Eager customers snap up Apple's iPhone

Hundreds of people who lined up to be among the first to get their hands on Apple’s coveted iPhone are now the braggarts and guinea pigs for the latest must-have, cutting-edge piece of techno-wizardry.

The doors of Apple and AT&T stores opened promptly at 10pm Irish time on Friday with cheers from employees and eager customers.

“I’m glad it’s over,” said Carlos Sanchez, 19, at Apple’s Fifth Avenue store in New York City, clutching shopping bags containing two iPhones – the maximum allowed per person. “I don’t have to sleep outside anymore.”

Stores farther west followed suit as the clock struck six in each time zone. In San Francisco, customers sang the traditional New Year’s Eve song “Auld Lang Syne” following a countdown, as if heralding a new era in telecommunications.

Patrons at the Apple store in Palo Alto, California, were treated to a very brief appearance by Apple CEO Steve Jobs. He momentarily posed for pictures before leaving.

Techies, exhibitionists and luminaries – even the co-founder of Apple and the mayor of Philadelphia – were among the inaugural group of iPhone customers.

Apple is banking that its new, do-everything phone with a touch-sensitive screen will become its third core business next to its money-making iPod music players and Macintosh computers. The gadget combines the functions of a mobile phone, iPod media player and wireless internet browser.

The company has set a target of selling 10 million units worldwide by 2008, gaining roughly a 1% share of the mobile phone market. It is expected to go on sale in Europe later this year and in Asia in 2008.

Apple has not disclosed how many iPhones were available at launch. But analysts expect it will sell out by early next week.