Apple signs iPhone deals for Hong Kong, Macau

Posted:
in iPhone edited January 2014
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.

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 14
    nvidia2008nvidia2008 Posts: 9,262member
    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 ?
  • Reply 2 of 14
    logic368logic368 Posts: 36member
    wow, only 15.9 subscribers? I sure wouldn't wanna be the last .9!
  • Reply 3 of 14
    yvo84yvo84 Posts: 84member
    Awesome, hope it comes to 3 in Australia. $15 for 1gig on HSDPA speeds
  • Reply 4 of 14
    dauphindauphin Posts: 3member
    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???
  • Reply 5 of 14
    bergermeisterbergermeister Posts: 6,784member
    Can we put together a list of countries that seem to be getting it?



    Thanks in advance, Suni!
  • Reply 6 of 14
    retroneoretroneo Posts: 240member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Bergermeister View Post


    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\t\tJun 29\tAT&T\t\tExclusive

    United Kingdom\tNov 9\tO2 \t\t\tExclusive

    Germany\t\t\tNov 9\tT-Mobile\t\tExclusive

    France\t\t\tNov 29\tOrange\t\tExclusive

    Ireland\t\t\tMar 14\tO2\t\t\tExclusive

    Austria\t\t\tMar 14\tT-Mobile, Orange

    Canada\t\t\t2008\tRogers

    Australia\t\t\t2008\tVodafone, Optus

    New Zealand\t\t2008\tVodafone

    Italy\t\t\t\t2008\tVodafone, TIM

    Czech Republic\t2008\tVodafone

    Greece\t\t\t2008\tVodafone

    Portugal\t\t\t2008\tVodafone, Orange

    Poland\t\t\t2008\tOrange

    Romania\t\t\t2008\tOrange\t\tExclusive

    Slovakia\t\t\t2008\tOrange

    Turkey\t\t\t2008\tVodafone

    Switzerland\t\t2008\tSwisscom, Orange

    Belgium\t\t\t2008\tOrange\t\tExclusive

    Finland\t\t\t2008\tTeliaSonera\t

    Sweden\t\t\t2008\tTeliaSonera

    Norway\t\t\t2008\tTeliaSonera

    Denmark\t\t\t2008\tTeliaSonera

    Lithuania\t\t\t2008\tTeliaSonera

    Latvia\t\t\t2008\tTeliaSonera

    Estonia\t\t\t2008\tTeliaSonera

    Jordan\t\t\t2008\tOrange

    India\t\t\t\t2008\tVodafone, Bharti

    Singapore\t\t2008\tSingtel

    Philippines\t\t2008\tGlobe

    Hong Kong\t\t2008\t3

    Macau\t\t\t2008\t3

    Egypt\t\t\t2008\tVodafone, Orange

    South Africa\t\t2008\tVodafone

    Mexico\t\t\t2008\tTelcel

    Brazil\t\t\t2008\tClaro

    Chile\t\t\t2008\tClaro

    Dominican Rep\t2008\tClaro, Orange

    El Salvador\t\t2008\tClaro

    Guatemala\t\t2008\tClaro

    Honduras\t\t\t2008\tClaro

    Nicaragua\t\t2008\tClaro

    Peru\t\t\t\t2008\tClaro

    Argentina\t\t\t2008\tClaro

    Uruguay\t\t\t2008\tClaro

    Paraguay\t\t\t2008\tClaro

    Puerto Rico\t\t2008\tClaro

    Colombia\t\t\t2008\tComcel

    Ecuador\t\t\t2008\tPorta

    Spain\t\t\t2008\tMovistar





    13 African Countries\t2008\tOrange
  • Reply 7 of 14
    bergermeisterbergermeister Posts: 6,784member
    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...
  • Reply 8 of 14
    SpamSandwichSpamSandwich Posts: 33,407member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Bergermeister View Post


    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.
  • Reply 9 of 14
    nvidia2008nvidia2008 Posts: 9,262member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Bergermeister View Post


    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



  • Reply 10 of 14
    solipsismsolipsism Posts: 25,726member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by nvidia2008 View Post


    Retroneo and also the g33ks at Wikipedia beat me to it

    <image>]



    I love Wikipedia!
  • Reply 11 of 14
    nvidia2008nvidia2008 Posts: 9,262member
    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.



  • Reply 12 of 14
    nvidia2008nvidia2008 Posts: 9,262member
    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!



  • Reply 13 of 14
    winterspanwinterspan Posts: 605member
    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"?
  • Reply 14 of 14
    nanotechnanotech Posts: 38member
    It's finally in Hong Kong! Being in Hong Kong this should be welcome news. Though I've seen hacked iPhones around here already.
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