Apple Inc. said that the U.S.-based company plans to launch its new iPhone 4S in the South Korean market on Nov. 11.

Apple said on its Web site on Tuesday that it will launch the iPhone 4S in 15 countries including South Korea and Hong Kong and customers will be able to pre-order the smartphone starting Friday.

Apple has applied for a radio wave certificate at a South Korean national agency for its iPhone 4S, signaling that the launch of its latest smartphone in Korea is imminent.

The iPhone 4S was one of the last products created during Apple founder Steve Jobs’ lifetime. He died on Oct. 5.

Apple sold more than 4 million iPhone 4S smartphones during the first three days of its launch in seven countries. Apple’s iconic iPhone officially went on sale in South Korea in November 2009.

Samsung Electronics Co., which has been staging global patent legal battles with Apple, filed motions to block sales of the iPhone 4S in four countries citing patent violations.

Samsung’s mobile president Shin Jong-kyun said the company is reviewing whether it will take a similar action to stop the sale of the new iPhone in Korea. 

(Yonhap News)