iPhone Announced for Hong Kong and Macau

[MacRumors]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com)

Hutchison Telecommunications Limited announced (http://www.three.com.hk/website/template?pageid=23110〈=eng&prid=news20080529) that the iPhone would be coming to Hong Kong and Macau later this year.Hong Kong and Macau, 29th May 2008 - Hutchison Telecommunications Limited today announced that it has signed an agreement with Apple to bring the iPhone to Hong Kong and Macau later this year.No other details as has been typical for these international iPhone announcements.

Article Link (http://www.macrumors.com/iphone/2008/05/29/iphone-announced-for-hong-kong-and-macau/)

[erandall38]

This should help give AAPL a nice boost tomorrow.

[samh004]

Oh goodie, this is exactly what the doctor ordered. Good bye Australia, I'll now be buying my new iPhone in Hong Kong, without the GST and other high costs associated with Australia.

Awesome news!

[matthewlesh]

Oh goodie, this is exactly what the doctor ordered. Good bye Australia, I'll now be buying my new iPhone in Hong Kong, without the GST and other high costs associated with Australia.

Awesome news!

Lol.. Yes.. me to. I guess they'll pop up on ebay like flies.. or just new time i'm up that way.

[un3creation]

To be fair, I am totally disappointed on this agreement.

3HK has no taste at all....
especially on how they treat their customers...
the network quality...and how they deal with problems...

I mean ...think about it....
what if the UK's sole iPhone operator be 3UK? will you guys happy?
or shall i just say....
is there any 3 has got the contract for iPhone in other place?
come on....it is certainly not a good news for local people...
This time...apple's choice is so poor ....they have chosen the worst one...in HK.

[lowbb]

better than peoples at least:p

[LionsKiss]

I am on SmarTone-Vodafone in HK so not the best news. But hopefully 3 in HK will be selling it unlocked. Well if they are not, the prices of unlocked phones in HK of iphone 2 should be more reasonable. Assuming that the locking mechanism has not improved.

[008325]

better than peoples at least:p


Peoples network better than 3HK , 500% Sure

[ptlnfc]

I hope they'd sell the iphone just like other mobiles -- without being locked to a certain network.

[samh004]

Obviously I'm counting on the iPhone being sold at a slightly pricier unlocked rate. I wouldn't buy it tied to a particular provider as I travel a lot and do not roam, I switch SIM cards.

And I'm with People's in HK and it's crap where I am. China Mobile generally screws me with their coverage taking over my area and I get done for roaming.

[matthutch]

Peoples network better than 3HK , 500% Sure

Coverage for peoples is horrible. I had nothing but trouble with them. I found 3 had better coverage, not all 3G but their 2G fail over network gave me much better coverage than Peoples.

[joeshell383]

Well this is just getting ridiculous. I think the question is now who ISN'T getting the iPhone!

[Yvan256]

Well this is just getting ridiculous. I think the question is now who ISN'T getting the iPhone!

Canadians. :(

Once we see the rates, it will probably be the same as not getting it, anyway. Not to mention that Rogers has zero coverage for my area.

[samh004]

Lol.. Yes.. me to. I guess they'll pop up on ebay like flies.. or just new time i'm up that way.

I thought you were from Melbourne, not Hong Kong.

What would you be doing in Hong Kong?

[abrooks]

Canadians. :(

Once we see the rates, it will probably be the same as not getting it, anyway. Not to mention that Rogers has zero coverage for my area.

You can't say you're not getting it as Rogers has officially announced (http://news.worldofapple.com/archives/2008/04/29/rogers-to-bring-iphone-to-canada-later-this-year/) that they will bring the iPhone to Canada.

[watergun]

Darn, I am too disappointed with Apple's choice for HK network provider. CSL and Smartone-Vodafone both are much better than 3. $$$ over quality, I guess. :D The good news though is that iPhone is finally here...officially LOL...

[overminer]

My Uncle in HK should be real happy. No more black market iphones.

[stagi]

Great news! Thats a huge market and I hope they do well over there.

[ptlnfc]

it's legally, but not officially there. so i think it would be more appropriate to call it 'grey market' instead of 'black market'.

