iPhone 5 "hot cakes" in London

Hundreds of die-hard Apple Inc. (AAPL) fans got their hands on the latest iPhone Friday morning in London, Frankfurt and Paris, with their enthusiasm undimmed by early complaints of a faulty mapping system.

Outside Apple's flag ship U.K. store in Covent Garden, London, the line snaked around the large square fielded by 40 to 50 security guards. Many fans had queued all night long, a few for as long as a week.

At 0700 GMT, the first 20 or so people in line were escorted into the store amid Apple staff clapping, shouting, and whistling.

Student Henry Moulton was one of the first to get his hands on the phone after a lengthy week's wait. The new phone is "nicer, faster with a bigger screen," he said. The 18 year-old said he might switch network to get the 4G speeds the phone can offer but hadn't decided.

In Frankfurt, Steffen Halbig was one of the first to get the new device. "I expect a lot from the new processor, which is twice as fast," said the 24-year old game developer. He sees many new possibilities for using the iPhone 5 for mobile gaming. "The design is super, too," he said.

Apple said initial sales of the iPhone 5, which began last Friday, topped two million units within the first day after it began taking preorders--setting a new company record. Fans appeared unconcerned about complaints that the new mapping feature was full of errors, saying they would simply download a separate maps app.

In Paris, customers queuing outside the flagship store were joined by a French union calling for better pay and working conditions for Apple employees.

But as of the 0700 GMT store opening, few Apple store employees had shown up to strike. Instead, dozens were on duty inside and out, though some wore green bracelets of solidarity, reading "believe."

"We don't want to bother the clients, who have been lining up," one employee said.

Some of the customers on line were sympathetic with the concerns of the striking workers.

"They're being mistreated," said Sylvain Gautier, one of the first in line. "Apple has to negotiate with them to protect its brand."

But those concerns didn't stop Mr. Gautier from waiting 26 hours to buy two new iPhones.

"I wanted to be the first Parisian," he said, as he walked out amid the cheers and chants.