Spurred by the death of its founder five days ago, Apple's yet to be launched iPhone 4S is practically off the shelves and sold off the Australian market as consumers take aim of the gadget more as a last hold on the memory of Steve Jobs.

The iPhone 4S will hit the Australian market on Friday, Oct. 14, in a simultaneous release with the United States and Europe. but order taking by the Australian networks had began over the weekend.

The Australian telcos all said consumer interest had been very high, compared to the other iPhones that have been launched, in spite the resemblance in features to the iPhone 4 released last year.

The telcos noted it was the first time a pre-order taking was done on any iPhone.

"Tens of thousands of customers have already registered their interest in iPhone 4S -- more than any other iPhone launch to date," AFP quoted a Telstra spokesman. The spokesman did not reveal figures.

AT&T announced it had pre-sold more than 200,000 units in the first 12 hours since pre-orders began in the United States on Friday. It described the consumer movement as "extraordinary demand."

The iPhone 4S looks the same as its predecessor but is faster, boasts of an 8-megapixel camera and new software such as the Siri personal assistant.

But probably more than the features, consumer demand and sales are projected to surge way past projections due to the massive post-obit of people support to Jobs who died Oct. 5 at aged 56 due to pancreatic cancer.