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Inverness Man Starts Line For New iPhone In Tampa
Tribune photo by JIM REED
Kolin Toney, 19, blogs on his laptop. Toney was first in line for the iPhone 3G at International Plaza in Tampa. The latest version of the iPhone is available at the Apple store in the mall.
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Published: July 10, 2008
Updated: 07/11/2008 08:01 am
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TAMPA - Kolin Toney wasn't just the first in line at International Plaza for today's 8 a.m. launch of Apple's new iPhone.
He was the line early this afternoon.
Friday's unleashing of the iPhone 3G is expected to draw throngs of early shoppers who will line up like people after rock concert tickets or to be the first through the door of a new Ikea.
Toney certainly beat the crowd.
Toney arrived at International Plaza before 1 p.m. Thursday, finding himself easily first in line. He showed up about six hours before mall officials say the line officially forms.
"I guess since there's no one else, I am the line," he said from a bench outside an entrance where he's sure to gain company.
Apple will start selling the iPhone 3G at its stores and at AT&T stores at 8 a.m.
The release of the original iPhone in August 2007 drew large crowds eager to be the first to grab the computer maker's highly touted device. Mall officials expect much of the same this year.
The line will form at the mall's E entrance near Dillard's.
The mall supplied portable toilets and are providing coffee and water. Doors to the mall will open at 7 a.m., and security guards will allow the line to re-form outside the Apple store.
The phone will go on sale an hour after the mall doors open.
For Toney, there was no question that he wanted one of the new phones. He took two days off work and drove from Inverness in Citrus County to ensure he got in line before the phones ran out.
"As soon as I heard the date, I decided to do it," said Toney, 19.
He had one of the originals, but broke it about a month ago.
"I'm going to get a phone and something to make sure it won't break," he said.
He loved the original but is lured by the new version's extra features.
"Once you have such a good device, it becomes like another arm," Toney said.
Another iPhone owner, Kathleen Purdy of Tampa, likes the phone but has no intention of spending the night in line to get a new one.
"I don't think I would," she said outside the mall's Apple store. "Maybe I think if I had a child who really wanted one."
You can follow Toney's blog about his phone vigil on Twitter at twitter.com/specialKolin.
Editor's note: An earlier version of this story gave an incorrect spelling of Kolin Toney's name.
Reporter Neil Johnson can be reached at (813) 259-7731 or njohnson@tampatrib.com.
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