Now that the iPhone has been cracked, people around the world want to get their hands on an unlocked iPhone. In the past few days, the software to unlock the iPhone to make it work with any GSM SIM cards has moved from being priced at $100 dollars to being free, and also has been made easier after initially requiring downloading several software components and having to access the phone through a command line interface.
Nobody seems to be too bothered with the fact that Apple’s next software update can potentially “break the unlock”. People just want to use the iPhone!
The Middle East is no exception.
I’ve been following some discussions in Arab forums and the iPhone unlock fever has definitely arrived. Then, I got a message from fellow blogger Moey about his own iPhone importing business in Kuwait. The prices are not cheap and payment is advance (clever, clever). But I wouldn’t be surprised if a good number of people are so keen on getting an iPhone that they would be willing to shell out the money to get one now.
Personally, I am still in wait an see mode. Let’s see what Apple’s UK announcement this week will be about. In Germany, it s seems that T-Mobile has clinched the deal for the iPhone. In France, Orange seem the be the front runner for the deal. Will this mean that iPhone will only be available for Orange (formerly Mobilecom) customers? That would be something.
Zain/MTC were rumored to be quite confident that they will get the iPhone in the Middle East. It’s all up in the air as far as I’m concerned.
And I really hope that Apple decide to launch a new version of the iPhone for the Europe/Middle East market. I think it has to be a 3G phone (some rumors now say that this WON’T happen) and it has to be able to shoot videos. Or else I am not really interested.
Wait and see..
Read these related posts on 360east:
- Will the Middle East get the 3G iPhone?
- Ovi goes live in the Middle East, sort of..
- Orange to bring the iPhone to the Middle East (and Jordan): the mystery is starting to get solved..
- iPhone Arabia: Apple doesn’t give a sh** about the region (foolishly)
- SkyFire: one more reason why NOT to buy an iPhone
Comments
6 responses to “Unlocked iPhones start trickling into the Middle East”
Thanks for the nice post, well… I can get them to Amman too
Yeah exactly, it looks beautiful, but still, its not convincing enough to fork out an arm and a leg. I don’t think I’ve ever paid that kind of money for a mobile phone, plus I feel that it’s more of an iPod that could make phone calls. I’ve read several reviews on it, and in terms of functionality, the iPhone does not bode well against other phones. Plus its not GSM-friendly at all. You can’t import contacts, you can’t switch SIM cards. What’s the use of a phone if it will remain more as shiny (and beautiful) accessory?
Having said all that, it does look VERY pretty. But still, I think I’ll be sticking to my Nokia for now.
Nokia stinks compared to SE 🙂 sorry pheras
Search the blogosphere before you commit. Rumor has it Apple is going to push out a firmware install thats going to make the hack MUCH harder.
This might be useful either way.
> http://mezzoblue.com/archives/2007/09/12/exporting_th/
i think iphone went to UK moble provider O2 (there was a photo of Jobs and the O2 CEO together at the London’s Apple store in the news…. )
“It’s a cat-and-mouse game,” Jobs said. “We try to stay ahead. People will try to break in, and it’s our job to stop them breaking in.”
> http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9037398&intsrc=hm_list