Apple iPhone 4S goes on sale in UK

Apple's recently unveiled iPhone 4S is now officially on sale, with hordes of eager punters queuing through the night to get their hands on the firm's latest smartphone.

The device was given a lukewarm appraisal by analysts when it was announced last week. However, consumers obviously think otherwise, with pre-orders topping one million and overnight queues at Apple shops.

It was first unveiled almost two weeks ago by new chief executive Tim Cook, and boasts a number of hardware and software improvements, including a faster A5 processor, an 8-megapixel camera and voice interaction technology called Siri.

The phone also includes significant improvements in its storage capabilities, with 16GB, 32GB and 64GB options now available, while Apple's new iCloud service also helps users store yet more data remotely.

It isn't cheap, though, with US pricing on two-year contracts starting from $199 for the 16GB version, $299 for the 32GB and $399 for the 64GB, and broadly similar prices in the UK.

Bought as a standalone device, it costs significantly more, with the 16GB at £499, the 32GB at £599 and 64GB at a whopping £699.

The launch of the device is bittersweet for Apple as it comes just one week after the death of the firm's iconic co-founder, Steve Jobs, who lost a long-running battle with cancer.

His death saw tributes pour in from technology rivals, politicians and the public, while the success of yet another iPhone underlines the major impact he had on the technology world.