Meet the world's first ten iPhone 3G owners

With just seven hours to go out here in New Zealand before the first worldwide iPhone 3G launch (yeah, we flew all the way out for it), the line at the Auckland Vodafone store is growing steadily but surely. Everyone's in high spirits, despite the fact that it's winter here in the southern hemisphere, and they can't as easily get away with that whole hippie line-sitter thing like in New York. We'll check back in soon as we get our international iPhone 3G launch lineblog started.

#1
Name: Jonny Gladwell, 22 (pictured above, right)
Current phone: Sony Ericsson K800i on Voda
Waiting for: more than 48 hours now
Buying: black 8GB
Motivation: to be the first, duh! His girlfriend is just in it to keep him company, she's not actually getting one herself. Jonny tells us he's not going to eBay the world's first iPhone 3G, though. Whatever, dude!

#2
Name: Evert Bruyns, 25 (pictured above, left)
Current phone: garbage, old school Nokia
Waiting for: more than 46 hours
Buying: two black 8GBs, one to give away to the last person in line that doesn't get theirs (aww!), the other to give away on his site, WishCollector.

#3
Name: Annie Ryan, 26 (standing in for her fiancé)
His current phone: Sony Ericsson P910i on Voda
Waiting for: 34 hours
Buying: black 8GB
Her MIA fiancé: dude apparently desperately needs an iPhone, but couldn't wait in line as not only was he expected at work, but their car was towed. Bummer. Clearly he owes Annie big time for waiting.

#4
Name: Luke Soules, 24
Current phone: first-gen iPhone
All the way out from: San Louis Obispo, California, which makes him the only other American as foolhardy as us to fly out for this thing.
Buying: black 8GB
Motivation: plans to do the first iPhone 3G teardown for his site, iFixit. We'll undoubtedly be linking to it!

#5
Name: John Ballinger, 30
Current phone: first-gen iPhone, hardware-hacked on Voda
Waiting for: 8 hours
Buying: 16GB (still deciding on color)
Motivation: mobile developer who's already got applications submitted to Apple for the App Store.
Thoughts on Voda's rate plans: "They suck," and he plans to buy his outright for $1,129 NZD so he doesn't have to use the iPhone-specific plans.

#6
Name: Brian Foose, 28 (pictured above, right)
Current phone: first-gen iPhone, "unlocked" with SIM hack on Voda
Waiting for: 8 hours
Buying: black 16GB
Thoughts on Voda's rate plans: "Insane, absolute crap." Sounds like he'll also be keeping his regular Voda plan.

#7
Name: Steve Simms, 38 (pictured above, middle)
Current phone: first-gen iPhone, software unlocked on Voda
Waiting for: 12 hours (we don't know how Brian Foose ganked his spot)
Buying: (3) black 8GB

#8
Name: Ben Lilley, 19 (pictured above, left)
Current phone: first-gen iPhone, AnySIM-unlocked on Voda
Waiting for: 12 hours
Buying: black 8GB

#9
Name: James MacFarlane, 18
Current phone: first-gen iPhone, AnySIM-unlocked on Voda
Waiting for: 2 hours (that's the way you do it!)
Buying: black 8GB -- same as his pal, #8, Ben Lilley
Thoughts on Voda's rate plans: "Not a big deal, it's all sweet." Given his current usage, he'll only be paying $30 NZD more than he's paying now.

#10
Name: Khai Thay, 22
Current phone: N95 -- and he doesn't like it at all
Waiting for: 30 minutes
Buying: black 16GB

[Aguiluz @ Jul 10th 2008 1:00AM]

48 hours!? That's hardcore.

[wako @ Jul 10th 2008 1:13AM]

try seven days like those dumb hippies at the flagship Apple store in NYC....


but that wouldnt be hardcore because their doing it because they want publicity

[Rob @ Jul 10th 2008 1:50AM]

most want the 8gb.....seems surprising to me

[someguy7234 @ Jul 10th 2008 5:05PM]

Oh its sad that no one went for the FIRST post on this article.. that would've been delightfully tacky

[GatgetMan @ Jul 10th 2008 1:42AM]

@Someguy


It's sad that we were spared such indignity, yet you saw fit to bring it up....

[SimbaDogg @ Jul 10th 2008 3:36AM]

@ wako
i think you're 100% right about them wanting publicity and not being true hardcore fans. Anyways...engadget, this is quite possibly the WORST article i've ever seen posted. I could honestly give two shits about anyone who is the first anything. Unless its 1 of a few things 1) a 100% working delorean time machine, 2) a hoverboard 3) a functioning spaceship or 4) something remotely more unique than a damn iphone.

[Andy TGD @ Jul 10th 2008 3:43AM]

Yeah, its amazing the trouble some people will go to to put one of these puppies up on eBay for a nice fat profit. And yes, many will end up on eBay.

[maty @ Jul 10th 2008 5:37AM]

Hardcore, alright!

But just turn up in the last 5 mins at the end of the queue and #2 guy will give you FREE iphone!

[anonymouspimp @ Jul 10th 2008 11:45AM]

haha 48 hours??? I was thinking more like...

30 minutes??!?!

The 10th guy in line was in the queue for 30 minutes. This is some of the most incredibly ridiculous hype I have ever seen. People were squatting outside Best Buys for days to get hold of game consoles, only to get shot/mugged for them in the parking lot.

I always thought Engadget "could" be in Apple's back pocket... but now I am convinced. Are there any other sites hyping this up like this? (I know BGR comes close) This has just gotten ridiculous!

[Elisha Adeagbo @ Jul 10th 2008 1:01AM]

someone doesn't like the N95???

[barry99705 @ Jul 10th 2008 1:04AM]

If it's os is anything like the Nokia "tablets" is it any wonder?

