AT&T Inc. is the phone's exclusive carrier, but the company's wireless network only covers eastern Wisconsin and the Madison area in the southern part of the state, leaving people like Martin deprived.

"I do want one," she said. "I have nearly every other Apple product that I can get my hands on. IPhone is just all of them put together. Being in Wausau, it is just not possible. All my friends are all quite disappointed."

Apple Inc.'s newest gadget combines the functions of a cell phone, iPod media player and wireless Web browser. People camped out at Apple and AT&T stores in most parts of the country in advance of the iPhone debut Friday.

But not where Martin lives. Or in Vermont, which also has no service. Coverage is limited in other states, too, like the Dakotas and Alaska, said Chris Bauer, an AT&T spokesman for Wisconsin.

Crystal Peterson of Anchorage, Alaska, said it was unfair that people in her city, the state's largest with about 270,000 people, can't have an iPhone, although she wouldn't buy one.

"This is part of the US, too," she said.

Phil Bennett, purchaser at The Alaska Mac Store in Anchorage, said about 200 people have called the store over the last few weeks asking how they can get an iPhone.

"They're awesome. Of course I want one," Bennett said. "But I don't think I would sink the money into it."

Fletcher Cook, another AT&T spokesman, said the network that's used by the iPhone billed by Apple as the most user-friendly smart phone ever reaches roughly 270 million out of the 300 million people living in the United States. The network is available in more than 13,000 cities and towns and in areas along 40,000 miles of highways.

Cook said AT&T is continually expanding the network, but there was no timeframe for when it would be available for more of Wisconsin.