iPhone faithful still queuing

Outside Apple's Sydney store today

One week after the Australian launch of Apple's much-anticipated 3G iPhone, locals keen to buy the device are still queuing outside the company's only Sydney retail store.

Around 40 or more people were queuing outside the George Street, Sydney store this afternoon, just metres from where NSW Police were blocking roads to ensure the safety of people attending the Catholic Church's World Youth Day celebrations.

The continuing queues come as iPhone stocks quickly dried up in Optus stores around Australia, with most stores taking names from customers happy to wait for Apple to allocate more handsets to the mobile carrier.

An Optus spokesperson told ZDNet.com.au that the telco didn't give out any details of current stock, but reassured customers that Optus had "stocks available in store now".

Vodafone and Telstra stores are believed to still have iPhone stock; however, customers have consistently demonstrated their preference for buying iPhones from Optus. The queue at Apple's Sydney store is solely for customers wanting Optus plans, with Vodafone and Telstra customers being able to jump to the front of the line.

Just a normal day for Telstra

Across the street from the Apple store it was a normal day for Telstra's flagship T-Life store, with no queues in sight.

Optus director of government and corporate affairs Maha Krishnapillai said yesterday the company believed it had captured by far the "lion's share" of the iPhone sales because of its pricing models.