AfterDawn: News

iPhone goes nonexclusive in Australia and India

SingTel has announced that is has inked a deal with Apple to sell the iPhone in Singapore, India, Australia and the Philippines meaning that at least in two of those countries, the carrier will have to compete for iPhone sales.

Last week Vodafone made a similar announcement stating that it had signed an agreement to distribute the phone in 10 countries, including Australia, India and Italy. Later that day, Telecom Italia announced it was also selling the phone in Italy meaning Apple was moving away from its history of signing only exclusive deals with carriers.



It seems low sales in Europe and Asia have gotten Apple to rethink its model somewhat.

Although there was no word on when the carrier will begin selling the phone, they did say "SingTel Mobile will distribute the iPhone in Singapore, while the handset will be sold by Optus in Australia. Bharti Airtel and Globe Telecom will handle sales in India and the Philippines, respectively."

We will let you know when there is more insight into the availability of the phone.



Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 12 May 2008 15:36

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• 5 comments

• iluvendo

  Competition is good for iPhone !

  12.5.2008 15:49 #1

• Bubba1982

  about bloody time it was sold in Australia. we are getting shafted on the technology side of things. Atleast now I don't have to buy an iPhone from the states and jailbreak it.

  14.5.2008 00:46 #2

• borhan9

  Quote:It seems low sales in Europe and Asia have gotten Apple to rethink its model somewhat.
  
  Although there was no word on when the carrier will begin selling the phone, they did say "SingTel Mobile will distribute the iPhone in Singapore, while the handset will be sold by Optus in Australia. Bharti Airtel and Globe Telecom will handle sales in India and the Philippines, respectively."As bubba said i also agree this is about time to come to OZ and i do love how Optus has this. I am just waiting for the right time to make the transistion to Optus myself.
  
  The wdhole low sales fact everyone could have told them that i remember stating this fact awhile back and i am glad that i have been proven correct. Spread the phone across many companies and you will make more money that way.
  
  Now only to wait for when it actually gets launched here....

  14.5.2008 21:35 #3

• foodex

  i wont be getting one as optus in tassie sucks

  16.5.2008 21:59 #4

• Bubba1982

  Will probably stick with vodafone up here in the NT. Tis the lesser of the 3 evils available to us up here. imo

  17.5.2008 11:08 #5