Posted on by vinko

iPhone 3G Officially Available Unlocked in Hong Kong… Good News?

Apple HK made the iPhone 3G available to everyone with a HK shipping address via Apple Hong Kong’s online store.

This made Hong Kong the hub (and “source”) of iPhone 3G that are free from the shackle of the money hungry, backward thinking mobile carriers. As of the writing of this post Apple Hong Kong’s online store shows a 24 hours delivery time and free shipping. I am certain when news spread of this availability, the inventory will go quickly.

I was always against the idea of having to commit to Three HK for a 2-year contract just to gain the privilege of purchasing an Apple iPhone 3G. Now I have less of a barrier to bring this great device to the mobile carrier of my choice (“Smartone-Vodafone”).

Ah… my first generation iPhone worth even less now. Them are the breaks, especially with technology devices.

Is this move by Apple a sign of things to come for other (47) iPhone selling countries? Is this Apple’s way of changing their strategy to put as many iPhones in the hands of consumers as possible? This has always been one of the pain points of critics.

In hindsight, did Apple make the right move, by first capitalizing on the revenue gain from the few carriers reselling iPhones, Apple not only stir up the excitements for the device, but was also able to string the carriers along with the privilege of exclusivity.

Steve Jobs always says that Apple is a software company focus on delivering the best, complete user-experience to the end-users. Assuming this action in Hong Kong is indeed a change in Apple’s iPhone strategy, this means they are indeed focusing more on what one can do with the iPhone rather than simply selling iPhones. You can say it is a means to an end.

As a result more focuses will be placed on the AppStore in iTunes Store, and the debacle approval process that Apple had employed thus far for 3rd party applications. If Apple really going to focus on what one can do with the iPhone; aka software, then Apple will need to improve the development process, making it much more seamless and less of a walled garden.

May be Apple should consider the Mac OS X and Darwin approach, where it takes an open operating system like FreeBSD created Mac OS X and then released a version of it as Opensource called Darwin. Imagine Apple taking something like Google’s Android, transform it into a new version of Mobile Cocoa and then contributing back to the Opensource Android platform.

With this proposed approach Apple will differentiate itself among the handset manufactures in terms of design, which Jonathan Ive consistently delivers. And on the great user experience of the Apple version of the Android compatible mobile phone.

Back when Apple first announced the availability of the iPhone 3G to 73 countries around the world, with many of those having more than one carriers receiving the privilege of selling the phone. I had predicted the plan of Apple is to introduce the iPhone through exclusive carrier to build up the hype. Then it allows certain countries more than one carriers to sell the iPhone so that consumers receive a choice, but when the carriers not able to differentiate themselves among its competitors, Apple steps in and say, “you [the carriers] cannot say we did not let you try.”, they had for a year and a half. Now [the end of 2008] they take over and sell the phone independent of any 3rd parties and no one can complain they did not give them a chance.

If my analysis is correct, you may not want to rush out and get the iPhone 3G from Apple Hong Kong’s online store. That is because the third phase of Apple’s iPhone strategy will happen in Hong Kong when Three (“rumored”) looses its exclusivity late October. Just in time for Apple to lower the price for the Christmas shopping season.

Most people; especially the critics, need to remember that Steve Jobs manages Apple like a chess master, he is always thinking many moves ahead of all of us. So don’t be so quick to criticize his decisions. Over the years [24+], being a user of the Macintosh and making it my computing tool of choice, I have learnt to accept the fact that Apple; particularly Steve Jobs, knows better.

4 Replies to “iPhone 3G Officially Available Unlocked in Hong Kong… Good News?”

  2. It is actually a bit more significant than that.iPhone 3G sold in Hong Kong had always been “carrier unlocked”. This latest move of Apple in Hong Kong may be a much bigger strategy change by Apple towards the whole iPhone business model.

    Reply

  3. LUXUS LIMITED
    Registered No. 00834329

    EMAIL :LUXUS.LTD@GOOGLEMAIL.COM
    EMAIL :LUXUS_LTD@NETZERO.NET
    MSN:LUXUS_TECHNICS@HOTMAIL.COM
    inquiry.info@ymail.com

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    Shipping: Fedex/ups/dhl.

    We are a Standard mobile phones distributor , We deal with all kinds of mobile phones and laptops which are Brand New Sealed and Unlocked also comes with their complete accessories. They also comes with their 1year international warranty.

    They are available at affordable price . We ship via FedEx Express (2days delivery}.

    APPLE IPHONE COST:
    APPLE IPHONE 16GB….$350USD
    APPLE IPHONE 8GB…..$240USD
    APPLE IPHONE 8GB 3G..$250USD
    SAMSUNG i900 OMNIA…$300USD
    HTC DIAMOND……….$320USD

    iPhone 3G 16GB (Black/white) (Unlocked)
    iPhone 3G ($350)
    iPhone Stereo Headset
    Apple Dock Connector to USB Cable
    iPhone Bluetooth Travel Cable
    iPhone 3G Universal Dock Adapter 3-Pack
    iPhone TTY Adapter
    Apple Universal Dock
    Apple Component AV Cable
    Apple Composite AV Cable
    AirPort Extreme Base Station

    Nokia N95 8GB NAM ($300)
    In the box:
    Nokia Battery BL-6F, 1200 mAh
    Nokia Travel Charger AC-5
    Nokia Music Headset HS-45, AD-54
    Nokia Connectivity Cable DKE-2
    Nokia Video Connectivity Cable CA-75U

    Nokia N96 16GB (unlocked) Pre-Order($350)
    Nokia Battery BL-5F
    Nokia Connectivity Cable CA- 101
    Nokia Video-Out Cable CA-75U
    Nokia Stereo Headset and Remote HS-45, AD-54
    Nokia Mobile Charger DC-4 (car charger)
    Compact Travel Charger AC-5

