Apple signs iPhone deals for Hong Kong, Macau

[AppleInsider]

Hutchison Telecommunications Limited said Thursday that it has signed an agreement with Apple to bring the iPhone to Hong Kong and Macau later this year.

Similar to other international iPhone carrier announcements over the past two months, Hutchison offered no further details other than to say service for the touch-screen handset would be offered under its "3" brand.

As of last August, "3" had 15.9 million registered subscribers across its nine mobile telecommunications networks in Europe, Asia and Australia. All of 3's branded networks emphasize "mobile multimedia" and provide 3G wireless access.

The announcement is the first for China, a blistering market Apple has repeatedly promised to infiltrate by year's end.

There had been on-again-of-again rumors that suggested that Apple was also speaking to China Mobile about launching the iPhone in China, though executives for both sides (1, 2) have denied such claims.

China Mobile maintains a subscriber base in excess of 380 million -- more than the population of the United States and by far the largest in the world.

Despite lacking an official distribution agreement, the carrier is reported to be providing service to some 400,000 first-generation iPhones that have been unlocked and smuggled into China for those subscribers unwilling to wait on official availability.

Further details about Apple's plans to launch iPhone in China are likely to manifest on June 9th, when company chief executive Steve Jobs is widely expected to take the wraps off a 3G iPhone and outline a roll out strategy.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[nvidia2008]

So looks like the analysts will all be putting a list together of the countries that *aren't* getting an iPhone - it will be easier... EXCEPT FOR MALAYSIA WHERE IS THE iPHONE MAXIS/ CELCOM/ DIGI ?

[logic368]

wow, only 15.9 subscribers? I sure wouldn't wanna be the last .9!

[yvo84]

Awesome, hope it comes to 3 in Australia. $15 for 1gig on HSDPA speeds

[Dauphin]

well that is cool for the chinese people, now we've seen this announcements over and over for the last 2 monts, i love getting the scoop about iPhone everywwhere, as much as the next, but, what i'd really like to know is if they are goiong to have a massive worldwide lach like the device deeserves or they are going to make us wait for it in the rest of teh world... what do you guys thinks?? midnight lauch all over the world anyone???

[Bergermeister]

Can we put together a list of countries that seem to be getting it?

Thanks in advance, Suni!

[retroneo]

Originally Posted by Bergermeister

Can we put together a list of countries that seem to be getting it?

Thanks in advance, Suni!

iPhone Availability - 50 + 13 = 63 countries - 575m subscribers (+telefonica+teliasonera+3)
United States Jun 29 AT&T Exclusive
United Kingdom Nov 9 O2 Exclusive
Germany Nov 9 T-Mobile Exclusive
France Nov 29 Orange Exclusive
Ireland Mar 14 O2 Exclusive
Austria Mar 14 T-Mobile, Orange
Canada 2008 Rogers
Australia 2008 Vodafone, Optus
New Zealand 2008 Vodafone
Italy 2008 Vodafone, TIM
Czech Republic 2008 Vodafone
Greece 2008 Vodafone
Portugal 2008 Vodafone, Orange
Poland 2008 Orange
Romania 2008 Orange Exclusive
Slovakia 2008 Orange
Turkey 2008 Vodafone
Switzerland 2008 Swisscom, Orange
Belgium 2008 Orange Exclusive
Finland 2008 TeliaSonera
Sweden 2008 TeliaSonera
Norway 2008 TeliaSonera
Denmark 2008 TeliaSonera
Lithuania 2008 TeliaSonera
Latvia 2008 TeliaSonera
Estonia 2008 TeliaSonera
Jordan 2008 Orange
India 2008 Vodafone, Bharti
Singapore 2008 Singtel
Philippines 2008 Globe
Hong Kong 2008 3
Macau 2008 3
Egypt 2008 Vodafone, Orange
South Africa 2008 Vodafone
Mexico 2008 Telcel
Brazil 2008 Claro
Chile 2008 Claro
Dominican Rep 2008 Claro, Orange
El Salvador 2008 Claro
Guatemala 2008 Claro
Honduras 2008 Claro
Nicaragua 2008 Claro
Peru 2008 Claro
Argentina 2008 Claro
Uruguay 2008 Claro
Paraguay 2008 Claro
Puerto Rico 2008 Claro
Colombia 2008 Comcel
Ecuador 2008 Porta
Spain 2008 Movistar


13 African Countries 2008 Orange

[Bergermeister]

Thanks!

Apple now has rights to use the name iPhone in Japan...

http://www.digitalworldtokyo.com/ind...t_certain_now/

Any more on that Korea/Japan rumor? My current phone can't hold out much longer...

[SpamSandwich]

Originally Posted by Bergermeister

Thanks!

Apple now has rights to use the name iPhone in Japan...

http://www.digitalworldtokyo.com/ind...t_certain_now/

Any more on that Korea/Japan rumor? My current phone can't hold out much longer...

What do you care about phones? You're in a Southern Paradise.

[nvidia2008]

Originally Posted by Bergermeister

Can we put together a list of countries that seem to be getting it?
Thanks in advance, Suni!

Retroneo and also the g33ks at Wikipedia beat me to it

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by nvidia2008

Retroneo and also the g33ks at Wikipedia beat me to it
<image>]

I love Wikipedia!

[nvidia2008]

This version I made in Google Maps. Let's enjoy teh Intarweb 2.0000!
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UT...a071d4da217e56

I think this is an interesting view because it illustrates iPhone availability by country, rather than landmass.The bonus points would go to anyone that can display iPhone availability by country as listed as proportionately-distorted landmass based on subscriber base.

[nvidia2008]

The Africa list is from http://www.africantelecomsnews.com/L...le_telcos.html as it relates to possible Orange introductions of iPhone.

Thar Web 2.0! FTW!

[winterspan]

So is it only Macau and Hong Kong that have 3G UMTS networks? Doesn't mainland China have a policy where they will only use home-grown 3G networks aka "TD-SCDMA"?

[Nanotech]

It's finally in Hong Kong! Being in Hong Kong this should be welcome news. Though I've seen hacked iPhones around here already.