Australia's midnight iPhone launch
By Joseph Hanlon, CNET.com.au
July 11, 2008
URL: http://www.zdnet.com.au/insight/communications/soa/Australia-s-midnight-iPhone-launch/0,139023754,339290521,00.htm
At midnight 11 July Optus became Australia's first mobile carrier to sell the iPhone 3G. We were on hand to witness the festivities and to finally play with Apple's much hyped handset.
Also visit our iPhone Launch Centre for everything iPhone 3G, including news, features, photos, downloads and videos.
A sea of yellow
Looking majestic against the Sydney's skyline, Optus wrapped its store in yellow to mark the occasion.
Number One
The first man in the queue at Optus and Sydney's newest celeb, Brett Powell, chatting with Video Hits' Faustina "Fuzzy" Agolley in the minutes before midnight.
The Final Countdown
Optus staff, in the store and outside, counted down the moments until Australia officially became iPhone friendly.
Media Scrum
Powell cuts the ribbon and walks to the service counter to begin the lengthy process of credit checks. All in all this process took 20 minutes — leaving 200 iPhone fanatics freezing outside in the cold night air.
Is this the first person in Sydney to own the iPhone?
While the official first place holder was delayed during his purchase, this gentleman was approved and first to leave the store with the iPhone. While not officially first, we imagine he'll be dining out on this story for years to come.
Tah-Dah!
While waiting for the first iPhone to be bought we thought we'd amuse ourselves, and what better way than with the iPhone itself.
Love at first sight?
OK, we admit it. Maybe it was the crowd, maybe it was the free coffee Optus had filled us with, but holding the iPhone 3G for the first time was a special moment.
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