Finally, top mobile phone carriers in the region have announced inking a deal with Apple to bring the iPhone in the Philippines, Singapore, India, and Australia later this year.

Globe Telecom won the exclusivity contract for the Philippines while SingTel secured the contract to bring iPhone to Singapore. India’s Bharti Airtel also announced getting a permit to carry the iPhone while Optus will be selling the much-awaited phone to Australia.

Insiders revealed that the negotiations was carried out only be a few people considering that the above mentioned telecom firms are reportedly sister companies. No dates have been mentioned yet but sources said it could be after the expected June (or July) release of the 3G iPhone.

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?     (more…)

An iPhone in the Philippines that was unlocked for Globe Telecom

 After the news about SingTel sealing a deal (?) with Apple for the release of iPhone in Singapore, the question now is which telecom firm will win the exclusive rights to bring iPhone to the Philippines. (Editor’s Note: SingTel has not confirmed the reports yet)

Smart Communications and Globe Telecom are two telecom giants in the Philippines and are, therefore, considered as the top contenders for the iPhone exclusivity. Both companies, however, have not issued any confirmation of talks with Apple but Smart Communication’s 3G infrastructure will surely make it more qualified to carry the iPhone.

But having 3G facilities is still not a question right now because Apple has not issued a statement regarding which type of iPhone (the one with the 3G or the one without) will be released to Asia. If it comes without the 3G, Smart and Globe can surely slug it out to decide who will carry the iPhone. (more…)

Apple’s iPhone is set to be released in Singapore by September according to Apple insiders but several Singaporeans now use the iPhone. In the Philippines, iPhone release has not been given dates yet but several Filipinos are now flashing their new iPhone from the US.

Go to a mobile phone store in China or Hong Kong or Thailand and you will surely be offered an iPhone handset. Or, if you are not fortunate enough, you will be offered an iPhone clone - which looks exactly like the iPhone but not really.

The popularity of iPhone and how the hype is played in the press left Asians with no other choice but to buy smuggled iPhones from the US. That should explain the discrepancy between Apple’s announcement of the number of iPhone they produced and AT&T’s number of iPhone subscribers. (more…)

No one from SingTel or Apple would deny nor confirm reports that the iPhone will soon be released in Singapore through SingTel, but insiders said the two companies have already sealed off a deal.

The report of SingTel sealing the deal with Apple came a few months after SingTel’s Group CEO Chua Sock Khoong confirmed SingTel was in talks with Apple, and expressed confidence in winning exclusive rights to distributing the iPhone.

Sources said retailers expect the device to be priced at around S$690 (US$496) when it launches in September. 

     Apple is yet to officialy ship the iPhone in Asia this year with millions of mobile phone lovers so excited to get their hands on the much-talked-about phone. Yes, the iPhone is not yet available in Asia but how come 40,000 units have already been sold in China?

     Apple has earlier talked with China Mobile for iPhone partnership but China Mobile reportedly turned down the officer in January and told Steve Jobs it was not interested on iPhone. Steve Jobs in return said it was just a prelimenary meeting as he hopes to really forged a partnership with the Chinese mobile carrier.     (more…)