“Advanced Info Service, Thailand’s largest mobile phone operator, said on Friday it had failed to reach agreement with Apple Inc. to offer the 3G iPhone in the Thai market,” Pisit Changplayngam reports for Reuters. “‘We don’t accept Apple’s proposal to bring iPhone to the Thai market because we don’t think it will be good for us in terms of business,’ Chief Executive Vikrom Sriprataks told reporters.”
MacDailyNews Take: Presumably, Sriprataks flunked out of the same business school as Verizon Wireless’ former CEO Denny Strigl who also failed to see the merits of the Apple iPhone. Merits such as:
• Apple iPhone mobile Web market share surpasses RIM BlackBerry and Windows Mobile combined – January 08, 2009
• Analyst: AT&T defies economic slump thanks to Apple iPhone, tempts people to spend – December 04, 2008
• ChangeWave: Apple iPhone now #2 in U.S. corporate market share – November 20, 2008
• J.D. Power: Apple iPhone ranks highest in business wireless smartphone customer satisfaction – November 06, 2008
• Apple iPhone boosts AT&T’s wireless business – October 22, 2008
• Apple iPhone continues to exceed AT&T’s expectations – October 20, 2008
• Apple increases its lead in teenage mindshare; 30% plan iPhone purchase within 6 months – October 08, 2008
• NPD: Apple iPhone 3G is #1 smartphone in U.S.; AT&T big beneficiary – October 06, 2008
• Apple iPhone already leads Windows Mobile in North American market share, Q3 2007 – December 14, 2007
• Survey: Apple iPhone nabs unprecedented 92% satisfaction rating – August 16, 2007
• AT&T reports solid Q208 results highlighted by strong wireless growth, Apple iPhone 3G launch – July 23, 2008
Changplayngam continues, “AIS’s smaller rival, True Move PCL, a unit of True Corp, plans to launch the 3G iPhone in Thailand from Jan. 16, making it the first operator to sell the new phone in the fast-growing market. AIS, partly owned by Singapore Telecommunications Ltd., was willing to renegotiate with Apple if the U.S. firm offered a new proposal, Vikrom said.”
MacDailyNews Take: Apple will probably offer a new proposal — after AIS feels some pain — and it won’t be more beneficial to AIS, you can bet on that.
Full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “James W.” for the heads up.]