inc. new iPhone. The Associated Press reports that Apple plans on the release of the iPhone to meet and exceed the public's response to its past innovations the iPod and the Macintosh computer. AT&T hopes that this response will also help boost its status to the forefront of communication carriers.

Early reports came in of crowd's line up around the corner of the flagship Apple store in New York City to become the first owners of the "multi-tasking" phone. Software developers at Apple are calling the iPhone the "most user friendly" phone on the market. The iPhone combines all previous cell phone features with that of streaming video and MP3 capability but makes access to the user easier with the use of a three and half inch touch screen display.

Apple has already seen the benefits of the early marketing campaign for the iPhone with an increase of almost forty percent in stock since January. In the hopes of selling 10 million units worldwide by 2008 Apple hopes gain a one percent stake in the communications industry. Apple does admit that the only thing that might hold some customers back is the initial price for the unit at $499 for the small 4-gigabyte version (not including the $59.99 monthly two year service plan).

Some experts are worried about the possible glitches that Apple did not have time to work out of the iPhone with such a quick release of the product. On the morning of the release on NBC's "Today" co-host Meredith Vieira could see a call be placed to her by fellow co-host Matt Lauer but could fail to answer it. But some predict that despite these problems because of Apple previous success with the iPod that sales could easily reach as high as 45 million units in the following years. Bob Enderle believes, "...selling tens of millions of units so quickly is going to be tough. First-generation products always have problems that you don't know about until the product ships."

Apple admits that some glitches will be found and further refining will take place with the release of later models. Also, Apple has not released to the press exactly how many iPhones were available for purchase through retail sites and Apple.com on release day, but some expect them to be sold out of all back stock by early next week.

Sources:

Associate Press, "Apple Customers Queue up for iPhone" CNN. http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/ptech/06/29/iphone.ap/index.html.