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Cyber Persia

The most misrepresented and misunderstood country of the world.

by Reza Hashemi, Iran


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Why Apple won't see Iran!

Sep 22, 2007 22:04

Smart people like smart things. When you like something you naturally want to own it. That is the reason all the Apple iPhone lovers around the world are so happy for the US$200 price reduction. But the story of owning an Apple product in Iran is totally different.

Most of the products are available in Iran after one or two weeks. You get a higher price, higher risk , no trained Apple technicians, and no official support and service because there is no official Apple representative in Iran.

Why? Politics!

I mean, US sanctions against Iran and US companies.

Ok, you decide to have an iPhone and pay more. What's the problem? Well, there is no contract between Apple and any mobile operator in your country. In fact, AT&T is the only operator in the world which provides iPhone services currently. People should wait at least a year till 2008 to have an operator in their country contracted with Apple. T-Mobile in Germany seems to be the first one that provides iPhone services in Europe and there is no operator in Asia yet.

But the story in Iran is different again. If Apple contracts with all the mobile operators in the world, I'm sure there are some exceptions and those exceptions are mobile operators in Iran.

Why? Politics!

The current price for an unlocked iPhone in Iran is US$1,400. It is really high. Although Apple has reduced its price by 33 percent, you get only a partial reduction of about 14 percent from third-hand retailers. If you want to have a US$400 product, you have to take the risk of unlocking your phone.

From Apple's core values of innovation, design and customer respect, you get nothing.

Why? Politics!

This is how politics enters into the everyday life of consumers buying electronics products and Apple fans inside Iran. It makes Iran a high-risk and high-profit market. The only way to have an iPhone is to buy an unlocked version. You cannot legally register your product with Apple and you may lose your iPhone's unlock status with any major software update.

Unlocking the Apple iPhone is not a hardware issue these days. You download an open source software and install it and it makes your iPhone unlocked, if you dare!

After all, you have to use it with a poor monopolized mobile communication infrastructure that I don't talk about anymore.

Can you guess why? Yes, the answer is politics.



4 comments   |   Share


 

    Talkback
Tagetes2004 says...
It much more simple. As Iranian Nationals, living in or out of Iran, remove your leader. Live within the law of commerce or make legal changes.

Sep 22, 2007 23:32
 
 
Solo500 says...
Reza,

You are doing something worthwhile, just going around the propaganda & letting people see another face of the Iranian people. But a regime that sponsors bombing a community center in Argentina, that holds holocaust denial conferences as a publicity stunt and that holds public executions of gays is not exactly doing themselves any favors.

I know that we in the US have our own problems, but the mullahcracy (and then Amadinejad on top of that!) is doing more than preventing you from getting an iPhone!

The more I comment, the more I think you are really doing some good by getting to some common ground by appealing to your fellow gadget geeks. I hope that we see changes for the better in this upcoming year.

Shalom/Salaam/صلح‌ وصفا، سلامتي‌، اشتي‌، صلح‌،

Sep 23, 2007 12:46
 
 
ronjamin says...
Listen, the vast majority of Americans have no problem with the vast majority of Iranians. The vast majority of Americans are not anti-Islamic or anti-Iranian.

I really hate to point fingers, because our leaders can be total idiots as well, but the fact remains that your leadership is too extreme. Persia/Iran is a country with a long history, smart people, rich culture. These dark times are an aberration.

But the USA is in a hard position. Do we allow tyranny to flourish and threaten the world? Do we have a military conflict with the Iranian government and risk alienating the general population that we would rather have cordial relations with? We are damned if we do, damned if we don't.

Unless you take things into your own hands. If you want help, we will give it. If you want to do it yourself, that is fine as well.

Again, join the free world. We want you. It's up to you.

Sep 24, 2007 04:30
 
 
Frenchie says...
Salam Reza!
I was looking to send an iPhone to one of my friend in Iran... well, I think I will have to dig more to find a way out!

Knowing how the tensions between USA and Iran are growing nastily lately, I decided one month ago to go in Iran and see by myself how is the situation in this country which used to be known as the prolific Persian Empire.

For all of you who left a comment, I highly encourage you to listen first what the Iranis are going through and how they have to deal with a hard regime before pointing fingers.
As a female and foreigner in Iran, I have been more than nicely welcomed everywhere by the locals.
having an ear opened to each generation, each gender and having to
deal with the omipresence of the Police, it is hard and difficult for the civilians to "take the things in their own hands" (sic Ronjamin) without facing harsh repression.

The new generation is more than highly educated, the women dress-code is MORE than reinforced by police in the street everywhere, and it is really hard to make any move without being noticed...

So for those who are quick to judge and give advice being comfortably installed behind your laptop... GET UP, GO THERE and try to see what you could do ;-)
Take your own judgement in your hand and make a difference!!!

I just came back yesterday and will try to make it again in July on my way to Cambodia where I am involved in a NGO for Children Survivors of Landmines... and guess what!!! Among all those anti-personal land mines, you will quickly figure out that the US has its part in it!!!

For a better world, for more freedom, get up and go help "in situ" where civilians need our help more than our judgment ;-)

Salam Reza... I am really proud of you and I am definitely including Iran in my to-do-list of wonderful nation to help... and will be back in your beautiful country despite the risks and encountered by a mom of two young kids, fighting for a better world, hoping that they will grow and follow my path!

Frenchie

May 24, 2008 21:39
 
 
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About Reza Hashemi

Reza Hashemi is a Web entrepreneur.He has an engineering degree in computer hardware and a Master in computer systems and networks architecture. He has experienced a condensed history of computers, operating systems and dot com generations. In his younger days, he mastered the art of playing computer games and programming for Commodore 64 then IBM 370 mainframes with card readers in university and hooked up to the Internet via a 19.6Kbps shared connection in 1993. He is also a university instructor, IT consultant and founder/CEO/board member of a couple of e-businesses since Y2K.

 
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