Neil Hughes
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 21 other countries the last Friday in September. A week before that, it debuted in the U.S. and 8 other countries. By December, the iPhone 5 will be available in a total of 100 countries with 240 carriers.
William Gallagher
Malcolm Owen
Charles Martin
30 Comments
No, this is wrong. They've "moved on" from the iPhone in Asia.
Right? Right?
This article is bs. How can someone come in from outside of HK and know what's happening locally in terms of sales. 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.
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…
I am pretty sure the article lists the wrong date for availability in Hong Kong. I recall it launching on the 21st as part of the first wave.
They shipped only a few thousend iPhones to China, to keep the demand artificially high, like they do it all the time!