One of the drawbacks to being right in front of the store before the iPhone launch is I am the de facto answer man for every curious person who walks by. Now, this does break up the bordom quite a bit but I am getting a little sick of answering the same questions over and over. Some of my more frequen replies include:

Yes, this is the iPhone line. That sign right there says so!

Phones go on sale at 6p

I don’t know how long the long is

As a matter of fact, I am blogging this!

No, I wont take your $XXX dollars so you can cut in line

Yes, I have a job.

A representative from Starbucks is handing out free samples to all those waiting in line at the ATT Store at Pacific Place in Seattle. Rumor has it that a new Barney’s in the same mall was rushed to completion so they could open their doors for the throngs of shoppers destined for the mall this weekend.

That old Tom Petty classic is ringing in my ears.

ATT is really being serious about this event. They have hired extra security today. Our guard dutifully unlocks the door for each arriving ATT rep, checks their ID twice, and escorts them into the store locking it fast behind. Employees are in a huddle behind their locked door getting last minute details on iDay. Occasionally we hear a ralling cheer come through the door. They are really getting fired up.

The line is starting to fill out as well. Some of us have fired up our motorola and blackberry smartphones to get some work done. Do these devices know they are living on borrowed time?

The ATT temps are showing up, mostly young men in their late teens and early 20’s. The kid hipsters, clubbers, 16″ woofers in the celica owners. They are walking in several hours early to work today and getting a good long look at this line full of squishy thirty-something geeks. Most of us can quote every line from every star wars movie ever made. Some of us have dice with more than 6 sides.

Needless to say we’re catching some strange looks of exasperation and shaking heads.

But look at it from their perspective. Their whole lives they have been peddling crap, misdesigned products on underpowered networks. Long ago their industry abandoned the cell phone killer app (making calls) and supplemented it with fluffy rap ringtones and glowing antenna to continue to appeal to a customer base that was becoming more dissatisfied with the core product every day.

And now there is a well designed, expertly marketed, easy to use new product that they can sell in their stores that is generating at ton of interest. Talk about a game changer — these kids will never be the same.

There are a few of us in line in the basement of a mall in Downtown Seattle. All of us are hardcore Apple fans, but there’s a bit of hestitation with these early arrivers.

“I’m glad other people are here. There’s nothing worse that being the only one waiting in line for a phone,” someone quipped.

After spending several months obsessing about this phone it’s gratifying to meet other members of the tribe.

“This is part of my annual budget. I don’t have a lot of extra expenses, I buy tech! I don’t even drink that much,” says Mark who is also camped out in line. His wife dropped him off this morning on her way to work.

Representatives from ATT have met us already and laid out the groundrules for the mall. No chairs, no sitting on stairs, no bathroom breaks. Seriously?! We’re already developing a buddy system to save places for each other, but security is going to be watching for gate crashers. I have a waterbottle in case things get dire. Really, really dire.

I’m available sporatically on IM at .

I’m parked first in line at Pacific Place, there are 5 people here.

In a recent internal company communication, ATT Wireless has informed their sales associates that iPhone purchasers will be required to also buy an iPhone accessory. Purchasers will not be able to leave the store with unaccessorized iPhones. In that case, ATT will ship the phone for arrival within 3 - 5 business days.

The only accessories rumored to be available on launch date, June 29th, are a car charger and a case. iPhone accessories are in short supply due to the secrecy surrounding the iPhone and the launch date.

In recent interviews in the Wall Street Journal and USA Today, Steve Jobs has said that he wants every customer to have an equal chance of purchasing the device when it goes on sale at 6p Friday. Apple has not announced they will require purchasers to buy accessories from their stores.

Such a move by ATT could be seen as usury, taking advantage of the iPhone frenzy to pad their bottom line. ATT was not available for comment.

waitingforiphone.com has confirmed that “A” level ATT Stores have received their first shipments of the iPhone this afternoon. ATT assigns a letter grade to each store based on sales volume.

An ATT staffer, who requested to remain anonymous, when asked if he had seen the phone, replied:

“Before today I wasn’t excited. Now that I haven’t seen the iPhone I’m blown away by the huge screen, the small form factors, and easy to use touch screen!!”

CNet has a few pics of folks in NYC braving thunderstorms and chilly nights for the iPhone.

Lonely loiterer seeks same to hang out by Apple and ATT stores on Friday, June 29th. We can stand in line for each other, hold our places in line during bathroom breaks, and trade coffee runs to Starbucks. Must have at least 2 iPods (prefer video) and Macbook so we have lots to talk about to while away the hours.

NO iphonies.