MUMBAI: The most awaited 8GB Apple iPod launched on 11 July in 22 countries worldwide. The new model combines all the revolutionary features of iPhone with 3G networking, built-in GPS for expanded location based mobile services, and iPhone 2.0 software.

The new phone has updates features compared to the earlier ones. The price of the new handset has cut down to $199 to be one of the cheapest models in the United States.

On the Japanese market, the iPhone's capabilities are less revolutionary, where people have used tech-heavy local phones for restaurant searches, e-mail, and music downloads, reading digital novels and electronic shopping.The latest Japanese iPhone lacks two key features - digital TV broadcast reception and the "electronic wallet" for making payments at stores and vending machines equipped with special electronic readers. The model in Japan does not have the iPhone's nifty touch screen, says the report.

The phone first went on sale in New Zealand, where hundreds of people lined up outside stores in New Zealand's main cities to snap buy the handset.

Apple stores at Manhattan's Fifth Avenue were flanked by hundreds on the first day itself.