Hundreds of Chattanoogans waited in line this morning outside the AT&T store on Gunbarrel Road for their chance to buy Apple’s new iPhone 3G. The phones, cheaper and faster than the original, went on sale at 8 a.m., with about 100 people in a line that stretched onto the sidewalk.

The Gunbarrel store sold out shortly before noon, according to store management.

Many had been waiting since the wee hours of the morning, but Andrew Shaw, the first in line, said he had been sitting there since 9:30 Thursday night. Store employees passed out bottled water to keep the anxious crowd content.

Arlie Mimbela, area sales manager for AT&T, said he expected the phones to sell out at the Gunbarrel Road location some time during the morning. This year’s crowd seemed bigger compared to the people who came out for the launch of the original iPhone last year, he said.

“I expected a lot of people, but not his many,” he said.

For complete coverage, see tomorrow’s Chattanooga Times Free Press.

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