Apple’s new iPhone 4S makes debut

Apple’s new iPhone 4S made glitzy and chaotic debuts in three new Asian markets, with customers and profiteers queuing for up to a week to get their hands on the popular gadget.

I’ve been waiting for over a year...

Thousands of people thronged Apple’s new harbourside store in the southern Chinese city of Hong Kong as staff cheered and clapped, while midnight launches in South Korea and New Zealand featured celebrities and sports stars.

Top South Korean mobile operator SK Telecom put the iPhone 4S on sale for 100 enthusiasts who had placed pre-orders, with the country’s most popular actor Wonbin and actress Shin Min-A counting down to the time. Hip-hop musicians performed at the event at the company’s headquarters.

Korea Telecom laid on comedian Choi Hyo-Jong and offered drinks and a prize quiz to 100 people awaiting its own launch.

Die-hard fans had been keenly awaiting an upgrade to the earlier iPhone 4 long before the 4S was unveiled on October 4.

“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 latest version of Apple’s “must-have” accessory was rolled out in 12 other markets from Europe to Latin America.