The iPhone 5 boasts a number of improvements from its predecessor, the iPhone 4s, and will be available on the network carriers Verizon Wireless, AT&T, and Sprint; as well as a number of smaller wireless carriers.
The phone was available for pre-order on Friday, Sept. 14, but in traditional fashion, Apple fanatics camped out to get their hands on the device first thing in the morning.
Penn State U. sophomore Brian Reil was camped out with his father in front of the AT&T retail store. Reil said this was his first experience camping out for an iPhone, but said he was eager to upgrade from his Blackberry.
The father-son tandem in line before them had a tent and utilized the power outlets outside the store. Reil was less prepared, but noted the upsides such as using the store’s Wi-Fi network and the McDonald’s right down the road.
Apple and the leading wireless carriers offer the iPhone 5 in two colors and three models. The phone can be purchased in either “Black and Slate” or “White and Silver.” The base model phone will offer 16GB memory at a starting price of $199 with a two-year contract agreement. It is also available in 32GB and 64GB memories for $299 and $399, respectively.
According to Apple’s iPhone 5 Keynote Address, the phone is 18 percent thinner than last year’s iPhone 4s, measuring 7.6 millimeters thick. It is also 20 percent lighter than its predecessor, weighing in at 112 grams.
Some additional features include a larger, four-inch screen with Apple’s “Retina Display,” delivering images in 332 pixels per inch. It also has an upgraded camera on both the front and back of the device. One of the major upgrades is that the phone is now 4G LTE compatible.
The 4G LTE network is the latest advancement in cellular network speeds. The regional public relations manager for Verizon Wireless, Laura Merritt, said the 4G LTE network is ten times faster than the previous 3G network. Merritt also confirmed that Verizon has had an established 4G LTE network in State College since June of 2011.
AT&T Spokesperson Brandy Bell-Truskey said State College is not currently within their 4G LTE coverage. However, she said that service was initiated this past week in both Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and the company plans for “a full build out by the end of 2013.”
Sprint could not be reached for comment on the availability of 4G LTE speeds in State College as of press time Thursday.
The iPhone 5 is available today at Apple retail stores, as well as Verizon Wireless, AT&T, and Sprint retail locations while supplies last.
Several other third party stores will have the phone available for purchase today. A sales associate at Wal-Mart said they will sell the phone, but could not confirm the quantity supplied to them.
Sales associates at both Best Buy and RadioShack confirmed that they will also sell the iPhone 5 for the top three major networks, but again could not confirm the quantity supplied from Apple.