Lines Form for iPhone?

You never know what to believe, but sources on the ‘net claim that line-ups are already forming outside of the gorgeous New York City Apple store, as anxious customers await the launch of the much-anticipated iPhone. The device won’t actually hit stores until June 29 – three days from now!

I’m getting a case of déjà vu, as we saw a similar situation mere months ago when the Sony PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii gaming consoles hit the market. Will the hysteria turn into disappointment once consumers shell out the $500 or $600 the unit will cost? Or will people by praising Mr. Jobs for providing them with the phone/music and video player/digital camera/Internet browser that they’ve been waiting for all their lives? One thing's for sure: Jobs certainly knows how to create hype around a product!

When it comes to pricing plans, sources say that they will cost anywhere from $60 to $100/mth (on top of the actual iPhone purchase price, of course); and, in an interesting twist, customers can sign up through iTunes rather than in-store. Mac fanatics everywhere are undoubtedly clasping their hands and gritting their teeth in delight right about now.

So far, the only negative comment I’ve heard about the iPhone relates to the difficulty one might have in locating one for purchase. I’m not convinced of its leader status just yet (after all, I don't even own an iPod!), but I’m willing to keep an open mind. As for us Canucks, hold tight, because there’s still no confirmation that the device will even see the light of day north of the border.