TOKYO - Apple's newest iPhone was in short supply just hours after its global launch began in Tokyo Thursday morning.
Hundreds of people queued outside stores across the city to become among the first in the world to own the iPhone 4.
The global launch was to begin at 7 a.m. local time in each region, so Japanese were among the first to get their hands on the device.
The U.S., France, Great Britain and Germany are also part of Thursday's global launch _ the Canadian launch is expected at the end of July.
The newest model is thinner with a better-resolution screen and longer battery life.
A swarm of pre-orders earlier in the week led to long lines around Tokyo and overwhelmed computer servers struggling to keep up with demand.
