The iPhone arrives: same song, different dance hall

It was a familiar scene. People hunkered down and bundled up outside the wireless store. They arrived in the dark to ensure they'd be among the first to get the new iPhone. Only this time, the lines were outside Verizon stores.

Kawika Antolin and his cousin Bryson Antolin were at the head of the line. The 20-year-olds had been outside Verizon’s Boca Park store at 8780 W. Charleston Blvd. since 1 a.m. They beat the workers by two hours; all of the store's 23 employees began showing up at 3 a.m.

Kawika Antolin was switching to Verizon from T-Mobile. He said he didn't want to try AT&T because he knows several people with many complaints about AT&T’s service. He's familiar with the iPhone and walked out of the store with his after about 30 minutes inside.

Tom Carns had been in this type of line before. Many times. He said he's queued up at AT&T stores for every one of the new iPhones since June 2007. He happened to be in Tampa, Fla., for the initial release.

AT&T's exclusive contract with Apple ended last week, when existing Verizon customers were allowed to order the iPhone online. Some customers got their iPhones early this week and began activating them immediately. Verizon said in a statement last week that the iPhone is already the best-selling phone the company has ever offered.

"Apple is so innovative," Carns said. "They have to be the most innovative company in the country. Where else do you find people standing in line for their product?"

Carns is a true Apple fan, with desktop and laptop computers and an iPad.

Verizon district manager Amber Oldroyd oversees seven stores in the valley and said each had lines of between six and 30 people before the doors opened at 7 a.m. She said the employees were excited about helping customers who'd waited a long time for the iPhone’s arrival.

Oldroyd said the stores were prepared to help both existing Verizon customers and those brand new to the company and Apple. All iPhone owners must also have an Apple account to use the phone. Verizon workers were trained to help customers establish their Apple accounts, too.

Verizon stores are well-stocked with iPhone accessories, including cases and carriers. A free iPhone training class will be held from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Wednesday and Feb. 23 at the Verizon stores at Boca Park and at 9985 S. Eastern Ave.

Perhaps the unluckiest group of potential customers are the Verizon employees, who must continue to wait for the iPhone. “Verizon workers won't get the phone until all of the customers have them,” Oldroyd said.

Cousins Kawika Antolin and his cousin Bryson Antolin were first in line to get the Apple iPhone this morning at the Verizon Store at Boca Park. They arrived at 1 a.m., and were joined by about 30 more people before the doors opened at 7 a.m. (Al Gibes photo)