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[INSERT: Wire Copy]

Over 800 Japanese Apple fans queued for days to be the first to purchase the new iPhone 5 which was released on Friday.

Some camped out in front of the Apple store in downtown Tokyo with fold up chairs, sleeping bags and food stocks just so they could be the first to lay their hands on the new technology.

People in Australia, Hong Kong, and Singapore will also be able to get the new version of the popular phone before it is launched in the US and Europe later in the day.

The phone will go on sale in 22 more countries a week later.

Apple has received 2 (m) million orders for the iPhone 5 in the first 24 hours, more than twice the number for the iPhone 4S when it launched a year ago.

The iPhone 5 represents the first major revision of the iPhone’s screen size since the first model was introduced in 2007.

Problems have already been reported with its new map app which replaces the Google Maps app installed on previous versions.

Early upgraders are reporting that the new maps are less detailed, look weird and misplace landmarks.

Regardless, analysts expect the phone to sell well and have estimated Apple will ship as many as 10 (m) million of the iPhone 5 by the end of September.

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VIDEO PRODUCER: BOB MCCALL

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VIDEO SOURCE: AP

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VIDEO APPROVAL: BOB MCCALL

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VIDEO RESTRICTIONS: NONE

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MARKET EMBARGO (S): NONE

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SCRIPT/WIRE SOURCE:vt0472

AP-APTN-0130: ++Japan iPhone

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