[nikiski]

To be fair, Smartone-Vodafone has the best coverage (number of cell towers). I don't think 3 even comes close.

I would prefer PCCW though. I'm with them at the moment. Actually, my whole family is on PCCW. At least PCCW don't put a "3" or "Smartone" logo on their phones.

[rtao]

3HK has to be the most stupid choice in Hong Kong, very bad call quality on their 3G network, thanks to their Japanese partner NTT DoCoMo, they are using some early adapter backbone equipments and that just made you feel like you are talking to someone "underwater" most of the time.

Thank You, Mr. Lee


by the way, if Smartone is not going to carry iPhone in the near future, I am going to get that fancy HTC Touch Diamond instead and say no to Mr. Lee

[hene01]

I am moving to hong kong in august and planning on getting an iphone from there, if it is possible to get it without being locked to any particular service provider. Anyone from HK who can make any educated guess if it will be locked to the service provider who is going to have the rights to it, or will it work with all service providers(without being hacked).

thanks in advance.

[rtao]

I am moving to hong kong in august and planning on getting an iphone from there, if it is possible to get it without being locked to any particular service provider. Anyone from HK who can make any educated guess if it will be locked to the service provider who is going to have the rights to it, or will it work with all service providers(without being hacked).

thanks in advance.

Normally handsets sold by the carriers here in Hong Kong are locked, but from time to time there are models that are not, no one know until it release

[matthewlesh]

I thought you were from Melbourne, not Hong Kong.

What would you be doing in Hong Kong?

Holidaying or i could ask a friend who's their holidaying or for business.

[naashraf]

Normally handsets sold by the carriers here in Hong Kong are locked, but from time to time there are models that are not, no one know until it release

I do not think your statement is right here. I live here and have used all of the service providers in last 10 years. I have been into contracts and non-contracts. The thing is the phone itself is NOT locked to any SIM or network however, you are tied to a contract that you have to fulfill. So you can continue the contract with say, Smartone-Vodafone and yet insert PCCW SIM.

You will need to keep paying Smartone-Vodafone for the contract period.

Also, mostly you pay the full price of the phone and if you are under a contract you will be paid back say around US$5~7 each month. This is the benefit of the contract here.

Of course you can buy ANY phone without any contract and service provider will not give you any monthly pay-back.

I am with PEOPLES and I agree their service is not very good. But they have the cheapest international rates and the only provider with EDGE in Hong Kong.

[samh004]

Holidaying or i could ask a friend who's their holidaying or for business.

You holiday in HK much, or will this be your first time?

[entropys]

I do not think your statement is right here. I live here and have used all of the service providers in last 10 years. I have been into contracts and non-contracts. The thing is the phone itself is NOT locked to any SIM or network however, you are tied to a contract that you have to fulfill. So you can continue the contract with say, Smartone-Vodafone and yet insert PCCW SIM.

You will need to keep paying Smartone-Vodafone for the contract period.

.......
I am with PEOPLES and I agree their service is not very good. But they have the cheapest international rates and the only provider with EDGE in Hong Kong.

I would imagine you can buy out the contract if you wanted to as well.
So 3HK does not do edge at all? that means it is definitely 3G, otherwise why would hutchinson announce it?. it also means that 3 in Australia (hutchinson) doesn't have the iphone. Bummer.

[kerolau]

Smartone is the best in coverage, but it usually bundles its high-end phone with high-end plan. PCCW and 3HK networks are bad in quality. But I think once there is officially unlocked product in HK, we are possible to buy in big electronics stores regardless the network.

BTW, 3HK also has 2G network, it does not necessarily mean the machine is 3G iPhone.

[Dreamer2go]

I am very very very disappointed with this decision.
I would have thought 1010 would be the main service provider because 1010 is the premium service provider in Hong Kong.

Most likely I'm going to get an iphone in the States, and jailbreak it.
Very disappointing indeed.

[naashraf]

I would imagine you can buy out the contract if you wanted to as well.
So 3HK does not do edge at all? that means it is definitely 3G, otherwise why would hutchinson announce it?. it also means that 3 in Australia (hutchinson) doesn't have the iphone. Bummer.

You will have to pay the monthly fee for the remaining period plus early termination handling fee.

