Hong Kong: Apple's new iPhone 4S made glitzy and chaotic debuts in three new Asian markets yesterday, with customers and profiteers queuing for up to a week to get their hands on the popular gadget.
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 at midnight 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.
Big show
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 iPhone 4S 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 due to roll out in 12 other markets from Europe to Latin America later in the day. The celebratory atmosphere was soured in Hong Kong by the presence of dozens of aggressive profiteers and professional queuers who established a grey market outside the store almost as soon as the phones went on sale.
"I have collected about 198 phones since this morning from my queuers," said mobile phone dealer Ken Wong, adding he paid the queuers around $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.
Apple plans to make the iPhone 4S available in more than 70 countries by the end of the year.