    SONY ERICSSON XPERIA X1 ($350)
    HSCSD No
    EDGE Yes
    3G HSDPA, 3.6 Mbps
    WLAN Wi-Fi 802.11b/g
    Bluetooth Yes, v2.0 with A2DP
    Infrared port No
    USB Yes, v2.0
    Features OS Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional
    Messaging SMS, MMS, Email, Instant Messaging
    Browser WAP 2.0/HTML (IE), RSS feeds
    Games Yes + downloadable
    Colors Solid Black, Steel Silver

    T-MOBILE SIDEKICK 2008 GECKO ($250)
    INCLUDED IN THE BOX:
    SIDEKICK 2008
    ONE EXTRA SHELL
    BATTERY & CHARGER
    STEREO HEADSET
    MINI USB CABLE
    MICROSD CARD
    START GUIDE
    USER GUIDE (ON CD)
    TERMS & CONDITIONS

    New Motorola MOTOMING A1600 Quadband GPS PDA Unlocked Phone ($300)
    1 Motorola A1600 PDA Phone
    1 BK60 Battery
    1 FMP5340A Charger
    1 Stereo Handsfree
    1 Stylus
    1 USB Cable
    1 CD-ROM
    1 User’s Guide

    BlackBerry Bold Qwerty GPS UNLOCKED Quad Band WIFI ($450)
    BRAND NEW *UNLOCKED* BLACKBERRY BOLD 9000 HANDSET
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    BATTERY
    BATTERY COVER
    MANUAL
    CD/ USER GUIDE
    LEATHER BLACKBERRY CASE
    WIRED HEADSET

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  4. LUXUS LIMITED
    Registered No. 00834329

    EMAIL :LUXUS.LTD@GOOGLEMAIL.COM
    EMAIL :LUXUS_LTD@NETZERO.NET
    MSN:LUXUS_TECHNICS@HOTMAIL.COM
    inquiry.info@ymail.com

    SKYPE :LUXUS_TECHNICS
    Shipping: Fedex/ups/dhl.

    We are a Standard mobile phones distributor , We deal with all kinds of mobile phones and laptops which are Brand New Sealed and Unlocked also comes with their complete accessories. They also comes with their 1year international warranty.

    They are available at affordable price . We ship via FedEx Express (2days delivery}.

    APPLE IPHONE COST:
    APPLE IPHONE 16GB….$350USD
    APPLE IPHONE 8GB…..$240USD
    APPLE IPHONE 8GB 3G..$250USD
    SAMSUNG i900 OMNIA…$300USD
    HTC DIAMOND……….$320USD

    iPhone 3G 16GB (Black/white) (Unlocked)
    iPhone 3G ($350)
    iPhone Stereo Headset
    Apple Dock Connector to USB Cable
    iPhone Bluetooth Travel Cable
    iPhone 3G Universal Dock Adapter 3-Pack
    iPhone TTY Adapter
    Apple Universal Dock
    Apple Component AV Cable
    Apple Composite AV Cable
    AirPort Extreme Base Station

    Nokia N95 8GB NAM ($300)
    In the box:
    Nokia Battery BL-6F, 1200 mAh
    Nokia Travel Charger AC-5
    Nokia Music Headset HS-45, AD-54
    Nokia Connectivity Cable DKE-2
    Nokia Video Connectivity Cable CA-75U

    Nokia N96 16GB (unlocked) Pre-Order($350)
    Nokia Battery BL-5F
    Nokia Connectivity Cable CA- 101
    Nokia Video-Out Cable CA-75U
    Nokia Stereo Headset and Remote HS-45, AD-54
    Nokia Mobile Charger DC-4 (car charger)
    Compact Travel Charger AC-5

    SONY ERICSSON XPERIA X1 ($350)
    HSCSD No
    EDGE Yes
    3G HSDPA, 3.6 Mbps
    WLAN Wi-Fi 802.11b/g
    Bluetooth Yes, v2.0 with A2DP
    Infrared port No
    USB Yes, v2.0
    Features OS Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional
    Messaging SMS, MMS, Email, Instant Messaging
    Browser WAP 2.0/HTML (IE), RSS feeds
    Games Yes + downloadable
    Colors Solid Black, Steel Silver

    T-MOBILE SIDEKICK 2008 GECKO ($250)
    INCLUDED IN THE BOX:
    SIDEKICK 2008
    ONE EXTRA SHELL
    BATTERY & CHARGER
    STEREO HEADSET
    MINI USB CABLE
    MICROSD CARD
    START GUIDE
    USER GUIDE (ON CD)
    TERMS & CONDITIONS

    New Motorola MOTOMING A1600 Quadband GPS PDA Unlocked Phone ($300)
    1 Motorola A1600 PDA Phone
    1 BK60 Battery
    1 FMP5340A Charger
    1 Stereo Handsfree
    1 Stylus
    1 USB Cable
    1 CD-ROM
    1 User’s Guide

    BlackBerry Bold Qwerty GPS UNLOCKED Quad Band WIFI ($450)
    BRAND NEW *UNLOCKED* BLACKBERRY BOLD 9000 HANDSET
    CHARGER
    BATTERY
    BATTERY COVER
    MANUAL
    CD/ USER GUIDE
    LEATHER BLACKBERRY CASE
    WIRED HEADSET

    If interested : Contact us via Email :
    EMAIL :LUXUS_LTD@NETZERO.NET
    MSN:LUXUS_TECHNICS@HOTMAIL.COM
    SKYPE :LUXUS_TECHNICS

    Reply

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