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White iPhone Entrepreneur Is Shy, Awkward
By
Jen Carlson
Published Dec 1, 2010
Modified Dec 4, 2010
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By
Jen Carlson
Published Dec 1, 2010
Modified Dec 4, 2010
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The slightly awkward, shy high school kid from Queens that's making six figures selling white pieces of plastic to iPhone fanatics has become the Observer's latest obsession—and we're starting to get the feeling they're trying to lure him in to Apple's lair for the sake of of their ongoing profile of him. Anyway! Their latest piece brings Fei "Phillip" Lam to Times Square, where he sips on some water and "nervously showed off his wares" to Trevor Owens, a "tech scenester" they dispatched.
Lam said since he's garnered so much press, orders have become overwhelming (his website) and he's had to stop taking them for now (he's also a bit worried about Apple's wrath). When Owens asked if he'll be bringing his own white iPhone to NYU when/if he attends, Lam pulled out a low-tech "John phone" (which is apparently more beeper than phone). The whole thing is sort of depressing, actually—Lam seems to have few friends, spends most of his time filling orders, and says school is "boring." He didn't even want to get pizza on the Observer's dime!
Perhaps Owens's dorm for hackers will save him, however. He told the teen, "I'm working right now on creating a new dorm for hackers and entrepreneurs. You would be perfect for it. Although, really, with your brain, I don't see why you need to go to college." Or maybe he can just skip college and go straight to working for Apple.
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Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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