The 4.8-inch, Ice Cream Sandwich-running smartphone from Samsung is now on sale in 28 countries.

Come July, the S III bumps up its release and explodes onto the scene with another 145 countries planned for this mighty smartphone. Samsung ain’t messing around. This is a phone that is expected to sell well over 20-million units. This is the “iPhone” Samsung’s been waiting to release.

Which countries you ask (we’re taking it that you’re interested)? Most are in Europe (such as Italy and Germany) and the Middle East.

Stats from mobile operator Vodafone show that the S III was the most pre-ordered Android device of all time. Says Vodafone: “In the two years that we’ve been offering pre-orders, it’s the most pre-ordered Android device we’ve had in our line-up. It’s on track to meet, if not exceed, the level of pre-orders we expected by the time it actually launches.” We love us some pre-launch excitement.

The S III even managed to muster up an Apple-like mega-queue, with customers waiting outside a Berlin electronics store for a chance to be the first to grab Samsung’s powerhouse mobile phone.

Watch this space, as the Gear goes hands on with the S III for its South African launch. Good times!