Katie MarsalHong Kong
Earlier this week, Apple updated its Hong Kong website with a huge graphic directing customers to its online store where they can purchase unlocked iPhones for use on any network available in the region.
"iPhone 3G purchased at the Apple Online Store can be activated with any wireless carrier," the company said. "Simply insert the SIM from your current phone into iPhone 3G and connect to iTunes 8 to complete activation."
An unlocked 8GB model is priced at HK $5,400 (roughly US$700) and an unlocked 16GB sells for HK$ 6,200 (roughly US$800).
The offerings are an alternative to those offered since July 11th by Hutchison Telecom's "Three," where subscribers can purchase the 8GB model for about $377 ($2938 HKD) or the 16GB model for around $479 ($3738 HKD).
Although the iPhones sold by Three are also SIM unlocked, customers must agree to a 24-month contract with monthly fees starting at $24 ($188 HKD) per month.
Hong Kong is amongst the most densely populated areas in the world, with a population of approximately 6.9 million.
Russia
Meanwhile, Reuters has gathered some information on the Russian iPhone launch, reporting that sales will begin October 3rd. This suggests that Apple's phase 3 iPhone launch, which began today in a handful of countries, will be paced over the course of several weeks.
"All retailers will begin sales of iPhone in Russia at the same time, during the night between Oct. 2 and Oct. 3," Nadezhda Senyuk, a PR director at retail chain Tekhnosila, told the news agency.
Rival chain Eldorado and M.video said it too would be in on the action, estimating that it will sell 15,000 of the 150,000 units expected to be sold in the region through the end of the year. It will market the 8GB model for 22,999 roubles ($923.6) and the 16GB for 26,999 roubles ($1,084) without a contract.
That's said to be the same pricing that will be offered through Russia's 'big three' carriers — MTS, Vimpelcom, and MegaFon — each of which inked distribution deals with Apple earlier this year.
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32 Comments
$1000.- for a phone that you have to pay high monthly fees to use. The average Russian monthly income is about $550. Crazyness!
Wow, unlocked version is so expensive. Actually if you pay to your carrier its just as expensive except that you dont "feel" it
This is awesome for China :-) The price is not out of line with top level Nokia phones and you can bet that millions of those will be finding their way into Shanghai, Beijing, etc.
Good job Steve! Screw the Mainland and their pesky "requests" (as reported, anyway) - Last year my Chinese friends were flying to the US for business and bringing back 10 iPhones each. Now they'll be taking the train to HK!
$1000.- for a phone that you have to pay high monthly fees to use. The average Russian monthly income is about $550. Crazyness!
Aren't there a lot of high-rollers too though? I thought that Russia was buying up most of the Ferraris these days.
Aren't there a lot of high-rollers too though? I thought that Russia was buying up most of the Ferraris these days.
Russian gangsters love sports cars, fancy wheels and gold. The iPhone should fit right in with their culture of conspicuous consumption.