Yes, 3HK does not do the EDGE. In Hong Kong only PEOPLES have EDGE all others have GPRS or 3G.

[naashraf]

I am very very very disappointed with this decision.
I would have thought 1010 would be the main service provider because 1010 is the premium service provider in Hong Kong.
.

May be you have a very high salary so can afford the 1010 services for anything else than voice minutes. Voice minutes are damn cheap here in almost every service provider. But 1010 just rips you off in services other than voice. It is THE MOST expensive provider in Hong Kong.

But I do agree their reception is very best. I used to get signal even in elevators.

[Dreamer2go]

May be you have a very high salary so can afford the 1010 services for anything else than voice minutes. Voice minutes are damn cheap here in almost every service provider. But 1010 just rips you off in services other than voice. It is THE MOST expensive provider in Hong Kong.

But I do agree their reception is very best. I used to get signal even in elevators.

I don't lol
I'm still a student.
But the point is, I thought Apple would have chose the more premium carrier. (Like in the states, AT&T/Cingular is the better provider VS T-mobile or Verizon)

[LionsKiss]

There is no word on that it will be locked yet, so all you have to do is go via 3 in HK to buy it and get your sim card in the phone.

[icecone]

I don't lol
I'm still a student.
But the point is, I thought Apple would have chose the more premium carrier. (Like in the states, AT&T/Cingular is the better provider VS T-mobile or Verizon)

would the "premium carriers" accept sharing their profits with :apple:? :rolleyes:
and i'd say AT&T is worse than t-mobile and verizon in the US.

[atropos]

ATT is good?? First time I heard..... Apple also sign with Rogers in Canada, in fact customer always get pissed of by Rogers..... also iPhone won't be single carrier in each country( thats what Steve said.. and thats company normally do); on the bottom line, is all about business, if 3 offer a good deal to Apple, Apple sign with them, nothing wrong with it rite?

[un3creation]

ATT is good?? First time I heard..... Apple also sign with Rogers in Canada, in fact customer always get pissed of by Rogers..... also iPhone won't be single carrier in each country( thats what Steve said.. and thats company normally do); on the bottom line, is all about business, if 3 offer a good deal to Apple, Apple sign with them, nothing wrong with it rite?

yeah u a rite...business only...
but may i point out that.....if...just if..
if the operator got the iPhone locked...and exclusive in HK....
and they do even has a hobbies of putting their brand logo on the phone ...

would you start to worry the sale overall in Hong Kong?

People here in Hong Kong dun really get headset subsides heavily by mobile operators as other place.... the price tag of iPhone is not a problem at all...
as some people usually change their phone once a year....
And the contract usually get a "good" price on tariff...

Generally...the "lock" culture is not popular in Hong Kong...if they imply the old rule....this would hurt the sales even further...

The good news is the SCMP claimed that....there might be other operator in talk with Apple...as the talk is "easier" than before as their source told SCMP.

[Dreamer2go]

^
That may be good news
I really want to buy the phone here and be able to use it back in the states as well.

[jimmychef]

What is the point???

at the moment there is no itunes store avaiable so even if we get a legitamate iPhone, we cant put any music or movies or ringtones or......

aparently asians cant be trusted not to pirate everything they touch according to apple. what a load of rubbish. Hong Kong and Macau are seen as third world countries in apples eyes. i am myself a british expat that used itunes at home for years but when i moved to Hong Kong, itunes detected that i was not in the uk anymore and blocked my account. apple basically gave me no option to buy legal online music, films etc...

im not the only disgruntled person out there and would love to hear others views!!

http://theory.isthereason.com/?p=1251

[icecone]

What is the point???

at the moment there is no itunes store avaiable so even if we get a legitamate iPhone, we cant put any music or movies or ringtones or......

aparently asians cant be trusted not to pirate everything they touch according to apple. what a load of rubbish. Hong Kong and Macau are seen as third world countries in apples eyes. i am myself a british expat that used itunes at home for years but when i moved to Hong Kong, itunes detected that i was not in the uk anymore and blocked my account. apple basically gave me no option to buy legal online music, films etc...

im not the only disgruntled person out there and would love to hear others views!!

http://theory.isthereason.com/?p=1251
you DON'T need itunes store to put music into your ipod
and you can buy your music from an HMV:rolleyes:

[jimmychef]

while i cannot fault your inciteful observations it does not detract from the fact that the main selling point is the "one stop shop" that i had access to while living in a "first world" country. perhaps it is my own fault for moving to this supposed undeveloped back water.

seriously though, HMV? is that the best you could come up with. perhaps i should dust of my diskman or bettering that my boom box... yeah!

