“According to local media reports, Iran is preparing to allow local retailers to import iPhones legally for the first time,” Chance Miller reports for 9to5Mac.
“Just last month, the country was threatening to ban the devices in what it was calling an anti-smuggling move,” Miller reports. “All that threat did in turn, however, was drive up the price of iPhones already in the country and actually increase smuggling.”
MacDailyNews Take: Ah, the laws of supply and demand.
“The trade ministry in the country has gone to the Traded Promoting Organization and requested licenses for nine Iranian companies to import Apple’s smartphone,” Miller reports. “iPhones have long been smuggled into Iran and the government has largely ignored the problem, but over the past two months the attitude had changed. The government’s original plan was apparently to ban the import and use of iPhones and focus on registering phones that were legally in the country. With the legalization of importing iPhones, however, Iran will now be able to register all mobile phones for the first time.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Why does Iran want to register all phones?
SEE ALSO:
Tehran threatens to ban, confiscate iPhones unless Apple officially registers in Iran – July 19, 2016
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Dan K.” for the heads up.]
Registering all phones makes perfect sense to a despot. If you want to know what your people are doing, how better than to be able to pinpoint their location by tracking their phone. I’m surprised they aren’t giving them away.
At least Iran is not considering legislation to require Apple to install a back door so that they can easily spy on their people.
The spy is over here… and on the stream, and data centers.
Like in the US for instance.
Does Iran even have a cellular network?
guess so.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_Telecommunication_Company_of_Iran
I feel sorry for people born in that pathetic excuse for a country. If I was there, I’d just shoot myself.
Islam: Where every day is always 700 ad.®
Ehhhhh, they’d probably be happy to take care of that for you…
I would think the added security with the iPhone (and only increasing) it would not be a phone the ever privacy invasive Iranian government would want there. Certainly swiss cheese Android phones are welcome with open arms and partially toothless smiles.
Apple doesn’t care about customers, only consumers, continuing to sell to countries that violate user privacy.
Apple doesn’t care about homosexuals, continuing to sell to countries that are far more violent and restrictive to them.
Apple doesn’t care about anything but money.
Social conscience my ass.
That’s some twisted logic, there. Who is hurt the most… the government or the citizen… if Apple refuses to cell iPhones in Iran?