Only 'major' EU countries to be in second iPhone rollout
Is your country 'major' enough?
Apple will unleash its iPhone into the European market during the fourth quarter of 2007. But, it seems not all European consumers will be granted access to the so-called must-have gadget this side of Christmas.
The handset, which launched in the US on 29 June, will initially appear in a few "major" European countries, but the company hasn’t named which countries these will be, leaving lusting customers to simply guess over when and where it will first appear.
Apple's iPhone sales strategy, with as yet unnamed European partners, will also be annouced later in the fourth quarter. However, Asia and those European countries not deemed “major” by it will not officially receive the handset until 2008 .
The long awaited European announcement was made by Apple’s CFO Peter Oppenheimer yesterday during a conference call to discuss its third quarter financial results.
Oppenheimer also stated that 270,000 iPhone handsets were sold over network provider AT&T and through Apple retail stores during its third quarter, despite the handset only being on sale for the last 30 hours of the quarter, ended 30 June.
The company expects great things off the back of the iPhone’s existing US sales, with Oppenheimer boldly proclaiming during the call that it hopes to sell its one millionth iPhone by the end of the handset's first full quarter sales period, ending 29 September, and its 10 millionth iPhone during 2008.
The brave sales projections were also mirrored by news that Apple will continue to build on the iPhone’s existing successes by building in new, as yet unspecified, software features and applications into the handset over time, at no extra charge to customers.
European prices are yet to be announced.
COMMENTS
Divide and conquer ?
Well, since I'm based in the Republic of Ireland, clearly not a 'major' European country. I'm now even less likely to buy an iPhone.
How unbelievably patronising of you Apple! Time perhaps to send your PR people back to PR school?
It's reminiscent of the Bush Administration's approach to dealing with Europe i.e. his "New Europe" vs "Old Europe" way of doing business.
Knickers
So funny to watch people here get their knickers in a knot over the choice of wording re major/minor, as if it really made some vital difference to whether you'd buy it or not. It's just another chance for a bunch of whingers to have a whinge.
I find it interesting that people quickly jump on to knocking the phones short comings bandwagon without actually first waiting to see what the software changes in the phone are (which may include 3G support....... okay, probably not, but it may address various of peoples other criticisms of the phone).
I personally wouldn't bother with one, if i was wanting it as a phone till it had 3G support, but if i wanted a fancy iPod it could be alright for the job.
UK for sure
As the home to Europes most shallow, gullible and rip-off insensitive consumers, the UK is surely guaranteed the status of 'major' by Apple.
Czech Republic here
They don't even bother to put us on the iTunes support list, so it's very unlikely we're going to get iPhone any soon...
But I don't really care, I read Maddox's review and even through his characteristic writing, he made some interesting points about iPhone.
http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=iphone
why is this under the Mac section
You could make a better case for sticking it in the iPod section, or the phones,
or better yet, the Useless, but cool - since there isnt a Useless but trendy.