[ptlnfc]

Are you from the 50's?

[valanchan]

What is the point???

at the moment there is no itunes store avaiable so even if we get a legitamate iPhone, we cant put any music or movies or ringtones or......

aparently asians cant be trusted not to pirate everything they touch according to apple. what a load of rubbish. Hong Kong and Macau are seen as third world countries in apples eyes. i am myself a british expat that used itunes at home for years but when i moved to Hong Kong, itunes detected that i was not in the uk anymore and blocked my account. apple basically gave me no option to buy legal online music, films etc...

im not the only disgruntled person out there and would love to hear others views!!

http://theory.isthereason.com/?p=1251

I am not sure how Apple blocked your account since mine works fine when using the British iTunes Store in HK. I use a bank account in a British Bank.

I was hoping that Apple would go with PCCW and there is a possibility that they could be a second carrier. Here's hoping.

[Dreamer2go]

What is the point???

at the moment there is no itunes store avaiable so even if we get a legitamate iPhone, we cant put any music or movies or ringtones or......

aparently asians cant be trusted not to pirate everything they touch according to apple. what a load of rubbish. Hong Kong and Macau are seen as third world countries in apples eyes. i am myself a british expat that used itunes at home for years but when i moved to Hong Kong, itunes detected that i was not in the uk anymore and blocked my account. apple basically gave me no option to buy legal online music, films etc...

im not the only disgruntled person out there and would love to hear others views!!

http://theory.isthereason.com/?p=1251

er...
I was born and raised in Hong Kong. 3 years ago, I went to the US for college and had my bank stuff set up there...I can use Itunes music store (US) from then on. I can also buy music from HK using the US itunes store when I'm not in the States.
So I dont know why Apple would "block" your account...

[keisuke_7]

You will have to pay the monthly fee for the remaining period plus early termination handling fee.

Yes, 3HK does not do the EDGE. In Hong Kong only PEOPLES have EDGE all others have GPRS or 3G.

actually csl also have EDGE... just to rub it in, i guess your 10 years of mobile network usage in HK didn't count for much then.... also some phones are locked in hk, why do people think that all phones are unlocked in hk??? for example, try inserting another provider's sim card into a Smartone branded blackberry... no go there...

but generally three hk is rather crap... where i live i used to get full bars of reception on Smartone and now on Three; i hardly get any reception...

2G iphone on Three HK network? don't even think about it... using it right now and it is completely *****... as 2G does not support simultaneous voice and data, people can't call me as its always in email checking mode.... why? try having around 50 emails a day and an average 11.5kbps download rate (yes GPRS data rate [in central] on 3HK is that shockingly slow.. note the lower case "kb" as in kilobits not kilobytes....).

[Dreamer2go]

http://www.apple.com/hk/iphone/buy/

look at this?
seems like it might be unlocked? or what

[kyen1]

A friend of mine seems convinced that you will be able to buy (officially) the iPhone 3G unlocked for the equivalent of USD199/299. No doubt there will be unlocked phones, but officially and at the same price of the US subsidized phones? I doubt it.

I haven't actually read anything official that would confirm a contract agreement is required, although as we know, 3HK signed an agreement with Apple to bring the iPhone 3G to Hong Kong...now why would they do that unless a service contract was required??

[zeasar]

If 3 do sell the iphone unlocked Im gona fly back to HK just for the sake of getting the iphone. Even if they sell it at a higher price, its gona be way cheaper then what O2 would charge.

[hene01]

Is it usually possible to end an subscription in advance in Hong Kong ? Im personally moving to hong kong for a year, so i have no problem buying an iphone then and paying for it every month as long as I am there. But I don't feel like continuing to pay for it once I have left.

