After spending 2 hours in line to get the first iPhone last year in West Des Moines, and after having that phone fall to the ground and the screen smash about a week ago, I decided I wanted to join the hype a second time around for the official launch of the iPhone 3G in Holland!
The launch took place at midnight between the 10th & 11th of July in Rotterdam at the T-Mobile shop on the Lijnbaan. I had covered all my bases at home by reserving it at a few stores here, but I didn't have much hope that it would work out, so decided to ensure myself a phone by going to Rotterdam, booking a hotel, and joining in the fun.
I drove down after work on Thursday (having taken Friday off) and checked into my hotel, packed my "camping" bag, and headed for the line. I arrived at about 8:30 p.m. and found out later that I was number 257 in line. Met two nice guys, Ruben and Robert, both in the Dutch music business, and spend the next six hours with them chatting and passing the time. Was good to have some other people to enjoy the experience with.
The T-Mobile people took pretty good care of us and had their ducks in a row in terms of the process. Once we made it inside the "compound", it was set up like a party with music, an espresso bar, and free (healthy) food and drink. They photocopied our bank passes and IDs and took our information and then whisked it off for processing. After a few more hours of waiting, they called people one for one into the store to pay for their phones. I made it out by 2:30 a.m. and headed back to my hotel to play for a while before falling asleep.
The next morning at 9 a.m., I was called by the local BelCompany store telling me my iPhone was ready to pick up (!). Oh well. It was fun!
I'll write a review of the phone soon (it's both fabulous and buggy), but here are some photos I've collected on the internet of the event:
The advertising campaign across the country was huge!
The boundaries of the "party zone" at the launch.
The party zone with big screen and the DJ booth on the form of an iPhone.
The iPhone "arrives" in an armored car.
That's me in the red windbreaker lower right.
1 comment:
Too funny! Perry waited in line for 7 hours for his on the release day in NYC. But I have to say...he only got water and an umbrella for some shade on the 80+ humid day. There was no music, food, or dance party environment. Apparently, Apple knows how to release the phone in Holland a bit better than they know how to release it here. I hope you are having as much fun with it as Perry is. He keeps exclaiming "I LOVE this phone!!!" Enjoy!
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