Fardreamer
Apple’s iPhone is all set to be available from more than a single monopolizing mobile operator in Australia and India later this year. Increasing magnitude of signs indicate that Apple is all set to break with its history of exclusive iPhone distribution with operators in the market.
“On Monday, SingTel announced it had struck a deal with Apple to distribute the iPhone in Singapore, India, Australia and the Philippines. The announcement follows Vodafone’s agreement with Apple, announced last week, to sell the iPhone in 10 countries including Australia, India and Italy. On the same day, Telecom Italia announced that it too would distribute the iPhone in Italy, the first sign that Apple was moving away from only signing exclusive deals. The Vodafone deal excluded its networks in the U.K. and Germany, where Apple has already signed exclusive distribution deals with rival operators O2 and T-Mobile. But with two operators on board to sell the iPhone in Italy, and now India and Australia, Apple appears to be taking a different approach as it widens the availability of the iPhone.
The deal between SingTel and Apple involves several different operators. SingTel Mobile will distribute the iPhone in Singapore, while the handset will be sold by Optus in Australia. Bharti Airtel and Globe Telecom will handle sales in India and the Philippines, respectively.”
SingTel is not exactly out there offering insight into the deal. When asked about the approximate timeframe when it would begin sales of the iPhone, it just made a statement saying that the handset would be available later this year.
May 13, 2008
I’m still not 100% sure why Apple doesn’t deal with all of the networks - there would be more sales then, correct? There are people like me on Orange in the UK, who, even for an iPhone, won’t change network, and that’s sales lost for Apple.
May 13, 2008
I think that Apple is trying to keep their sales to “upper end” carriers I guess. Because AT&T is so well known. I bet AT&T has some say because if people want iphones then they will have to switch to their network, so it’s a win win situation…but if iphone is available to all carriers it will help apple, not AT&T.
May 14, 2008
Man, I wish T-Mobile carried the iPhone. I’ve used the Ipod Touch and it’s so easy to use. I bought a T-Mobile Wing with Windows Mobile on it just because I could customize it to look like the iPhone. I agree with dreamer802. Having it with more carriers would be great for us and Apple, not so much for ATT
May 17, 2008
I don’t think Apple will sell Unlocked iPhone in India cause only AirTel and Hutch have announced a deal with Apple. There are many more carriers in India like Mtnl, Reliance, BPL, etc.
And also the iPhone remains locked to just 1 Number of a particular Network. So there’s no option to change the SIM too…
Australia on the other hand is getting totally Unlocked iPhones. That is the only Country where Apple seems to have made an exception…..
May 24, 2008
I think this is a great idea. India and Australia are both huge markets when it comes to cell phones. India may be a developing country but is quickly on the rise and is surely very advanced, so it is a good decision that Apple is making their products and services available there. And Australia already has a huge telecommunications market.
June 28, 2008
Its actually sad, one hand it tries to capture the market by reducing prices and on the other hand it tries to monopolize the network, and cutting down its own customers who don’t want to join that particular network provider. Contradicting strategies though.