29 October 2006
The wait for Apple's long-anticipated iPhone is over as the product finally goes on sale in the US later today.
Gadget fans were out in force queuing outside stores across the country in the hope they would get their hands on one of the devices, incorporating a phone, web browser and media player in one handset.
"I just want to be the first one playing with it," Jose Sanchez, a 22-year-old shop employee in the queue outside Apple's New York store told Reuters news agency.
While technology buffs have praised the iPhone's nine centimetre touch-sensitive screen, Wi-Fi capabilities, camera and web browser, queries have been raised as to the lack of features such as picture messaging.
Fans of novelty ringtones will also be disappointed as the handset does not let people have any other than the 25 pre-installed on it.
The phone comes in two versions with either five or eight gigabytes of memory, costing either $499 or $599, while buyers must sign up to a two-year contract with AT&T of $59.99 per month.
It is expected to head to European outlets later this year.
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