Projo Biz Blog

PROVIDENCE -- Apparently the lure of new gadgetry wins even in tough economic times.
People lined up outside the Apple Store at Providence Place Mall Friday to be among the first to purchase the latest version of the popular iPhone.

At midday, about 40 people were queued up as they waited to spend $200 or more.

Apple inc. release the new iPhone 3G S nationwide Friday, with it's 211 retail stores opening up at 7 a.m. in anticipation of high demand, according to wire reports. The new phone is priced much lower than the original version, which premiered in 2007, and offers a video camera and more memory.

According to Apple's Website, the phone starts about $199 with 16 gigabytes of memory and increases to approximately $299 for a version with 32 gigabytes of memory.
When the iPhone first hit the market with its colorful, easy-to-use touch screen, customers had to pay $99 for a 4-gigabyte version and $499 for 8 gigabytes.

Initial reports indicate that the newest iPhone is attracting fans, but not creating the same frenzy as the original version did two years ago when people camped out ahead of time and celebrities were quick to flaunt the iPhones they were lucky enough to snag.

The orderly line at Providence Place Mall was replicated across the country, according to wire reports.

In Arlington, VA, Kevin Meaves, 34, was in a line of about 100 people waiting outside the Apple store there. "I worship the Apple God," Meaves said. "I have all of Apple's products and every time something new, better, faster and different comes out I have to have it."

The latest iPhone will face increasingly sophisticated rivals including Palm Inc.'s new Pre phone and Research In Motion Ltd.'s BlackBerry Tour.

 Tags  Apple iPhone Providence RI

---