So the iPhone 3G has "arrived" in Hong Kong.
The launch has been a joke to say the least. Here's the deal.
3HK is the official carrier that has signed with Apple to bring iPhone 3G to Hong Kong on 11 July 2008.
In order to get your hands on iPhone 3G, you have to fill out a "registration form" on the 3HK website and they randomly select 500 winners to collect an iPhone 3G today at some launch day event. The rest of us have to wait until 3HK contacts us when more stock is available (in other words, after all of 3HK's employees, their friends and family get their iPhones).
What is interesting is they say "randomly select" but in the same breath state that current 3HK subscribers get priority.
500 units on launch day for a market like Hong Kong is short sighted stupidity. With only 500 units, you will no way penetrate any other carriers users if you are giving your own subscribers priority. It has been reported that other carriers will be offering the iPhone 3G within a month. Therefore getting more units later doesn't help 3HK. 3HK reportedly received 70,000 registrants not including duplicates. Hardly surprising in a city of 6.5 million cell phone crazy people with bucket loads of disposable income.
For something this popular, a first come first serve system should have been adopted...yes, like everywhere else in the world. And frankly, a lot more units should have been available. When the various rate plans around the world were announced, 3HK in Hong Kong was noted for having one of the cheapest plans. Too bad they had to screw it up with such a poorly planned launch.
The launch has been a joke to say the least. Here's the deal.
3HK is the official carrier that has signed with Apple to bring iPhone 3G to Hong Kong on 11 July 2008.
In order to get your hands on iPhone 3G, you have to fill out a "registration form" on the 3HK website and they randomly select 500 winners to collect an iPhone 3G today at some launch day event. The rest of us have to wait until 3HK contacts us when more stock is available (in other words, after all of 3HK's employees, their friends and family get their iPhones).
What is interesting is they say "randomly select" but in the same breath state that current 3HK subscribers get priority.
500 units on launch day for a market like Hong Kong is short sighted stupidity. With only 500 units, you will no way penetrate any other carriers users if you are giving your own subscribers priority. It has been reported that other carriers will be offering the iPhone 3G within a month. Therefore getting more units later doesn't help 3HK. 3HK reportedly received 70,000 registrants not including duplicates. Hardly surprising in a city of 6.5 million cell phone crazy people with bucket loads of disposable income.
For something this popular, a first come first serve system should have been adopted...yes, like everywhere else in the world. And frankly, a lot more units should have been available. When the various rate plans around the world were announced, 3HK in Hong Kong was noted for having one of the cheapest plans. Too bad they had to screw it up with such a poorly planned launch.
