Overnight line for iPhone in Center City

A line was already stretched up Walnut Street at 5 a.m. this morning with iPhone fans such as Brandon Menen, who was first in line Thursday evening outside the Apple Store.

Not that he has an iPhone.

"I have a BlackBerry," Menen, 21, said as workers were busy inside the store preparing for the 8 a.m. release of the iPhone 4S.

The phone is drawing heightened interest because of the recent death of Steve Jobs. About 30 were in line at the time and more arrived later.

Menen said he's switching because the iPhone, "looks way better." He echoed what several said in the line at 16th and Market: We want the iCloud service.

The so-called iCloud launched Wednesday. It is a free update to Apples iOS mobile operating system. The service allows iPhones, iPads and other Apple devices to be automatically synced without the need for a physical connection.

Those in line braved not only rain, but those who wander the city streets at night. One man, clearly intoxicated, shouted at the group before stumbling away.

Anthone Moore, 26, and Dantavia Haynes, were seated next in line. They arrived about 9 p.m. Thursday. Haynes was busy with the MacBook Pro propped on her knees.

Neither has an iPhone. Each has a BlackBerry. But Moore, who attends La Salle University, says he has a MacBook, iPod, iPad and is getting Apple TV, is making the switch to an iPhone.

"I was ready for an upgrade," said Moore, who lives in West Philly. "It's mainly for the iCloud. I want to be able to write papers (for school) and access them on my phone."

For her part, Haynes, was there to keep Moore company. She has a BlackBerry and isn't ready to part with it yet.

"I love my BlackBerry," she said, but admitted she could switch down the road.

Greg Leddy, 23, was next in line. Already an iPhone user, he wanted to upgrade.

"It's the third time I've done this," Leddy said, referring to his wait in line for an iPhone. "And I'm still kind of excited."

Leddy was equipped with a separate battery pack to run his devices all night.

And Reginald Jones, 39, is an systems analyst, who took today off so he could make the switch from his current smartphone to an iPhone.

"I plan to go home and sleep after this," Jones said.

By the time the doors opened at 8 a.m., the line stretched much further up Walnut Street and customers flooded inside.