Regional Australia residents will be amongst the first in the world to get their hands on the eagerly awaited iPhone 4S, as it is released on the same date globally. Telstra, Optus, Vodafone and all 13 Apple retail stores across Australia will open from 8:00am on Friday 14th October to meet demand.

At Telstra, the iPhone 4S would be available across Freedom Connect plans, starting from $59 per month with unlimited text, $550 worth of included calls and 1.5GB of eligible data. An iPhone 4S 16GB on the $59 plan will cost an additional $4 per month over 24 months, with a 32GB costing $8 per month over 24 months and the 64GB model costing an additional $13 a month over 24 months.

Optus offers $49, $59, $79, and $99 capped plans on 24-month contracts for the iPhone 4S. An iPhone 4S will cost $10-$19 monthly extra on the Optus $49 plan.

Vodafone is offering the iPhone 4S on $29, $49, $59 and $79 capped plans. Its $29 plan requires monthly payments of $15-$25 for the iPhone 4S.

At the Australian Apple store, the iPhone 4S will cost $799 for 16GB, $899 for 32GB and $999 for 64GB outright.

The iPhone 4S features upgraded internal processors and clocks a download speed twice as fast as the iPhone 4. The phone also has a better and faster camera, dual-core graphics, a new alternating antenna system for better sound quality and reception, and best of all, a state-of-the-art personal assistant called Siri, which helps the user create and send texts and e-mails, set up meetings and reminders, get directions, call friends, and play music.