Apple today removed the October 14 release date for the iPhone 4S from its site. Apple now says it will be a week or two before most US and overseas customers get the iPhone 4S, starting at $199 for the 16GB version. Carriers say waits could be as long as a month.

AT&T, Sprint Nextel and Verizon say it could take even longer to get units in buyers’ hands. The demand for the phone — announced just a day before Apple cofounder Steve Jobs died at 56 last week — seems to have taken every one by surprise. That includes Apple.

Apple would’ve provided sales channels with far more inventory had it known the iPhone 4S would be a record-breaker, outselling on its first day even its previous record-breaker, the iPhone 4. A minor iteration in most ways,  iPhone 4S significant improvements include a significantly improved 8 megapixel camera and better performance via its dual core processor tech and choice. For the first time, Apple’s phone works with Sprint Nextel, as well as the Verizon and AT&T services. Image Courtesy: SMSEO With two-year contracts coming to a close for many iPhone 3 and 3G users, the timing of the iPhone 4S couldn’t be better. And there’s the emotional tie-in, too. Customers undoubtedly are picking up the $199 and up device. After all, it is the last Jobs-directed iPhone. Our Eric Mack reported what Tim Cook unveiled at the Apple iPhone 4S Keynote. The iPhone 4S sold one million units its first day in pre-orders, according to Apple. It’s a surprising development considering that the iPhone 4S is hardly a fifth generation iPhone. It’s a minor improvement over the current iPhone 4G — it’s even in the same case. After the Apple announcement, this parody of the iPhone 4S promo went viral. Steve Jobs would approve, we know. I have a 3G and really could use the better camera. And my contract is up. So guess what I did. Inexplicably. I bought a Kindle Fire! Hope those two play well together! Comment

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