Local Verizon Customers Excited To Get iPhone
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- It's the day so many Verizon customers have been waiting for as the iPhone has finally arrived.
Several people braved the bitter cold temperatures overnight and lined up outside the Verizon store in Cranberry Township before the sun even came up.
"I was here for five hours before anybody else showed up," said Verizon customer Jim Bilka.
Bilka said he got to the store at 11 p.m. Wednesday; and dressed head to toe for the Arctic Tundra, he waited to be the first to get the iPhone.
He said it's a birthday gift for his son.
"One for me and one for him, but I promised him the first one for his 18th birthday," said Bilka. "He really better appreciate this phone! I'm thinking 'Dad of the Year' award."
Laura Merritt, of Verizon, says this has been a long time coming and the anticipation is drawing plenty of people in.
"We've seen people camping outside the stores in tents; we've seen them in lawn chairs. We've been leading up to this with the rumors that have been flying around for several years," said Merritt. "So, we are here finally today and very excited about it."
Little Mackenzie and her family also came out early for the new phone.
"She just wouldn't go back to sleep. So we decided why not go get the iPhone," said Abby Clark, another Verizon customer.
"Luckily, we got in the second rotation of lines getting in so we didn't have to wait in the cold too long," said Strealy Clark.
The cold weather and late start to school meant that 12-year-old Joseph could finally get his phone, too.
"He's had to wait. His birthday was in January so he's been counting down the days," said Laurie Olivia, Joseph's mom.
Verizon began shipping the phones to customers who ordered online earlier in the week.
The iPhone 4 on Verizon runs for the same price as AT&T, either $199 or $299.
