Dilemma for iPhone debut in Malaysia
In Southeast Asia region, iPhone 3G has prominently settled in Singapore and Philippines, and has been rumored to released (at least next year) in Thailand and Indonesia. So, will it come to Malaysia also? People in Malaysia now should travel to its neighbouring country and sign up for Singtel plan for obtaining their own iPhone.
Why won’t Apple yet to release iPhone in Malaysia? Leong Hung Yee from The Star pointed that it is triggered from Apple will for package plan. As we know, iPhone in many countries is sold for 2 years plan, most of them are locked. This concept however doesn’t apply for Malaysia (and Indonesia) too. That’s the cause root of why Apple hasn’t agreed to launch the phenomenon to Malaysia (and other Southeast Asia countries, beside those two mentioned).
Leong Hung Yee furthurmore stated:
Industry players said Malaysian mobile service providers did not have the practice of selling phones along with their packages. And like in most markets, Apple would leave all the distribution aspects to the service provider partner.
In Malaysia, it is quite some time that Maxis is rumored to be the chosen operator, thanks to its largest subscribers and penetration. Again, there hasn’t any official comment from Maxis regarding this.
December 31st, 2008 at 7:42 am
Thailand will have their iPhone soon
http://www.apple.com/th/
January 1st, 2009 at 9:41 pm
Hope our operator will change their strategy.
January 1st, 2009 at 11:37 pm
hmm.. it is not a practice of Malaysian, but, they (Maxis) can start being the first to do so, right? hehe. i’ve waited so long for this baby.. Huhuhu..