.
Long queues were seen at Apple's stores across Asia, Europe and North America as customers pursued the new smartphone on its launch day.
. But it took some hunting.
PICTURES: World makes merry as Apple iPhone 5 hits storesSome stores reported having Apple's newest phone available for walk-up customers, though not all versions of it. A random check of about a dozen stores indicated that most were sold out.
A Verizon store in New York City said
the 32 and 64 gigabyte models, but not the 16 GB version, were available. A Sprint store in a suburb said all but the most expensive 64 GB iPhone 5s were sold out.
"Before we were even scheduled to open, we were pretty much out," said Eric Rayburn, a worker at a Sprint store in Phoenix.
It's hardly uncommon for supply shortages to make it difficult to get new iPhones in the first days after their release. For Apple, the iPhone introduction is the biggest revenue driver of the year.
The iPhone 5 has ignited intense interest around the world. Apple's website said
phones bought online would ship in three to four weeks. Verizon's website said they would ship by October 19.
Analysts say the company will likely sell millions of phones in the first few days.
The Tim Cook-led company and others haven't provided sales figures from the first day. Apple is expected to announce early results on Monday.
Apple had reported selling over 4 million iPhone 4S in the first three days after its launch on a Friday in 2011.
With inputs from Associated Press 
An Apple iPhone enthusiast compares his iPhone 4S (R) with the latest iPhone 5 outside a store. PHOTO: Associated Press 
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