Apple 3G iphone global launch today | Latest News India - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Apple 3G iphone global launch today

IANS | By, London
Jul 11, 2008 09:20 AM IST

Apple today launched the iphone, its latest and fastest touch-screen, in 22 countries, including the US and the UK. India will have to wait till September.

Apple on Friday launches the iphone, its latest and fastest touch-screen, in 22 countries, including the US and the UK. India will have to wait till September.

HT Image
HT Image

Authorities are expecting jammed streets across UK as shoppers flock the 1,250 stores in search of the 3G phone, Apple's combined music player, phone and internet browser.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The mobile phone shop Carphone Warehouse and the network O2, which have exclusive rights to sell the gadget, expect to sell out in nearly all of their shops. Both sold out of their online allocations within hours on Monday, with unexpectedly strong demand crashing 02's website.

Those who buy the phones will find it an expensive experience, as all have to be bought with an accompanying 18-month contract with O2. On the cheapest £30 tariff with the smaller 8GB model, customers will end up paying £639, while on the most expensive £75 tariff, the total bill will be £1,350, with the iPhone 3G thrown in for free.

In coming months, buying an iPhone could be as difficult as purchasing Nintendo's fitness game, Wii Fit, which has been out of stock continuously since its launch in April.

O2 said it would have only a "few dozen" handsets at its 450 shops. After an initial burst of sales, Carphone Warehouse expects the iPhone to be unavailable at many of its 800 shops. Apple will also sell the handset in its 15 British outlets but would not comment on stock levels.

Carphone Warehouse sold out its online allocation of the phones within hours on Monday. On the same day, O2's website crashed after customers made 13,000 "transactional attempts" every second.

"We've never seen any mobile device create the excitement and demand of the iPhone 3G," Ronan Dunne, O2's chief executive, told The Independent.

Announced by Apple's chief executive Steve Jobs in the US last month, the touch-screen iPhone uses the quicker 3G system and has a global positioning system (GPS). Apple says the phone is twice as quick as its forerunner, at half the price.

The company has a target of selling 10 million units worldwide this year. Analysts believe the phone, which automatically switches between Wi-Fi, 3G and EDGE networks to ensure the fastest downloads, will easily pass that figure.

Unveiling Elections 2024: The Big Picture', a fresh segment in HT's talk show 'The Interview with Kumkum Chadha', where leaders across the political spectrum discuss the upcoming general elections. Watch now!

Get Current Updates on India News, Election 2024, Arvind Kejriwal News Live, Bihar Board 10th Result 2024 Live along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Friday, March 29, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On