The Truth About 3G iPhone In Thailand

(UPDATE Nov 13th, ‘08: TRUE will carry the 3G iPhone) +++ Your “old” iPhone may be a sought-after collector’s item already. This June 9th the classic iPhone’s successor 2.0 iPhone was announced.

Expect prices for the old iPhones to rise. Here is why: Apple’s 2nd gen iPhone will have a huge impact on all the iPhone resellers in Thailand – and all other gray markets around the world for that.

If the following quote is true, then it’s game over for the iPhone gray market. I combed through all the rumor mills. Here’s a quote from an AT&T rep (so it can at least be taken with a grain of salt …):

By Todd, the iPhreak

Said the rep: “No more in-home activation for iPhone 3G – it does require a two-year contract, and it will have to be activated in store.”

While Reuters quotes AT&T that purchasers who do not activate their iPhones within 30 days will be subject to penalties. No details on these penalties have been made public.

Meaning: No more activation via iTunes. The 3G iPhone has to be activated at AT&T or Apple Store. Or at any official iPhone store around the world for that. No more just-phone-please.

It looks like Apple is really trying to shutdown the unlockers this time.

Meaning the 3G iPhone in Thailand is dead?!

As you can easily tell, over at downtown Bangkok’s MBK they were gearing up for big biz:

Wishful thinking. That sign is so nice I even framed it. Wonder when they will take down?

Because not only don’t they not get a 32gb iPhone anytime soon. A visit to the Apple website shows more clues that maybe all future iPhones will have to be activated in-store since there is no option to preorder the iPhone.

Usually, after any official Apple announcement of a new product, one can order or at least pre-order the item almost immediately via the online Apple Store.

Meaning furthermore: Steve announced the insanely cheap iPhone price of $199. Apple never sells itself that cheap. That would be a first. You’ll have to buy a contract. And up the phone’s price will go.

For example, right now you can pre-order Apple’s newly announced internet service, MobileMe. BUT, you can not pre-order the new 3G iPhone that was announce at the same event as MobileMe. Maybe Apple really is trying to shut down the gray market by making everyone activate in-store.

I guess since Apple will be releasing the 3G iPhone in 22 countries by July 11th and a total of 70 countries shortly after, they probably feel they don’t need the unlockers to help reach their sales targets.

Unfortunately, Thailand is still not one of those 70 countries. We in Thailand are the neglected backyard again. So, in the short term, the current stock of iPhones floating around in all the resellers shops are going to continue moving up in price.

Another factor that will effect rising prices is the fact that there is a big unknown about unlocking the new 3G iPhones. The current 2.0 beta software has already been unlocked but this will probably be shut down in the golden version. We will just have to wait and see what happens.

Any remaining iPhones on the gray market (i.e. MBK) prices are sure to continue creeping up. I plan to go to MBK and ask around to see what effect Steve’s news has had. The more I think about the more I want to visit MBK. I think the prices are going to go through the roof since you can not order online or walk out of an Apple or ATT Store without activating the phone with a cellular plan/contract …

Just been at MBK, a few hours after the new war against the unlockers has been launched, and take this:

Good old Winner Telecom sells the 16gb for 26,000 baht, the 8gb for 21,900 baht. About 3,000 baht more than the day before.

In the meantime, while we wait for further information, some random tidbits:

* We talked about why go back to plastic and this might be why … Better reception: The reception increase is partly to do with the new plastic back. There are 10 radio bands in here, counting 3 GSM bands, 4 3G bands, and Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. (And one more I don’t know?) I don’t know how scratch resistant the cover will be, but Apple says it will be more durable. The phone looks EXACTLY like the leaked images from awhile ago that were chalked up as iPhone 1 cases.” Read here.

* We also talked about how Apple’s loss of revenue-sharing. AT&T will now subsidize the phone just like they do with RIM or any other manufacturer.

* For people who care about the business end of things, the other way that the iPhone 3G isn’t special in regards to AT&T anymore is that AT&T subsidizing it like any other phone means that the old revenue-sharing program is out. Basically, other than letting Apple sell and activate the iPhone 3G at Apple Stores, the model is the same they have with everyone else, like RIM or Sammy. More details on everything will be coming from AT&T in the next week or so. Read here.

Leading us to the most important question: Why is Thailand not on the list of the lucky countries? When will the 3G iPhone be available in Thailand?

Some 70 carriers around the world will be subsidizing the iPhone. And you seriously think AIS or DTAC or True will subsidize a phone?!