So, is there normally an early termination fee or something you can pay to get rid of an subscription ?

[bartman-chinese]

I'm not very sure but I believe Apple is selling the iPhone through other providers in HK too. My parents are both on CSL and they said that they pre-ordered the iPhone 3G throught CSL. I asked the again just to make sure and they said that they did it through CSL and not 3.

Odd, huh?

[zeasar]

I'm not very sure but I believe Apple is selling the iPhone through other providers in HK too. My parents are both on CSL and they said that they pre-ordered the iPhone 3G throught CSL. I asked the again just to make sure and they said that they did it through CSL and not 3.

Odd, huh?

My friend pre-ordered and paid a deposite from 3, not too sure about CSL. Have they pay any deposite or any written comformations?

[CrouchingDonkey]

It looks to me that 3 isn't the sole provider for the iPhone in Hong Kong. A banner on 3's website says "Available first at 3". Logic would suggest to me, they'd make more of an issue of it's exclusivity and use it as a selling point, if it were exclusive, and word it as "Only on 3", as is the case in the UK with O2. As it stands, it looks like 3 will be the first provider to launch the iPhone, with other carriers to follow?!

Three HK (http://www.three.com.hk/website/pagelet/homepage/index.jsp?lang=eng)

[kyen1]

It looks to me that 3 isn't the sole provider for the iPhone in Hong Kong. A banner on 3's website says "Available first at 3". Logic would suggest to me, they'd make more of an issue of it's exclusivity and use it as a selling point, if it were exclusive, and word it as "Only on 3", as is the case in the UK with O2. As it stands, it looks like 3 will be the first provider to launch the iPhone, with other carriers to follow?!

Three HK (http://www.three.com.hk/website/pagelet/homepage/index.jsp?lang=eng)

I sure hope this is the case. I've heard 3 sucks OO

[hene01]

whats the price of iphone in hong kong ?

[wasabi2k]

Any way to unlock and use it with another carrier?

Don't want to be using the "3" when i'm traveling in another country. Roaming's not cheap.

[rtao]

The price for 3HK is out

http://iphone.three.com.hk/website/en/iplan.html

[hene01]

What is "heard-to-heart", "multimedia content" and "text content" ?

And what does the "prepayment" price mean ?

The pricing in general in HK seems REALLY strange from what I have seen. All kinds of strange "value-added" services I have never heard of. :)

I am moving to HK in a month so thats why I am interested

[rtao]

What is "heard-to-heart", "multimedia content" and "text content" ?

And what does the "prepayment" price mean ?

The pricing in general in HK seems REALLY strange from what I have seen. All kinds of strange "value-added" services I have never heard of. :)

I am moving to HK in a month so thats why I am interested

heart-to-heart is a funky name from 3HK, that said, local voice calls within their network

"multimedia content" & "text content" is a big rip-off and stupid pay content model, like local news in text or video format, MTV or anything like that, long before we all have good mobile browser and data services, you can pretty much ignore it, and don't bother to use it at all.....

oh ya... and the prepayment... together with the handset price, you need to pay upfront when you subscribe to their services, and they will do a monthly rebate on top of your bill, for the amount that you have prepaid, over the cause of your contract period. So, the $188 plan will have a roughly $72/month rebate over 24months

:):)

[hene01]

what's that "prepayment" price then ?

How much will the 8gb model with the 188HKD/month subscription cost me in total ? is it 2938 + 24x188 or 1742 + 24x188 ? or something totally else :) ??

[CrouchingDonkey]

The pricing in general in HK seems REALLY strange from what I have seen. All kinds of strange "value-added" services I have never heard of. :)



I'm totally with you on that one! 3's tariff structures are particularly confusing to me.

I've been trying to figure out 'prepayment', and all I can imagine it to be is some sort of deposit. Not sure why that's required.

On another note, I know the tariffs start at a lower price point compared to USA/UK, but the handset is way more expensive. A total deal breaker, because you have to sign a tariff when you buy it. It works out much more than the rumoured Pay-As-You-Go price from O2 in the UK.

