'iPhone 5 fever' sweeps Hong Kong as mainland China awaits Apple's launch
Stores in Hong Kong remain sold out of Apple's iPhone 5 as overwhelming demand continues. That's expected to spread soon to mainland China, as carrier China Unicom is said to be gearing up for the iPhone 5 launch.
The details come from analyst Brian White with Topeka Capital Markets, who is currently touring the region. He said all of the stores he has visited in Hong Kong were sold out of the iPhone 5, and described the city as having "iPhone 5 fever."
"At Apple's retail store, the iPhone 5 can be ordered online and a lottery process determines who is eligible for pickup at the store the next day," he wrote. "Based on our conversations, you might have a better shot at winning the lottery than getting the iPhone 5 the next day."
Meanwhile, China Unicom is said to have sold out completely of the iPhone 4S at some of its stores. That's because the carrier is looking to "avoid an inventory situation ahead of the iPhone 5 launch" in December, White said.
The iPhone has room to grow in China, as Apple's handset currently represents about 15 percent of the nation's smartphone market. The company is also addressing only about a third of the nation's subscriber base, China Unicom and China Telecom. A deal with China Mobile, which is the world's largest carrier with 688 million subscribers, has been rumored for years but never come to fruition.
The iPhone 5 launched in Hong Kong and 8 other countries on September 21. By December, the iPhone 5 will be available in a total of 100 countries with 240 carriers.
The details come from analyst Brian White with Topeka Capital Markets, who is currently touring the region. He said all of the stores he has visited in Hong Kong were sold out of the iPhone 5, and described the city as having "iPhone 5 fever."
"At Apple's retail store, the iPhone 5 can be ordered online and a lottery process determines who is eligible for pickup at the store the next day," he wrote. "Based on our conversations, you might have a better shot at winning the lottery than getting the iPhone 5 the next day."
Meanwhile, China Unicom is said to have sold out completely of the iPhone 4S at some of its stores. That's because the carrier is looking to "avoid an inventory situation ahead of the iPhone 5 launch" in December, White said.
The iPhone has room to grow in China, as Apple's handset currently represents about 15 percent of the nation's smartphone market. The company is also addressing only about a third of the nation's subscriber base, China Unicom and China Telecom. A deal with China Mobile, which is the world's largest carrier with 688 million subscribers, has been rumored for years but never come to fruition.
The iPhone 5 launched in Hong Kong and 8 other countries on September 21. By December, the iPhone 5 will be available in a total of 100 countries with 240 carriers.
Comments
No, this is wrong. They've "moved on" from the iPhone in Asia.
Right? Right?
In Hong Kong the only reason all Apple stores are sold out is because it is NOT FOR SALE! In the store. As the grey market last year spoil the normal way of purchasing an iPhone, there is a lottery system whereby you can only purchase an iPhone 5 this way. It's to deter the grey market buyers who tries with every release to purchase as many iPhones as they can and makes profit in between to sell to users in China for triple the price.
I don't think it's really selling hot in Hong Kong. On the trains every day I see only 4S or Samsung S3 or Note users. I rarely see someone with an iPhone 5.
Originally Posted by moustache
I don't think it's really selling hot in Hong Kong. On the trains every day I see only 4S or Samsung S3 or Note users. I rarely see someone with an iPhone 5.
Been out for 17 days…
Well it is sold via the stores but you are correct that anyone just walking in will be told they are sold out since the lottery has taken all the units.
It's the same in the US right now at most of the stores. Personal pickup every night consumes the stock that comes in every day.
I can see it's at 700 again. This is the great time to buy.
Apple Hong Kong had to set up a lottery system to determine which of the millions of preorders to fulfill each day - clear evidence of how terrible the product is and how the brainwashed masses are being fooled by Apple into throwing away their hard earned cash on a something so inferior to (fill in the blank).
Sorry, just been seeing way to many comments (on many sites) from folks who just don't get it and accuse any one of choosing to use an Apple branded product as somehow less than themselves because they chose to spend their hard earned cash on a product that is so clearly superior in every possible way that they maker's of those products come by every night to tuck them in a read them a bed time story about how the Big Bad Jobs won't ever take away the removable battery in their (fill in non-Apple product here).
First bird flu, now "iPhone 5 fever". Will Hong Kong ever be spared epidemics???
"Fever" in a story about Asia.
Hmm.
Originally Posted by matrix07
I can see it's at 700 again. This is the great time to buy.
You mean nearly 600.
Quote:
Originally Posted by lilgto64
Apple Hong Kong had to set up a lottery system to determine which of the millions of preorders to fulfill each day - clear evidence of how terrible the product is and how the brainwashed masses are being fooled by Apple into throwing away their hard earned cash on a something so inferior to (fill in the blank).
Sorry, just been seeing way to many comments (on many sites) from folks who just don't get it and accuse any one of choosing to use an Apple branded product as somehow less than themselves because they chose to spend their hard earned cash on a product that is so clearly superior in every possible way that they maker's of those products come by every night to tuck them in a read them a bed time story about how the Big Bad Jobs won't ever take away the removable battery in their (fill in non-Apple product here).
How true, so many companies were all over this when the first phone came out and said that alone will cause it to be a failure, only to see most new phones are going the same way, The fact a phone has a removable batteries today means it is a failure since it means you have to replace batteries during the day. No need to remove a battery if it last all day long.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tallest Skil
You mean nearly 600.
Well according to that guy Kass Apple "topped" at 90!.... and then 130, and then in the 200's and then 300 and then....
People in Hong Kong have reported yellow heugh instead of purple on their cameras.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ireland
So the stock goes down.
Down from the recent high of $705.00
Those shorts are really doing an impressive hatchet job.
Quote:
Originally Posted by tylerk36
People in Hong Kong have reported yellow heugh instead of purple on their cameras.
Didn't they tell you to never eat yellow-hued iphones?
Originally Posted by SpamSandwich
Down from the recent high of $705.00
Those shorts are really doing an impressive hatchet job.
Don't you understand; Apple is doomed! This is just the middle of the end! The stock will plummet until even Nokia is laughing at its price!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tallest Skil
Don't you understand; Apple is doomed! This is just the middle of the end! The stock will plummet until even Nokia is laughing at its price!
Heh...
Well, if it continues it's freefall, I may even be convinced to buy more.
Now they'll be able to take stunning photos of their protests against the mainland.