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Apple, as well as Sprint, confirmed to magazine that the pre-orders will start just after midnight, with phones slated to arrive Sept. 21. Verizon has said it will get a jump by offering pre-orders at midnight precisely. AT&T hasn't confirmed yet when it will allow pre-orders, though like Verizon, encourages visitors to its website to leave their email address to be notified. Sprint, which lists iPhones separate from other smartphones on its website, is not offering a pre-order alert system yet.

Those wishing to wait in long, long lines for the phones in person should expect retail store doors to open at 8 a.m. local time on Friday.

The iPhone 5, which is priced the same as the iPhone 4S was starting at $199 with a two-year contract, boasts a 4-inch screen, thinner/lighter form and 4G LTE support.