Apple Stores worldwide opened this morning to long lines of eager customers waiting to buy the new iPhone 4S. Many people queued for hours or even days to be among the first to own the device.
The smartphone became available at 8am today in the UK, US, Australia, Japan, Germany, Canada and France.
Some customers camped outside stores for days to get the last product developed under Steve Jobs’s leadership. Preorders for the iPhone 4S surpassed one million ahead of launch.
Kate Williams, who waited at the flagship store in Bristol, said: “It was pretty painful, but definitely worth it to have the latest phone. You just don’t know when they’re going to be in stock again after today.”
Analysts expect sales could outpace last year’s total of 1.7 million units, with estimates suggesting around four million could be sold this weekend. The iPhone continues to be Apple’s most successful product, with over 20 million units sold in the second quarter of this year.
Apple co‑founder Steve Wozniak also joined the front of a queue at a California store for the release. Reportedly he said: “I want to get mine along with the millions of other fans. I just want to be able to talk to my phone.”
Since its announcement, the iPhone 4S has received generally positive reviews. The device offers multiple storage capacities, a faster processor, an improved camera and a new voice assistant called Siri. It runs on the recently released iOS 5 operating system.
Demand appears strong at launch, driven by upgraded hardware, enhanced software features and widespread media attention surrounding the release. Retailers and carriers prepared for heavy customer traffic, with many stores extending staff hours to handle purchases and activation. Early buyers cited factors such as camera improvements, faster performance and Siri’s voice‑recognition capabilities as chief reasons for upgrading.
As supplies move from distribution centers to stores and online fulfillment, availability may vary by region and carrier. Customers who missed the initial launch may find stock replenished in the coming weeks as production and shipping continue. For those waiting in line, the payoff is the immediate ownership of Apple’s newest handset and access to the updated iOS features and services that come with it.