So, the mighty new iPhone made its way into consumers’ hands this morning, with one small problem. Reports say there was a system-wide problem that prevented the phones from being activated in the store. Shoppers were being asked to go home to complete the activation on their own computers.

Apple and AT&T - the exclusive wireless provider in the U.S. - both are reporting strong sales, with lines forming outside most stores.

Locally, a spokeswoman for AT&T said all of its retail locations had lines of customers waiting outside this morning. Most of the stores are expected to sell out today, though new shipments should arrive later this evening.

If you do go today and find your nearest  store sold out, I’m told that you can still place an order at the store to have one reserved for you.

As for the glitch, yes it is happening here as well. Apparently this is a worldwide issue - something to do with the iTunes software. So if you do get a phone today, there’s a good chance you’ll have to wait until you get home (to finish the activation) before you can use it.

But hey, if you’ve waited this long, what’s a few more minutes?

What I want to know is how many of these phones are being bought by users of the first iPhone. If so, I guess we’ll be seeing a surge in second-hand sales of iPhones on Craigslist and eBay.