Apple is set to release the 3G iPhone in various countries in Europe and Latin America in the next few months but the iPhone maker has not been quoted on when the much-awaited phone will be available in Asia (except in India where the iPhone is set to be released this year).

Undeniably, Asian countries have contributed so much in the mobile phone industry, with India and the Philippines considered as SMS capitals in the world. China also has over 100 million mobile phone users (or more?) who are eagerly waiting for the arrival of the iPhone. Singapore, Hong Kong, and South Korea also are good market for the mobile phone.

But when will the iPhone be released in Asia?    

Observers believed the iPhone Asia release was near until China Mobile junked Apple’s deal for exclusivity in the Chinese market. China Mobile, with hundreds of millions of mobile phone subscribers, said it was not amenable to the terms stipulated by Apple in the contract so it trashed the deal.

And now what? Apple is looking at other part of the globe for its iPhone with the Asian map left under a long pile of folders and papers.