Apple’s long-awaited iPhone 3G has gone on sale worldwide, sending consumers from New York to Tokyo flocking to the shops. Fans say it’s the consumer event of the year while sceptics say it's just another marketing stunt. Russia isn’t among the 70 countri

Statistics say there are more shopping malls in the U.S. than high schools. In New York this week, iPhone-mania rushed back into town.

Hundreds came to the Apple store early on Friday, all wanting to be the first with the new upgraded gadget. Some queued for hours, others for days.

New Yorker Lydia Zam says the iPhone is a must for a fulfilling life:

“I think it’ll make me complete. It’s something that everyone is going to want to have”, she said.

Some say the product has social value, and waiting in line for more than 24 hours is a chance to bond with friends – where they can meet people who have the same interests as them.

Others say it’s all hype, designed to get us to spend more.

Nina Basharova, a successful Russian jewellery designer in New York, says she doesn’t care about brands, and only buys second-hand things.

“People should create more and consume less, and instead of buying things making them themselves – and recycle a lot of things”.

Meanwhile, as with the first model, the new iPhone 3G won’t be sold in Russia.

Apple insists the situation is temporary and blames ongoing difficulties in negotiations with local partners and phone companies for the prolonged delay.

However, black market iPhones may be entering Russia at a rate of 20,000 per month. The phones are bought abroad and then ‘unlocked’ by hackers to allow them to work with local mobile networks.