If my local O2 and Carphone Warehouse stores were anything to go by, there was no-one queuing and zero buzz for the long-awaited iPhone 3G. But that was 10pm last night; elsewhere this morning, the fans are out in force, with some stores opening at 8am. After a New Zealander became first to buy the handset, long queues were reported this morning in London; Christian Payne broadcast his wait at the Milton Keynes store, reporting that not only did O2’s activation system crash but - in a fit of irony - O2’s signup procedure required Microsoft software…

SEE ALSO: iPhone Demand In UK Overwhelms O2 Site

In the UK, the 8Gb version comes free to those on £45pm and £75pm contracts, the 16Gb version is free to those paying £75pm. There will also be pay-as-you-go. UK online pre-registrations are massively up on last year’s regular ‘ol iPhone, with O2’s website crashing under the strain and selling out, forcing hopefuls out on to the rainy streets.