First iPhone 5 Orders Have Begun Shipping, Line Begins at 5th Avenue Apple Store

Over the weekend, several readers have let us know that iPhone 5 orders have begun shipping from China. It's common for Apple to spread out shipments for the week prior to the launch with special instructions to couriers to hold deliveries at local warehouses until the target date. In this case, the iPhone 5 is set to be delivered to customers on September 21st.

Those who are impatient to receive their tracking number from Apple, may be able to determine it from the UPS website. TSX posts how to obtain your UPS tracking number. The same technique may work for Fed-Ex as well. Apple uses both carriers for iPhone deliveries.

Our iPhone forums are buzzing with activity amongst those waiting for their deliveries. Several discussion threads are active tracking activity and movement of deliveries. Several are listed here:

- Apple.com Pre-Order Discussion
- AT&T Pre-Order Discussion
- Verizon Pre-Order Discussion
- Sprint Pre-Order Discussion
- Canadian Pre-Order Discussion
- UK Pre-Order Discussion

Readers are even decoding serial numbers to find when their iPhone 5 was manufactured. The earliest recorded manufacture date is the week of August 5-11. Those who ordered from Apple.com can see their iPhone 5's serial number in Apple's Support Profile page.

Meanwhile, Fortune has posted that the line has already begun at New York City's 5th Avenue Apple store. The line, however, currently consists of those there for promotional/paid purposes rather than personal purchases.