Contact Todd the iPhreak




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June 10, 2008 | Filed Under Fashion & Style, Gadgets & Technology 

Comments

15 Responses to “The Truth About 3G iPhone In Thailand”

  1. MAC on June 15th, 2008 8.32 pm

    Good investigative work! I first thought after Job’s announcement ppl at MBK would have to suddenly drop their prices … though now I see your argument for the opposite reason. I myself am planning to buy one soon though now am in deadlock: I refuse to buy an iPhone1 cause a new, better and cheaper one came out & can’t yet buy an iPhone2 until when someone generously hacks it. So I guess the solution for us Bangkokians is to wait for the hack?

  2. BangkokDan on June 16th, 2008 12.10 am

    The unlock won’t be the issue, rather the price.

    A hack will be around in no time, but who wants to pay for a contract one doesn’t use?

    Price therefore will be the barrier. If you don’t mind the price and are in Bangkok, the iPhone 2.0 is yours very soon.

    By the way, if you can decipher it, Germany’s Die Welt reports that T-Mobile will sell the new iPhone for believe it or not 1 single euro.

    That is, if you get a contract for two years @ monthly 89 euros.

    BangkokDan

  3. BangkokDan on June 21st, 2008 9.24 am

    And surprise, there is talk of a (not too cheap) unsubsidized iPhone hitting the legal shelves:

    http://www.macrumors.com/2008/06/20/apple-retail-preparing-for-iphone-3g-activation-procedures/

    BangkokDan

  4. Update: 3G iPhone in Bangkok/Thailand on July 18th, 2008 2.24 am

    [...] expect the first shipment by the end of July. But quite a steep price curve. We warned you. But then again, there are legit unlocked iBeauties out [...]

  5. The iPhone may never be sold in Thailand « iPhone 3G in Thailand on July 22nd, 2008 1.04 pm

    [...] Click here to read the enitre post [...]

  6. Bazar Online on August 6th, 2008 5.12 pm

    Very good research.

    I would love to own an iPhone 3G – but don’t know when?

    After reading your post I think it will not be that easy to own that iPhone.

  7. Wanted: 3G iPhone in Thailand at drewkam on August 11th, 2008 12.07 pm

    [...] More info at CNET Asia and Absolutely Bangkok [...]

  8. Tom Tessier on November 30th, 2008 10.56 am

    I am currently living in Thailand and am interested in purchasing an iPhone, especially after seeing some of them owned by friends. And you are correct, MBK states they have it all but fall way short of being able to provide quality products or back up anything they sell and I want to be legit all the way. Is there anywhere here in Thailand that has legal iPhone sales AND service?

  9. BangkokDan on November 30th, 2008 11.17 am

    Tom, your wait is over soon:

    http://www.truemove.com/iphone/

    BangkokDan

  10. Dannbkk on January 19th, 2009 11.13 pm

    Apparently it’s 1,300 baht per month on a 2 year contract.

    Think I will get on a plan tomorrow.

  11. Catherine on May 11th, 2009 9.45 pm

    I just came back from Paragon where they quoted somewhere around 800 baht per month.

    So … does anyone have the latest on the iPhone in Thailand?

  12. Nokia E71 review: notes after five months of use -- Newley Purnell on May 27th, 2009 6.21 pm

    [...] } ); I’m still deciding what to make of the issue of iPhones in Thailand. The devices are available here, but they’re usually more expensive than in the US, and the [...]

  13. iPhone Munich on October 7th, 2009 3.58 pm

    Interesting thing is that sellers from Bangkok offer the iPhone without contract over here in Europe.

    However, by legal reasons it is prohibited to import the iPhone outside of the European Union and I have heard that customs will confiscate iPhone shipments originating from Thailand.

    Within the European Union one is allowed to sell iPhones though, even if Apple has binding contracts (like here in Germany) with carriers such as T-Mobile.

    Reason: European trade must not be limited by any law or contract within the European member states!

  14. Corporate 3G Disobedience & True Hypocrisy on October 18th, 2009 10.52 am

    [...] What a welcome sight arriving in Hua Hin. Huge AIS billboards are praising AIS Super 3G with speeds of 7.2 Mbps. Welcome to the future in laid-back Hua Hin. But that future is still the past. [...]

  15. AIS prepares to sever TOT tie « GJBKK Blog on February 1st, 2010 9.35 pm

    [...] Bangkok might have the answers here but this was posted sometime ago but the comments are ongoing and quite [...]

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