Ten Things to Do Waiting in the iPhone Line

So you've decided to get an iPhone. Congratulations! If you already have an iPhone you know just what a fantastic experience owning the thing is, if this is your first iPhone a new fully connected on the move world awaits.

The worst part about the getting the new iPhone isn't going to be the monthly bill or the coverage area, the worst part will be waiting in line. If you're smart you're already in line. If you're not in line yet time is wasting, get some salty snacks and some cool drinks and drag your newly outdated cell phone carrying carcass to the nearest AT&T or Apple store. If you're thinking it won't be too bad, Apple is projecting 10-15 minutes per customer after all, think again. Even if the optimistic projections are correct there are going to be a plethora of people waiting for the iPhone and ten minutes per customer adds up quickly.

Once you are in line you're going to want some stuff to do. Talking to your neighbors is diverting for a little while but, dammit, these people have nothing better to do than stand in line on a Friday. How interesting can they be? (For the record I'll be in front of the AT&T store on turkey creek wearing an Apple Matters T-Shirt. Feel free to chat, I've got enough interesting stories that you can count on wasting between two and five minutes).

After the fellow line standers have been exhausted as time wasters here are ten tips to keep you occupied during the wait for Steve's latest and greatest

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10. Start a twitter account

It's free and microblogging is all the rage so what have you got to lose? On the downside Twitter has more outages than an Iraqi power plant but it is still kid of fun. Plus your first thirty entries will write themselves "In line waiting for an iPhone" "Still waiting" "Someone got an iPhone" etc. Want a quick follower? Follow me at Twitter.

9. Tether that iPhone.

The iPhone is great, the iPhone 3G is even better. But the phones aren't a complete web browsing solution, what if you want to play desktop tower defense? Even if the iPhone ran flash (it doesn't) the controls would be very tricky to use. Why not use the iPhone as a modem? Want to know how? Adam Pash has you covered.

8. Make a Profit

If you're standing in line with nothing to do why not grab the opportunity and sell something? It is going to scorching in the south, west, east and midwest so a cooler full of bottled water will probably net you a few bucks. If you're standing in line in Seattle an ample supply of coffee and cups will undoubtably make you rich*.

7. Email the CEO of Verizon

Verizon turned Apple down when approached about the iPhone. In the corporate world that will probably be called "a non recurring lapse strategic vision" or something. Normal folks refer to it as a "What the hell were they thinking??!!!" deal. Take a moment to share your thoughts with the Verizon CEO and if you don't feel like writing your own letter here's a brief note you can copy (not cut and paste, there is no cut an paste on the iPhone)

Dear Dennis Strigl,

I'm standing in line to get my iPhone 3G from AT&T. Sure, I'll miss your network but the iPhone is just so awesome. I know you're thinking that you have phones that actually do everything the iPhone does. But here's the thing: I can actually do it all with an iPhone. Your phones may have the capabilities in the technical sense but the functions are hidden behind a huge layer of suck. I'll miss Verizon. By the way, What the hell were you thinking anyway?

Sincerely,

Your Name here

6. Play some games

If you've got an iPhone already, here are some online games for your enjoyment. For word hounds:

Word Spell

For those stuck in the 80's

Missile Command

Who doesn't hate Bejeweled? Nobody. But it can kill some time while you're waiting in line.

Bejeweled

And for that old timey Windows feeling...

Minesweeper

The games might seem a little on the lame side, at least if you're used to anything but a PCjr. Don't worry, your new iPhone will have much, much better games for you to purchase from the app store, this is just a short term fix. If you're holding a RAZR or something else in your hand a great go to cell phone game is concrete skip. I got fifteen bounces with an outdated LG the other day in the Walmart parking lot.

5. Take some pics

This is a great time to snap some shots of the line (send them to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) and I'll try to get them posted). Plus, the snaps you take can be used to compare your new iPhone cam with your old cell phone cam. Will the iPhones image quality be better than your old cell phone's snaps? Who can say? One thing is certain, they'll both reek like impacted skunk musk glands where compared to a dedicated digital camera.

4. Cheer inanely for iPhone Buyers

Cheer wildly when the first guy to get an iPhone comes out the door. It is hard to say why people do this, it only proves that the guy had two hundred bucks and a willingness to sign a contract, but people do it. To make the time pass a little quicker go the extra mile: Cheer every time someone leaves with a new iPhone. It will make them feel good and you'll have something to do.

3.Prepare for mobile me

Apparently, Apple has exhausted the companies supply of good names. Actually, the good name vault has been empty for some time. MacBook Pro? Mac Pro? MacBook Air? As memorable, tongue comforting monikers go they're just not very good. But still better than "mobile me" which sounds like some Twilight Zone episode where the line between cloud computing and your personal identity is interchangeable. Even with a name so lame it should qualify for complete disability the service should be useful. Get ready for the switch.

2. Learn how to text for free

AT&T is including zero text messages with the iPhone calling plan. The company explains it to David Pogue thusly:

Q: Does the new $70 iPhone plan include any text messages?

A: No. This is our standard pricing for 3G PDA’s and smartphones. It’s a combined voice and unlimited data plan. The data portion is $30. It does not include text messages, which are extra. Data pricing reflects the fact that customers with these devices tend to use a lot of data.

On one hand it makes sense to keep the pricing plan consistent no matter which Smartphone you get from AT&T. On the other hand you're supposedly paying for unlimited data and text messages are just data. But since people are willing to pay extra for SMS data the cell phone companies are happy to charge you for it. But you don't have to pay, you can do SMS through email. Here's where to send your messages for free: You can track down the appropriate email address for each cell provider but that is too much work. Fire up the Mail on your iphone and type in your target's number followed by @teleflip.com and, BAM!, no charge text messaging.

1. Make plans for MacWorld.

Sure, you think you're just getting an iPhone. You think that the end game is the iPhone because that is what they want you to think. You'll get the phone and you'll be impressed. You'll start using Safari for Windows. Then you'll start looking at iMacs or MacBooks or something. It will happen slowly and subtly but one morning you'll wake up and be a hardcore Apple user. There is only one place for the truly hardcore to get their everything Apple mojo going on and that is MacWorld. See ya there!

There is one lingering question: Line up outside an Apple store or an AT&T store. While all my run ins with AT&T have been pleasant, everyone else complains wildly about the place. So what is the difference between the two? With At&T you can expect the usual cell phone stuff. If you hit an Apple store you'll get super special treatment. From an actual e-mail:

"The Apple Retail Store is the perfect place to buy your iPhone 3G. With our free Personal Setup, a Specialist will help you choose your phone, select a rate plan, and—best of all—have your new iPhone 3G ready to make calls, browse the web, and receive email right on the spot."

Apple has taken a negative (spending time getting your cell phone up and going, signing a contract) and made it sound like they've come up with some fantastic new program full of consumer benefits. Call it the purest form of spin or whatever, the message is clear: the consumer experience at the Apple store is paramount to the company.

*I have no idea if that is actually true. Just the coffee/Seattle stereotype working.