iPhone

iPhone to Be Distributed in Asia, Australia

By Katherine Fellows ⋅ May 19, 2008 ⋅  Email This Post ⋅  Print This Post ⋅ Post a comment

Apple Inc. has recently signed an agreement with Singapore Telecommunications Ltd., Bharti Airtel Ltd., Globe Telecom Inc., and Optus (a Singapore Telecommunications subsidary) to offer iPhone distribution throughout Asia and Australia later in the year, confirming suspicions of further agreements following Vodafone’s announcement of a deal last week. Vodafone–in addition to Optus–has plans to offer the iPhone in Australia, while SingTel, Barti Airtel Ltd., and Globe Telecom Inc. have plans for distribution throughout Asia.
It is expected that Steve Jobs will make his own formal announcement at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco on June 9.

I believe that providing better service globally is an important step for Apple, considering that some sources indicate that there are between 1 and 1.5 million hacked iPhones spread across 35 to 40 different countries, despite being authorized in only four. International service is a must at this point; after all, there is obviously a global market for the iPhone. While it’s always better late than never, truly worldwide distribution couldn’t come any sooner.

[via The Wall Street Journal]

Tags: Asia, Australia, distribution, iPhone