3GWeek - Asia’s Mobile News

The latest news about Hutchison Telecommunications International Ltd. to offer Apple’s iPhone in Hong Kong and Macau, has undirectly delivered another important message to the market: will this provider also bring iPhone to Indonesia, one of the emerging markets in Asia? Will Indonesia follow Singapore and the Philippines as the third countries of ASEAN to get the iPhone?

It’s the breaking news for Indonesia’s mobile industry, indeed. Recently, I heard some speculations about which operator will offer the Apple’s latest product in the country. It’s the most-awaited decision here.

One of the rumor said that the country biggest network operator, Telkomsel, will handle this. Telkomsel is state-owned company, which 35% of its stakes is owned by Singapore giant, SingTel.

It’s make sense, actually:

Singapore Telecommunications Ltd and its mobile associates will bring Apple Inc’s popular iPhone to Singapore, India, Australia and the Philippines later this year, Southeast Asia’s largest phone company said on Monday

Despite the fact the above news didn’t mentioned Indonesia as one of its short-term plans, but it’s really the logical step for SingTel to pass this project to Telkomsel, its subsidiary in Indonesia. Please note that Telkomsel holds about 50% of the country’s market share.

I just send a text message this morning to an exec of Telkomsel to confirm it. “I still don’t know yet about it,” he replied.

Okay. Let’s take a look at another clue from this official news: Hutchison to bring iPhone to Hong Kong and Macau.

The Associated Press reported:

The telecom company - majority-owned by Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing’s Hutchison Whampoa Ltd. - operates second-generation mobile-phone services in Hong Kong, Thailand, Israel, Macau, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Vietnam.

So, since it already launched its own cellular service here, there is a possibility for Hutchison to bring iPhone to Indonesia.

But one thing that I am not convinced about this that its service, 3, is still a new comer in the country, meaning that it has small network coverage only.

Just compare it to the the giant Telkomsel here!

However, since it’s the matter of business deal, nothing is impossible.

But I am sure Apple will select the competitive partner to enter Indonesia’s potential market and in facing the existing direct competitors in the country: Nokia Communicator E90 and BlackBerry.

Whatever the choice, I think Apple should rethink and reconsider about iPhone’s business model for this archipelago’s business landscape: the locked-iPhone version will not work here! Trust me.