iPhone 4S rolls out in more markets

The latest iteration of Apple’s iPhone, the 4S, made its débuts in three new Asian markets. The débuts reportedly varied between glitzy and chaotic, with some customers queuing for up to a week to get their hands on the coveted gadget.

Thousands of people reportedly thronged Apple’s new harbour side store in Hong Kong as staff clapped and cheered the new arrival.

Midnight launches in South Korea and New Zealand, meanwhile, featured sports stars and celebrities.

Top South Korean mobile operator SK Telecom brought in the country’s most popular actor, Won Bin and actress Shin Min-a for its launch of the phone, while hip hop artists performed at the country’s headquarters.

Korea Telecom laid on comedian Choi Hyo-Jong and a prize quiz to people awaiting its 8am launch.

Die hard apple fans have eagerly been awaiting the phone’s arrival since its 4 October unveiling.

I’ve been waiting for the iPhone4S for over a year, and I didn’t hesitate when I heard the news that it will be sold in Korea,” said Lee Jae-Kwang, 31, the first in line for the phone at SK Telecom.

The 4S was set to roll out in 12 other markets, primarily in Latin America and Europe later in the day.

The Hong Kong event, however, was reportedly marred by the presence of hundreds of profiteers looking to buy up large stocks of the phone to resell on the so-called Grey Market.

“I have collected about 198 phones since this morning from my queuers,” said mobile phone dealer Ken Wong, adding that he paid them around US$70 each for their efforts.

He said the phones were for his “friends and customers”.

“The response on the iPhone 4S has been overwhelming,” he added.

A number of Apple fans came across from mainland China for the release.

Among them were Xu Yaojin, along with his wife and eight-year-old daughter, who skipped school for the occasion.

When Yaojin arrived, however, staff told them were only enough phones for the people in the 1 500 or so strong queue who were already there when the store opened its doors.

The staff told me the phones are all sold out… I can’t wait for the official release in (mainland) China, that’s why I’m here,” the 33-year-old businessman said.

He added that he would resort to the grey market to get his hands the phone.

The New Zealand launch was reportedly more laid-back with Telecom Corp. laying on pizza and beer.

All Black rugby superstar Dan Carter was also there, manning one of the checkout points.

One New-Zealander was particularly keen to try out Siri, the phone’s native voice-assistant app: Jonathan Mosen, who is blind, queued for six hours to ensure he got his hands on the phone, saying its voice recognition technology was a boon for the visually impaired.

“It’s the only cellphone you can take out of the box and it is usable by a blind person,” he told Fairfax Media.

The launch comes in the wake of Apple releasing an update to its iOS5 software following numerous bugs which affected, among other things, the phone’s battery life.