iGot it

After waiting in line for 10 hours, James Everett walked into the AT&T store with his arms in the air, and said, "iPhone. Right now!"

"Do you know how long I waited for this machine? I waited months for this thing. I was on the (Apple) Web site every day," said Everett, 25, a Boston resident whose family lives in Framingham. He was the first of about 50 people in line at the Rte. 9 AT&T store yesterday.

At 6 p.m., Apple Inc. released its long-anticipated iPhone, a combination wireless phone, video and photo iPod and mobile Internet device, in partnership with wireless carrier AT&T Inc. The device has been deemed revolutionary by many market watchers because it features a 3.5-inch glass touch screen, full Internet browsing and intuitive software, among other reasons.

Hype-generated lines formed outside Apple's retail stores in Braintree, Burlington, Cambridge, Chestnut Hill, Hingham and Peabody, as well as its 162 other locations. This time, the lines were also outside AT&T's 1,800 company stores nationwide, including 80 in New England.

Outside the Framingham AT&T store, Everett said the group became an "iPhamily," which "ate together, played together and had a good time." The group all ordered out from UNO Chicago Grill, next door, he said.

Nadia Mahmoud, 15, of Ashland, said she had a friend who went on a trip to Italy but she couldn't. So the $599, 8-gigabyte iPhone was her "something great." The phone also comes in a 4-gigabyte, $499 model.

"I can't even imagine my life without my iPod and my phone," said Mahmoud. "Them together, along with my pictures and the Internet, that's all I need."

Steve Krom, vice president and general manager of AT&T New England, said anyone who didn't end up with an iPhone yesterday could still buy one.

"Customers can purchase a product and accessories in the store, and we'll ship it to them in three to five business days," Krom said.

Inside the store, accessories from DLO, Case Mate, Belkin and Griffin were already on sale.

Buying the iPhone at the store is different than buying any other smart mobile phone. Customers can buy the device there, then take it home and connect it to their computer. Only through iTunes software program can customers activate the device.

To get unlimited Internet, e-mail and visual voice mail service, 200 text messages and 450 rollover minutes, with free AT&T to AT&T calling on the iPhone, customers pay $59.99 a month. Similar plans with more rollover minutes cost more.
Source :http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/