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Customers queue up for iPhone 5 outside Apple's Fifth Ave store

With four days to go before the iPhone 5 becomes available, customers have begun lining up outside Apple's flagship Fifth Avenue store in New York City in what has become an annual tradition.

Around 10 people were lined up outside the Apple Store on Monday to become among the first to own the new iPhone 5. Customers will be able to purchase Apple's latest handset at 8 a.m. local time this Friday.

Most of the customers who were in line Monday morning were hoping to gain attention for websites they were promoting, according to AppleInsider reader Ryan. A reporter from CBS New York program "The Couch" was also present to interview those waiting.

Fifth Ave

Demand for the new iPhone is at a fever pitch, with the handset on pace to become the fastest selling smartphone ever. Apple announced earlier Monday that preorders for the iPhone 5 reached 2 million in its first 24 hours of availability, more than doubling that of its predecessor, the iPhone 4S.

The iPhone 5 will officially go on sale to the public this Friday. With the initial batch of preorders sold out, waiting in line outside of an Apple retail store may be the only way some customers can get an iPhone 5 on its launch date.

Fifth Ave

Last year, sales of the iPhone 4S reached 4 million over the launch weekend, making it the fastest selling iPhone yet. The iPhone 5 is expected to handily beat that number, as it has already achieved a record number of preorders, and will debut in a total of 9 countries, making it Apple's largest launch ever.