Should I get an iPhone in Asia?
Can I buy the iPhone? The iPhone is like any other mobile handset. Anyone can buy it from the cellular carrier--in this case, AT&T in the US--or its affiliated stores. However, the iPhone's SIM card will be locked to the device, meaning you cannot use any other SIM cards (including your current AT&T card, if you have one) with the phone. In other words, until someone finds a way to unlock the SIM card feature on the iPhone (which will be illegal, by the way), you are stuck with the AT&T service if you want to use the cellular functions. How much do I have to pay? When you purchase the iPhone in the US, there is a two-year mobile subscription you have to sign with AT&T. That includes a US$36 activation fee and monthly data plans ranging from US$59.99 to US$99.99, which comes to a grand total of almost US$1,500 for two years of mobile subscription. That's not even inclusive of the cost of the iPhone itself, which will retail for US$499 (4GB) and US$599 (8GB). Additionally, you have to factor in the cost of accessories if you are getting those, and which probably has to be bought online since these are likely to be available only in the US.
The simplest way is to perhaps join the queues forming at the Apple stores, if you happen to be in the US now. However, based on the overwhelming response and unknown quantities of the handset available, it seems likely that not everyone will be getting one during the initial launch period. So the best bet for those of us in Asia is to either get a friend in the US to start queuing or buy it online off reseller and auction sites at a premium. Do note that the units purchased online may or may not include subscription charges. Can I use the iPhone in Asia? Technically, the iPhone's quadband GSM network capability should allow it be used in many parts of Asia (except perhaps Japan and Korea). However, with the SIM card locked to AT&T, the only way it seems you can use the cellular functions of the iPhone in Asia is through its roaming services. This means you will have to incur long distance charges everytime you make a call. If you choose not to use the cellular features, the iPhone's other onboard functions including its Web browsers and multimedia players should still be usable. When will it be launched in Asia? During the iPhone announcement at the last MacWorld, it was mentioned that the touchscreen mobile will be launched in Asia only in mid-2008. Any difference(s) between the iPhone in the US and the one that will come to Asia? While there are no reports on the differences between the iPhone in the US and the set that will eventually ship to our part of the world, many industry analysts have speculated that the unit in Asia will possibly come with added features including 3G/HSDPA as well as more affordable (lower storage capacity) options. | |||||||
What to look out for?- Talkback
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