Lines form at Prov. Place for iPhone

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP/WPRI) — It's the day millions of people will be lining up at Apple stores -- or keeping an watchful eye on every delivery truck that passes their street.

The iPhone 5 is officially being released. And as night turned to day around the globe, Apple fans have already been jamming stores from Sydney to Providence to pick up the latest model of the smartphone.

• Photos: iPhone 5 hits store shelves

A small group of dedicated Apple fans camped outside the store inside Providence Place. Some of them lined up as early as 6 p.m. Thursday.

The store doesn't open until 8 a.m. Friday.

Shoppers waiting said having the latest gadget is well work the wait.

"I'm here because I'm a huge Apple fan and I've had every iPhone, and this has really got some great updates and I can't wait," said Cindy Vuittonet of Providence.

And this wasn't the first time Johnson and Wales student James Reidy has camped out to buy something.

"It's going to be a long night, but I'm used to this stuff. I've camped out for Stanley Cup tickets, so I've done this before," he said.

The new iPhone has more than two million pre-sale orders, making it the fastest selling phone ever.

The phone is thinner and ligher than the iPhone 4S, yet has a taller screen.

The phone will cost the same as the iPhone 4S did when it debuted, starting at $199 with a two-year contract in the U.S.

Meanwhile, the price for the iPhone 4S will drop to $99 for new contract signers, and the iPhone 4 will be free