Get this from their FAQ page:
Q Will standalone iPhone 3G handset be available for sale?
A No. The iPhone 3G needs to go with a series of data-centric tariff plan in order to perform its best. 3 Hong Kong has tailor-made a series of data tariff plans, coupled with unique contents and applications, allowing 3G users to fully indulge in the mobile Internet world.

'Needs'? I think that's pure marketing bollocks for starters! Hehe!

[rtao]

what's that "prepayment" price then ?

How much will the 8gb model with the 188HKD/month subscription cost me in total ? is it 2938 + 24x188 or 1742 + 24x188 ? or something totally else :) ??

for an 8G iPhone, no matter which plan you go for, your upfront cost will be the same, which is $4680, now depends on which plan you go for, the rebate will be different, that's the prepayment come in to play.

for example, the $188/month plan, the total rebate over 24months will be $1742, which is the prepayment figure, which is roughly $72/month, so your month bill will be $116 ($188-$72) for 24months

if you go for the $268/month plan, the total rebate is $2942, and your monthly rebate is about $122, and the actual monthly bill will be around $146

Get it?

[rtao]

I'm totally with you on that one! 3's tariff structures are particularly confusing to me.

I've been trying to figure out 'prepayment', and all I can imagine it to be is some sort of deposit. Not sure why that's required.

On another note, I know the tariffs start at a lower price point compared to USA/UK, but the handset is way more expensive. A total deal breaker, because you have to sign a tariff when you buy it. It works out much more than the rumoured Pay-As-You-Go price from O2 in the UK.

Get this from their FAQ page:
Q Will standalone iPhone 3G handset be available for sale?
A No. The iPhone 3G needs to go with a series of data-centric tariff plan in order to perform its best. 3 Hong Kong has tailor-made a series of data tariff plans, coupled with unique contents and applications, allowing 3G users to fully indulge in the mobile Internet world.

'Needs'? I think that's pure marketing bollocks for starters! Hehe!

well... depends on what "tailor-made" means......
this is their normal mobile data services charage,

http://www.three.com.hk/website/template?pageid=35260&lang=eng

which is way more expensive than the iPhone one on the lower end, so they "tailor-made" the lower-end to fit iPhone users :D:D

[CrouchingDonkey]

well... depends on what "tailor-made" means......
this is their normal mobile data services charage,


Actually, you've just highlighted something else I think is bollocks. 'Tailor-made', suggests it's made to suit each individual customer. As in when you buy a tailor-made suit, it should fit you perfectly, and you get to choose how it's finished; buttons, pockets, collar etc. Somehow, with 3's tariffs, I bet excluding the multimedia and text content for a lower monthly price won't be an option. I've asked them previously about their tariffs, if I can add an 'Inter SMS' bundle, but no such thing exists, and SMS to other networks are charged individually. To sum up, their tariffs sound more 'Off the rack' than 'Tailor-made'. The dirty, lying, robbing bastards! :D

[hene01]

oh man, those phones are expensive.

I think I will just wait for an unlocked version and get one of those once i arrive, that way I don't have to pay the monthly fee once I have left HK. ( I am only staying for 10 months)

[rtao]

everyone in town know all too well that, Mr. Lee, aka the owner of 3HK, is the expert in ripping people off, one way or the other, and you just can't get away with it.... :D:D:D

[brannyxx]

what happened to the steve jobs announcement?

US$200 for a 8gig model?

3 just came out with their price plan.

for the 8gig model it will cost 2900HKD! that is double what steve said!

and there is no rebate involved! that is the base cost...

i guess we have no choice.

[CrouchingDonkey]

for the 8gig model it will cost 2900HKD! that is double what steve said!

i guess we have no choice.

I'm going to wait a while. If you read between the lines on 3 HK's website, I don't think they have absolute exclusivity.

They said that the iPhone was 'Available first on 3', on an earlier banner. And now on the FAQ page it reads:
Q Is 3 Hong Kong the exclusive dealer?
A We are the only operator selling iPhone 3G on 11 July 2008.

If they were the sole carrier for the life of the iPhone 3G, they wouldn't have to put the date in there. Seems to me, another carrier will offer it in days to come.

[brannyxx]

I'm going to wait a while. If you read between the lines on 3 HK's website, I don't think they have absolute exclusivity.

