iPhone 4S launch day sets records, commands sell-outs

Apple's latest iteration of the iPhone has just started its second wave of international availability. However, unlike the US, these new releases are being sold SIM-free. This means that customers in Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland can now buy their new handset direct from Apple without being tied to a carrier.

In most of Europe, the handsets start at €599 (roughly $840) for the 16GB version, with a 1-2 week wait time — prices vary country by country, however. With the iPhone 4S due to hit the US unlocked in the next few months, we're getting a better idea of just how much it'll set you back.  

Calling it "the most successful iPhone launch we've ever had," AT&T has announced that it has taken in over 200,000 pre-orders for the iPhone 4S in the first twelve hours it was available. We'd seen plenty of reports of early-morning trouble with pre-orders as well while both Apple and AT&T ramped up their e-commerce sites for the new iPhone, which makes the number all the more impressive.

There's no word yet on whether or not stock is limited at this point, so you should still be safe to get your pre-order in now. During last year's launch day for the iPhone 4, Apple registered a grand total of 600,000 pre-orders across all carriers for the iPhone 4 and AT&T sold out by this point in time during the day. Of course, there's always the launch day option — and launch day lines — on October 14th.