[thejedipunk @ Jul 10th 2008 1:03AM]

Why does this even matter?

[Ayman @ Jul 10th 2008 1:37AM]

They are showing the dangers of becoming an Apple fan or "over fanboyism" (lets put this word in the dictionary too)

[mcatrage @ Jul 10th 2008 1:39AM]

Read the title it says iPhone. This is life changing.

[Irwin @ Jul 10th 2008 1:48AM]

Yea, i'm wondering the same..is there a word stronger than "fanboy" that we can apply here?

[GatgetMan @ Jul 10th 2008 1:45AM]

We know know why "clak" hasn't been posting... he's the guy who keeps pestering the people in line to let him be the first troll to touch someone else's iPhone....

[barry99705 @ Jul 10th 2008 1:03AM]

Where are these guys, and girls, plugging in their laptops??

[karts41 @ Jul 10th 2008 1:10AM]

BEHOLD the mighty power of the lithium rechargeable battery!!

[Rob @ Jul 10th 2008 1:49AM]

What's really funny is how they are probably jacking that Hotel's wifi.....

[JAmerican @ Jul 10th 2008 2:48AM]

Homeless need power too

[Anthony @ Jul 10th 2008 3:04AM]

i can jus see the pink energizer bunny now lol

[Mason Trang @ Jul 10th 2008 1:03AM]

into the outlet?

[Alexkass @ Jul 10th 2008 1:04AM]

my k800i has much better camera (zoom,flash etc) than the new iphone...

[shekki @ Jul 10th 2008 1:46AM]

sony ericsson ftw!! i use to have a k800 then switched to a 790 because im on cingular now... its a good phone.

[Mel @ Jul 10th 2008 1:24AM]

Don't back on us now, Jonny.

[Gikku @ Jul 10th 2008 3:41AM]

M600i FTW! woo hoo

[GatgetMan @ Jul 10th 2008 9:08PM]

I'm glad I read your comment! I was about ready to buy an iPhone 3G, but seeing how the k800i has a better camera, well... need I say more?

[marco polo @ Jul 10th 2008 1:05AM]

Seriously, why in the hell would this matter? I can't believe you guys flew out for this. Get a life, seriously, it's a circuit board and a screen.

[Charles Han @ Jul 10th 2008 1:10AM]

yep, i mean also its not like its in short supply -_-, if you don't get it the first day, you will most likely be able to get in the first few days. Geez they are patient enough to wait in line for 48 hours, but impatient to wait couple days to get the phone.

[Phil @ Jul 10th 2008 1:20AM]

A bomb threat tomorrow morning would rip a few undies. Especially the guy who's car got towed.

[Alex @ Jul 10th 2008 1:26AM]

I'm still trying to figure out the rate structure.

[Ryan Block @ Jul 10th 2008 2:55AM]

You really think we flew out just to cover the line-sitters, and not at all because we'll get our hands on a device more than a full day in advance of the US?

Oh, and before you start bitching about ZOMG BIAS!, we also flew all the way out to London for the Touch Diamond. Sometimes you have to go where the news is.

[L8on @ Jul 10th 2008 3:20AM]

Ryan Block ftw!!

[Nas @ Jul 10th 2008 4:52AM]

Any excuse is good enough to go and visit New Zealend? Plus its next door to the best place in the universe (Australia)...(not including Tasmania =P).

[Jayesh @ Jul 10th 2008 7:11AM]

It's more then just circuit boards, it's practically spiritual!

[Sam p @ Jul 10th 2008 8:29AM]

Ryan will get the phone a whole day ahead of the US. With that he will get an extra whole 806400 seconds of iPhone love in his life. He is Soooo Luckyy!!

And that will enable him to : 1) Destroy all terrorists
2) End world hunger
3) Solve the oil crisis
..??
Behold the power of the Mighty Gadget Man holding aloft the powerful iPhone!! Evil-Doers tremble at the sight.

I know I am crazy but maybe not as crazy as those apple lovers..

[TheGeektoriousBIG @ Jul 10th 2008 1:06AM]

Hahahhaahah these fu*#ers actually brought a couch! Guess you're not a hardcore camper unless you bring authentic furniture with n0ob goo on the arm rest!

[Anthony @ Jul 10th 2008 3:03AM]

funniest thing ive read so far... =]

[TheGeektoriousBIG @ Jul 10th 2008 1:06AM]

Hahahhaahah these fu*#ers actually brought a couch! Guess you're not a hardcore camper unless you bring authentic furniture with n0ob goo on the arm rest!

[L8on @ Jul 10th 2008 3:15AM]

yeah it's even funnier the second time..

[Oskin @ Jul 10th 2008 1:07AM]

Wow... you really did fly all the way to NZ! You know this could've bought a couple of iPhones right?

[Rakar @ Jul 10th 2008 1:08AM]

Wait. Someone from Engadget flew to NEW ZEALAND to cover people sitting outside? wtf

[Greg @ Jul 10th 2008 1:10AM]

Such a sad state of consumerism.

[karts41 @ Jul 10th 2008 1:11AM]

Ah....i love nz

[kccboy2004 @ Jul 10th 2008 1:12AM]

Mugs.

[CraigJ @ Jul 10th 2008 1:12AM]

Is Johnny rocking a Dell?

[Jazazze @ Jul 10th 2008 1:13AM]

You cared enough to comment...

[Ben Lilley @ Jul 10th 2008 1:13AM]

That's right! Number 8 reporting in!

[Brian Foose @ Jul 10th 2008 1:18AM]

yeah! hello from your left number 8. this is number 6!!

[whatever @ Jul 10th 2008 3:08AM]

You guys are lame