A man wearing a mask of Apple founder Steve Jobs stands in a line to buy an iPhone 4S in front of an Apple Store in Tokyo October 14, 2011.
A man wearing a mask of Apple founder Steve Jobs stands in a line to buy an iPhone 4S in front of an Apple Store in Tokyo October 14, 2011. Reuters

Apple Inc.'s new iPhone went on sale in stores across the globe on Friday, with fans snapping up the final gadget unveiled during Steve Jobs' lifetime, many buying the phone as a tribute to the former Apple boss.

Hundreds of fans queued around city blocks in Sydney and Tokyo Friday to be the first to get their hands on the iPhone 4S.

Apple CEO Tim Cook and his executive team hope the first device launched, without the firm's former visionary leader at the helm, will safeguard their global market share against a growing challenge from the likes of Samsung.

Iphone Steve jobs Samsung Tim cook