Apple's newest iPhone will soon be available in China, Kenya, Uganda and a host of other countries, part of the company's effort to distribute its top-selling smart phones faster than ever.

Like the previous iPhone's, the iPhone 4S works as a cellular telephone, a still camera, and a video camera while also allowing users to read and send email. Unlike older versions of the phone, the 4S has an interactive feature called “Siri” that can “talk” when answering a user's spoken questions.

Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook says the new phones will be available for sale in China and 21 other countries on January 13. The phone is expected to sell for $199 to $399 depending on the amount of memory .

Apple has six stores in China, including outlets in Hong Kong and Shanghai. The company's products have been wildly popular in mainland China, where Apple has been plagued by the opening of several fake stores.

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