Apple signs iPhone deals for Hong Kong, Macau
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.
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
Thanks in advance, Suni!
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
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...
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.
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
Retroneo and also the g33ks at Wikipedia beat me to it
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I love Wikipedia!
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.
Thar Web 2.0! FTW!