The iPhone is due in stores this Friday and the demand is expected to be great even though all the reviews haven't been spectacular. The Washington Postreports that Apple fans will be lining up outside retail outlets to get their hands on the pricey iPhone.
It goes on sale this Friday, and die-hard Apple fans are expected to line up overnight or longer outside retail stores to get their hands on an iPhone for either $500 or $600.
But skeptics wonder whether even the most innovative product could live up to the iPhone's lofty expectations - and whether the pre-launch anticipation has spiraled too far out of control. Scrutiny of the product is so great that any small disappointment could send Apple's stock plunging, experts say.
Ebay regulars know what heavy demand does for items listed on the auction website -- it causes dramatic price increases. It is hard to say how high a price an iPhone will fetch but some of the hot toys during Christmas often sell for two or three times the retail price. If that's any indication we should see iPhone auctions in the $700 - $1,200 range. If demand remains high and iPhones become hard to get the auction bids may go higher. The Washiongton Post article says a market for iPhone accessories has already emerged on eBay.
The iPhone has already generated a thriving cottage industry online, with more than 1,100 peripheral iPhone items currently for sale on eBay, including colorful holsters, touch-screen protectors and car adapters.
Currently eBay has over 1,250 listings for the iPhone. The bulk of these auction listings are for iPhone accessories. Expect the number of iPhone related auctiosns to increase dramaticaly starting Friday as iPhones themselves start being auctioned on eBay.
The iPhone is due in stores this Friday and the demand is expected to be great even though all the reviews haven't been spectacular. The Washington Post 
