TOKYO, Japan (AP) — Gadget lovers worldwide are already camped out ahead of Friday’s global rollout of the new model of Apple Inc.’s iPhone, which is also the first iPhone to go on sale in many countries.
André Short (left) and Neal Bartlett wait in line for Friday’s sale of the next generation of Apple iPhone.
Carrier Softbank Corp., which beat market leader NTT DoCoMo for the right to sell the iPhone in Japan, is planning a countdown ceremony at its flagship downtown store.
By late Thursday, a line of nearly 800 iPhone fans snaked around the block, with some sleeping on the streets to ensure they would be among the first customers.
The iPhone goes on sale there five hours earlier than other nationwide outlets, helping to kick off a global rollout in 22 nations. The first model, which launched in the United States a year ago, ended up being sold only in six countries. iReport.com: See first sales in New Zealand
Because of time differences, the new iPhones are going on sale first in New Zealand, then Australia, followed by Japan and Hong Kong. In the United States, phones will be available at 8 a.m. in each time zone.
Japan, though, is the tech-mad market that analysts like to watch. It is home to powerful electronics brands such as Sony Corp. and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.’s Panasonic, but its consumers are trend-chasers and have long adored Apple products such as the iPod.
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Japan has about 107 million cell phones, or about one for every person. Many of the phones already work on 3G, or third-generation, wireless networks, offering the speedy Internet access that the new iPhone will also deliver. The old iPhone used a relatively slow cellular network combined with the ability to use fast Wi-Fi hotspots.
The iPhone’s capabilities are less revolutionary here, where people have for years used the tech-heavy local phones for restaurant searches, e-mail, music downloads, reading digital novels and electronic shopping. They tend to shrug off foreign models, such as those of Nokia Corp.
The latest Japanese cell phones have two key features absent on the iPhone — digital TV broadcast reception and the “electronic wallet” for making payments at stores and vending machines equipped with special electronic readers.
But they don’t have the iPhone’s nifty touch screen or glamour image.
Another key difference is that the iPhone is designed to browse the Web in the much the same way computers do. The networks promoted by Japanese carriers, such as “i-mode” from NTT DoCoMo, are more closed than the Web. Such systems have allowed carriers to control services and charge fees.
Masayuki Otani, deputy chief of research at Maruwa Securities Co. in Tokyo, said the iPhone faces competition from emerging rivals, who offer mobile Internet devices in Japan, and the iPhone may attract a limited following.
“The iPhone is a fad,” he said. “There are lots of people who love it and jump at it, but there are those who are going to be less impressed.”
Norikazu Sasaki, a 20-year-old student among those in line for the iPhone in Tokyo, was already won over.
“The iPhone is so user-friendly, more than any other mobile phone. It combines the best features of a PC with the best features of a phone,” said Sasaki, who’s been taking turns with two friends to save his spot in the line since 1 a.m. Wednesday.
“There isn’t anything else like it,” Sasaki said.
The iPhone has sparked similar enthusiasm in Australia.
In downtown Sydney, a few hundred people who had camped outside an Optus telecom store on a cold and windy winter night were treated to free pizza, coffee, massages and entertainment as the clocked inched toward midnight.
Brett Howell had sat outside the store since 1 p.m. Thursday, bringing a small blanket and a book, and was the first to buy the phone.
“I’m not a super geek, but apparently I am,” said Howell, 36, a business analyst. “I’m Australia’s super geek.”
Ben Thomas, 27, had his own explanation for iPhone mania.
“It’s a chick magnet,” he said.
Apple plans to sell its 8-gigabyte iPhone for $199 in the United States and the 16-gigabyte version for $299. The company, based in Cupertino, California, says it has sold about 6 million iPhones since last year. It hopes to sell 10 million by the end of 2008.
8 a.m. iPhone 3G Launch Confirmed!
Apple recently updated their website with a banner (see post image) that confirms the rumored 8 a.m. iPhone 3G launch time on July 11, 2008.
I guess some of these rumors we’ve gotten so used to hearing actually turn out to be true!
AppleInsider has managed to get their hands on several pieces of information disclosed at an Apple retail meeting that took place Sunday, pertaining to the July 11 iPhone 3G release:
- “Apple retail stores will not be able to help business customers who wish to move to iPhone 3G. Business customers are categorized as anyone who has a portion (or all of) their wireless bill paid for by their employer, or receives discounts on their mobile phone by working for their employer.”
- “All iPhone 3G shoppers will need to present a valid government issued United States ID (such as a drivers license) at the time of purchase.”
- “Some retail store employees say staffers may also “personalize” iPhone 3Gs by setting up an email account for customers at the point of sale.”
- “Apple retail employees will receive additional training on July 9th and 10th.”
Vodafone New Zealand launching the iPhone 3G at midnight
Vodafone New Zealand is not wasting any time in getting the iPhone into hands of their customers. They are not waiting till 8am or 9am like the UK and US, but instead opening the doors of three retail locations at 00:01 on July 11. Thats right just one minute after midnight, which means that those in New Zealand will end up with an iPhone 3G almost a full day ahead of us here on the east coast of the US.
Those three retail locations are:
- Vodafone 171 Queen Street, Auckland City
- Vodafone 358 Lambton Quay, Wellington
- Vodafone 681 Colombo St Christchurch
Otherwise the remaining Vodafone locations will have the phone available at the regular opening time of 9am. And for those customers who are not able to make it in person, they can also purchase the iPhone 3G online beginning at 00:01 on July 11.
Similar to the US pricing, the iPhone will be $199 and come with a two-year agreement. Calling and data plan details are expected to be announced on Tuesday July 8.
[vodafone]
GoldStriker already planning gold, diamond versions of the iPhone 3G
With still a few days left before the iPhone 3G becomes available we are already seeing plans to make it look a little fancier, or gaudier depending on who you are talking to.
GoldStriker has plans to make both a gold edition and also a diamond edition of the iPhone 3G. With plans to release these beginning in mid-July the golden iPhone will retail for around $787 with the diamond edition coming in at around $1,970.
The golden edition will offer a 24ct Apple logo as well as gold trim around the display. The diamond edition will include “53 brilliant cut bright white diamonds” that will weigh in at around 0.36 carat.
Not much surprise considering we saw the original iPhone also get a fancy make-over, but the mid-July release is a little quicker. Which I suppose is good news for those who either feel the standard iPhone is either to plain looking or just have a little (well a lot) of extra money to burn.
[BornRich]
