iPhone 2.0 – People standing in line

I just got into the office after a meeting in downtown Palo Alto. As I was driving down University Avenue, I could see the very long line outside the Apple Store. People have been waiting here for hours (days?).  The lines were at least 2 blocks long, with a lot of TV, media, etc. I tried to capture the event with my blackberry (sorry, no iPhone), so check out the picture below.

The long line for the iPhone reminded me of the long lines outside the Cellcom stores back in 1994. Cellcom is the largest Israeli mobile operator, and when they launched in 1994, people stood in lines for hours just to get a phone. Back then, it was crucial – after all, Cellcom was the first to offer an affordable mobile phone package. For most people, it was the first time they could enjoy the cellular experience (BTW – I got my first mobile phone in 2000…). You can read more about it on the Hebrew version of Wikipedia (Sorry, No English).

The long line for the iPhone also reminded me of the long lines outside the movie theaters before the first screening of the "Return of the Jedi" on June 6^th, 1983 (exactly 25+ years ago). The buzz around the Star Wars trilogy was high, and people couldn't wait to see the final chapter. It was the first time I ever saw people setting up tents in front of a movie theater.

I am a big believer that the iPhone is a breakthrough. It's a platform that is really going to change the world of mobile internet. However, the 1^st cell phone application (voice…) had a bigger (and immediate) impact on the consumer. In other words, I think the buzz (Jedi like) is the biggest driver behind this demand, much more than pure need (Cellcom). As an investor, I do hope that one day I will invest in a company that will launch a product so great, that it will make people stand in line for a full day just to get access to it.