“Even as Canada’s Rogers Communications and Germany’s T-Mobile compete to offer the worst voice and data plans for the iPhone 3G, Hutchison Global Communications on Monday unveiled what may be the best,” Philip Elmer-DeWitt reports for Fortune.
Elmer-DeWitt reports, “Hutchison (HTX), which stuck a deal with Apple (AAPL) in May to bring the iPhone to Hong Kong and Macau, will be offering customers a choice of two pricing plans:”
• 8GB iPhone for HK$2,938 ($377) plus HK$188 per month ($24/month) for 500MB voice and data
• 8GB iPhone for free plus HK$498 per month ($64/month) for unlimited voice and data.
More in the full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “qka” for the heads up.]
rots of ruck ..
To Creme of Sum Yung Guy – that was a creative response. Go back to your Nuclear Shelter!
Basically, Canada still sucks, Germany sucks, and America sorta sucks.
Hong Kong is truly mobile phone crazy. It is not unusual to see someone carrying two phones – one for work, and one for personal (and maybe a third with that special unlisted uncirculated number for that special “contact”).
When Steve intro’ed the iPhone 3G I thought I remember him saying that the phone would be $199 everywhere. Did I miss something?
shipwithsails –
I was just thinking that. He said not to exceed US$199 globally.
Didn’t he?
It’s a 2 year contract, and the Hutchison network is one of the worst in Hong Kong. Many of us are waiting to buy it from the retail consumer electronics stores and use it with our networks, or get it unlocked.
“Elmer-DeWitt reports, “Hutchison (HTX), which stuck a deal with Apple (AAPL) in May to bring the iPhone to Hong Kong and Macau, will be offering customers a choice of two pricing plans:”
They also STRUCK a deal. After they cleaned the glue off.
I’ll take open space and fresh air over congestion, pollution and low cell phone rates.
Lovin’ Canada
@shipwithsails. International tariffs and the level of carrier subsidies.
Ted knows how to do business lol..
“Even as Canada’s Rogers Communications and Germany’s T-Mobile compete to offer the worst voice and data plans for the iPhone 3G”
Don’t forget Ireland where O2 presided over the only failed iPhone launch with their phone plans costing (in real terms of minutes etc…) 3 times what O2 in Britain were charging.
The iPhone launch and the following catastropy sales was even a bigger disaster here in Germany.
I recall Jobs mentioned something like “starting from $199”.
That’s great, but how big is Hong Kong? How many cell towers do they have to maintain for the money? The population density and country size gives incomparable cost benefits.
What Fortune forgot to mention is that there is a “Prepayment fee” levied on top, that is credited back to the consumer over 24mths.
more details here, straight from the horses mouth: http://iphone.three.com.hk/website/en/iplan.html
ie. For the unlimited data plan, consumer pays for 8GB model:
HK$0 for handset (non-refundable)
HK$4,680 prepayment (credited back over 24mths)
HK$498/mth for 2200mins talktime to other networks, 1500mins to own network, and 500MB 3G data. SMS unlimited for own network, usually $0.5 per SMS to other networks.
Forex: US$1.00 = HK$7.80
Two things to note:
1) All telcos in HK charge you airtime for CALLING someone, and RECEIVING a phonecall. Even if its a shoddy cold-call.
2) With the prepayment, although the iPhone is contractually classified as “Free” you still have to pay an upfront cost of HK$4,680 (about US$600), to ward off those who might try to get the phone without paying a cent.
Anyone ever used their iPhone and not exceed 500MB? I’m curious to know if that is sufficient… I’m resetting my data usage counter to start recording from today….
@shipwithsails & PC Apologist–
Steve said that it would be $199 nearly everywhere.
Found it–
Check the keynote video, and forward to about 1:40:15.
“…And in almost every one of these countries, the price is a maximum of $199.”
I’d like to see an iPhone 3G calling plan index that compares plans from different countries.
Having such information readily available would make it easier for consumers to determine the best way to meet their own particular needs in a cost-effective manner.
For example, if I don’t like what Telia offers I should be able to purchase a legally unlocked iPhone in France that can be used with the calling/data plan of my choice here in Sweden.
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