The iPhone 5 is set to be released in nine countries this Friday, and people are already lining up at various locations, including the twenty-four seven Apple Store at Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, New York.
The countries that will see the iPhone 5 this Friday are Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, United Kingdom, and the United States.
At the Fifth Avenue Apple Store, Hazem Sayed has secured the first spot in line for the latest Apple smartphone, but the decision to be first isn't just for the iPhone 5.
"I'm doing it for the iPhone but also for certain measure of publicity for a particular idea," said Sayed, during one-on-one conversation with Latinos Post.
The idea he's referring to is his mobile app: Vibe. According to the official Vibe website (VibeAround.com), the app is "revolutionary" and users can use the app to "communicate via messages that have a GPS location, a broadcast distance, and a time duration - without registration, login, account, or profile."
The app has garnered attention from other members in the media such as Reuters and The New York Times.
This isn't Sayed's first time in line for an Apple launch. The iPhone 5 will be his fourth venture in being among the first to get the latest Apple device. He was there for the release of the original iPhone in 2007, the iPad 2, and iPad 3, although he was second for the latest iPad.
The media has also spoken to Sayed, not just for his Vibe app, but just being the first in line.
When asked about how many reporters have approached him, "I lost count," said Sayed, "but I didn't try to count."
Although there were approximately 20 people in line behind Sayed and his colleague Arnaldo Iggi Roman, who also goes by the name Sage Catharsis, Sayed expects the number of people in line to increase as the Friday date approaches.
Some of the other people waiting were listening to their mp3 players - most likely an Apple device, playing their guitar, or chatting with friends while other people passed by taking pictures of those in line.
The iPhone 5 will be sold at prices starting at $199 for 16GB. $299 for 32GB, $399 for 64GB when signing a contract with AT&T, Sprint, or Verizon.
During the 2012 Keynote on Sept. 12, Apple Inc.'s Senior Vice President Phillip Schiller said the company hopes to reach 100 countries and 240 mobile carrier partners by this December.
Next Friday, Sept. 28, the iPhone 5 will be released in 22 other countries:Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
"This will be our fastest phone rollout ever," said Schiller.
Latinos Post has helped break down and define the iPhone 5's specs ahead of Friday's release, click here to view.
To view a roundup of reviews of the iPhone 5, click here.