They said that the iPhone was 'Available first on 3', on an earlier banner. And now on the FAQ page it reads:
Q Is 3 Hong Kong the exclusive dealer?
A We are the only operator selling iPhone 3G on 11 July 2008.

If they were the sole carrier for the life of the iPhone 3G, they wouldn't have to put the date in there. Seems to me, another carrier will offer it in days to come.


yep . The other carrier to have signed is CSL.
but you are right. I talked to a sales. they say their are the "first" and not exclusive.

The other question i asked is if they are selling sim locked i phones. and they said they didn't know yet.

the last question i asked was that after the initial 500 are sold out, how long will it take to replenish. and again, they said they didn't know.

Does their PR department even attempt to work out a FAQ themselves and anticipate the simplest of most asked questions?

i felt like i was talking to a brick wall.

[rtao]

yep . The other carrier to have signed is CSL.
but you are right. I talked to a sales. they say their are the "first" and not exclusive.

The other question i asked is if they are selling sim locked i phones. and they said they didn't know yet.

the last question i asked was that after the initial 500 are sold out, how long will it take to replenish. and again, they said they didn't know.

Does their PR department even attempt to work out a FAQ themselves and anticipate the simplest of most asked questions?

i felt like i was talking to a brick wall.

I would have to believe both CSL and Smartone will eventually have iPhone on the shelf, as they might got their contract hook up via Telstra and Vodafone

[brannyxx]

I would have to believe both CSL and Smartone will eventually have iPhone on the shelf, as they might got their contract hook up via Telstra and Vodafone


CSL has definitely already announced they are offering yet. but unfortunately 3 gets rights to the initial launch.

as for smartone-vodafone, you would have thought that too. but unfortunately there is still no word from them, even after the huge 10 country deal that they announced.

anyway, newspapers have confirmed it. despite the hefty 2900HKD price tag for the phone, as far as all the 2 year contracts in the world. the all in on the 3 package is the BEST in the world... go figure... haha...

anyway. good luck on the first 500 to have it legally....

[CrouchingDonkey]

CSL has definitely already announced they are offering yet. but unfortunately 3 gets rights to the initial launch.

as for smartone-vodafone, you would have thought that too. but unfortunately there is still no word from them, even after the huge 10 country deal that they announced.

anyway, newspapers have confirmed it. despite the hefty 2900HKD price tag for the phone, as far as all the 2 year contracts in the world. the all in on the 3 package is the BEST in the world... go figure... haha...

anyway. good luck on the first 500 to have it legally....

CSL isn't much use, I want it on Smartone-Vodafone! Like 90% of my friends are on it too, which means texting is free.

It doesn't surprise me that the iPhone is cheapest in HK. Mobile calls and tariffs are generally much cheaper here than a lot of countries. But then, how many transmitters does it require to serve the whole of HK?! No where near as many as it would take to serve the whole of the UK, or even the USA. So, I find that price comparisons though good to look at, they don't mean that much in terms of true value.


The other question i asked is if they are selling sim locked i phones. and they said they didn't know yet.

the last question i asked was that after the initial 500 are sold out, how long will it take to replenish. and again, they said they didn't know.

Does their PR department even attempt to work out a FAQ themselves and anticipate the simplest of most asked questions?

Hehe! It's not just 3's PR department who are pants. I find the majority of HK companies just don't feed information to their sales force. Their job is to sell, sell, sell. Thus they don't seem to be able to answer the most simplest of questions. If it's not in their script, they don't know. I think that's incredibly bad service. Having said that, the two questions I've quote from you could be a strategic move: "We don't know how soon another shipment arrives, so you best register with us now, to be in with a chance of getting one of the first 500!" and "We don't know if we'll ever release an unlocked iPhone, so if you want one, then you best register with us now, to be in with the chance of getting one fo the first 500!" Hehe! Or, in truth as we know with Apple, they've very secretive about their next moves, so even if higher up managers/executives know exactly what's gonna happen, the sales force my not have been briefed yet.

[brannyxx]

http://iphone.three.com.hk/website/en/announce.html

lucky buggers.....

oh well... no announcement on the next batch as well...

could be as quick as august, could be as slow as october......sigh...