SAN FRANCISCO — When it comes to landing an iPhone, Apple Inc.'s other famous Steve plans to stand in line.
Steve Wozniak helped Steve Jobs launch Apple more than 30 years ago, sparking a computing revolution. But the man known to many as Woz, who left the company in 1987, planned to queue up outside a San Jose Apple store at 4 a.m. today in hopes of getting his hands on one.
"I love to see the future early," he said.
Apple is controlling the iPhone's exposure as if it were a movie star before a blockbuster's opening day. The Cupertino, Calif., company doled out a small number to a carefully chosen group of reviewers -- most of whom have raved about it. Silicon Valley legends, Wall Street analysts, Hollywood insiders and others used to getting the latest hot gadget before the masses have been forced to scramble for one.
"Lots of people have requested iPhones," an Apple spokeswoman said. "No one is getting any special treatment."
Rumors have spread across the Internet that Jobs presented Madonna with an iPhone. Her publicist, Liz Rosenberg, said Thursday that the pop star was in London and couldn't be reached for confirmation.
But Cher, another celebrity client of Rosenberg, "is longing to buy one."
"I haven't been successful in getting one for her," the publicist said, adding that she might have to stand in line for Cher or find a fan to do so. "Doesn't winning Oscars, Grammys and Emmys entitle her to move to the front of the line?"
Lines are virtually guaranteed. Apple plans to close its 164 U.S. stores at 2 p.m. today to ready them, then open the doors to iPhone buyers at 6. The company said Thursday that customers would be allowed to purchase up to two iPhones. The celebrated smart phone will also be sold through Apple's website and stores owned by its wireless partner, AT&T Inc.
Wozniak doesn't have to join the masses in front of the mall. He says Jobs recently called and said Apple would send him an iPhone, to arrive Saturday. But his desire to have one immediately -- plus some for his three children -- prompted his plan to stand in an hours-long line for the first time since 1972, when he coveted Rolling Stones concert tickets.
He and friends will hand out T-shirts that read, "The Line Begins Here," and he'll have his Segway Human Transporter for bathroom runs.
"This is more a celebration," he said.
