U.S. iPhone Launch, More Photos, and Impressions

[MacRumors]

This morning marked the U.S. launch of the iPhone 3G, and it is proving to be an impressive launch indeed. Our members have been meeting up at various Apple and AT&T stores and sharing their impressions and photos.

Turnout appears to be heaviest at Apple's retail locations, however many AT&T locations still be managing to sell out in under an hour. At stores where stock has run out AT&T is accepting orders that will arrive within the next few days.






Lines from Clarendon, VA, and Columbus, OH, courtesy of blakespot and iphonematt.

Reports have also indicated that activation issues may be slowing down the process. A number of people have reported that Apple has simply let them go home to finish the activation process.

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[David G.]

Anyone got any pics of you making x employee wear latex gloves while they unpack it for you?

[mattwolfmatt]

I wish I was there!

[theotherguy]

But I'm envious now!

[airlights]

Well, that settles it! I am going to the Apple Store verses my local AT&T store. (I have a feeling that my sister is going to kill me for saying this.)

[levitynyc]

The last step in activation was to just plug it into itunes.....thats it....

[humanliberty]

Didn't get mine today. Waited for 2 hours total

At least I had my iPhone with me while standing in line, to keep me updated about how people were doing while standing in line for the iPhone.

[jersey]

Their draconian activation rules have unsurprisingly come back to bite them in the ass. I feel sorry for everyone waiting but not for Apple or AT&T

[TC2COOL]

iTunes is in the toilet. I cannot get it to connect at all.

All i get is a stupid error message. Uncool.

[techage14]

that sucks.
I want to get the iPhone, but, the lines are not worth waiting for.
I'll wait about a month or two to see what the general public has to say about
the new iPhone

[balwx]

awesome. cant wait to install 2.0 on my touch & hit the app store. i have downloaded some already..

[kiteskiutah]

Originally Posted by MacRumors;

Reports have also indicated that activation issues may be slowing down the process. A number of people have reported that Apple has simply let them go home to finish the activation process.

What does this mean? Is apple letting people get the phone without completing the 2 year contract?

[robanga]

An hour and a half before open, there were about 40 people in front of my town's only AT&T store and its not in 3G coverage area. I can wait a few days and enjoy 2.0 on my existing phone until then

[jazzkids]

Providence Ri. Must take it home to activate.

[update]

Got the phone. was able to activate it in store but it was a nightmare trying to checkout! Took another hour to checkout once I got in the store. You'd think that they'd have this down by now.

[divi996tt]

It was chaos inside the ATT store in Louisiana. I got the phone and was sent home to activate it through Itunes.

[(L)]

Don't know about you, but back when I bought the first iPhone, it was a nightmare trying to get it activated. I felt that iTunes was OK, but working with AT&T ultimately proved to be problematic for many people like me for whom activation just wouldn't work, and so Apple is to blame as well. A person with my experience would not want to leave the store without a working, activated 3G iPhone. Hearing about them sending people home, therefore, is bad news.

In a few days, we'll start hearing about the activation nightmares involving the new iPhone. And unlike me, there will probably be tons of people who feel too angry about this hiccup to give the iPhone a second chance. I stuck with it, but frankly, it should "just work."

[jklps]

Originally Posted by humanliberty

Didn't get mine today. Waited for 2 hours total

At least I had my iPhone with me while standing in line, to keep me updated about how people were doing while standing in line for the iPhone.

Which store did you go to in the DC area?

[jacob6869]

i am sitting at my computer after att told me to go home and activate it myself. it will not work and i cannot call att. there is about to be some hell raising!!!!!!!!!

[fivepoint]

Gizmodo is reporting MAJOR troubles with iPhone activation all around the U.S. They say that many stores are just sending people out the door with non-activated phones and telling them to try it at home.

They're calling it the iPocalypse.

[Tannerozzy]

how do we know if our local at&t store or apple store is sold out?

http://www.apple.com/retail/iphone/availability.html
that isn't saying much anymore, and it's only updated nightly
anyone know of a better solution?
(and better than driving to each one and asking)

[DocNYz]

Originally Posted by (L)

Don't know about you, but back when I bought the first iPhone, it was a nightmare trying to get it activated. I felt that iTunes was OK, but working with AT&T ultimately proved to be problematic for many people like me for whom activation just wouldn't work, and so Apple is to blame as well. A person with my experience would not want to leave the store without a working, activated 3G iPhone. Hearing about them sending people home, therefore, is bad news.

In a few days, we'll start hearing about the activation nightmares involving the new iPhone. And unlike me, there will probably be tons of people who feel too angry about this hiccup to give the iPhone a second chance. I stuck with it, but frankly, it should "just work."

Seriously this is absolutely inexcusable. This happened last year and it took DAYS for iTunes to be able to activate the phone. How can they possibly not have seen this coming and taken necessary steps? It's been a YEAR! And the AT&T iTunes link doesn't work either, so it's still a fkcing iBrick AGAIN!!@

[flipperman75]

Was one of the last to snag a 16 GB Black iPhone at ATT store in downtown DC. Was about 50 back in line. They ended up sending me home to connect to iTunes. No luck so far. Tried a few times and usually got an error; once got a page that said "iPhone activations are down, please try again later". Blah.

[chaseardoin7]

Originally Posted by fivepoint

Gizmodo is reporting MAJOR troubles with iPhone activation all around the U.S. They say that many stores are just sending people out the door with non-activated phones and telling them to try it at home.

They're calling it the iPocalypse.

that's what AT&T told me. i am trying it in itunes now.

btw, steve jobs was right; this one feels even better in your hand.

[apple101]

its 10:30 now 2 hours since ive been trying to download the new 2.0 software for the ipod can some one please help?

this is what im keep getting as a message
"we could not complete your itunes store request. the itunes store is temporaily unaviable. please try again later" this been coming up for the last 2 hours or so, can some one help me

[ziggyonice]

iTunes Store Error
-9838

Ughhh...