"Aikôna! iPhone not coming to SA!" (Apple)

[ld13]

"Apple besluit dis aikôna vir iPhone in SA mark
Suid-Afrikaners kan maar die Apple iPhone vergeet. Die verspreider van Apple se produkte in SA het gister gesê die gesogte toestel gaan nie op eie bodem beskikbaar wees nie. Volgens Mnr. RJ Van Spaandonk, uitvoerende hoof van Core-groep, het die Amerikaanse hoofkantoor van Apple besluit om nie die iPhone hier te versprei nie. ..."

From 08/11/2007 Die Burger's Sake24 Page 1.

Don't think they will keep the phone from SA though. As soon as those exclusivity rights and whatnot expires, I think we will see it in SA via the Official distribution channels.

 

[bwana]

"Apple besluit dis aikôna vir iPhone in SA mark
Suid-Afrikaners kan maar die Apple iPhone vergeet. Die verspreider van Apple se produkte in SA het gister gesê die gesogte toestel gaan nie op eie bodem beskikbaar wees nie. Volgens Mnr. RJ Van Spaandonk, uitvoerende hoof van Core-groep, het die Amerikaanse hoofkantoor van Apple besluit om nie die iPhone hier te versprei nie. ..."

From 08/11/2007 Die Burger's Sake24 Page 1.

Don't think they will keep the phone from SA though. As soon as those exclusivity rights and whatnot expires, I think we will see it in SA via the Official distribution channels.

ATT's deal is for 5 years but I'm not sure why that would mean anything for SA. Then again, I'm not sure what the article says

 

[ld13]

I added a link to the article for those that can read Afrikaans.

 

[neio]

Well I've already seen the iPhone here in Stellenbosch so peeps are importing.

 

[bwana]

So what is Core saying?

 

[ld13]

Well I've already seen the iPhone here in Stellenbosch so peeps are importing.

Van Spaandonk sê die Core-groep sal verder geen ondersteuning vir enige self-ingevoerde iPhones kan bied nie.

Of course you will see the iPhone in SA, but not via official distribution channels. So I guess you can forget about support for the phone in SA, as “It’s not even available here yet”.

 

[Pilgrim]

Strange, my boss has one.

Took him a weekend to "make it work" here in SA. It is pretty cool

 

[Moonglum]

IPhone not in SA

Saw this morning in the local newspaper "Die Volksblad" that Apple has confirmed that the IPhone will not be available in South Africa and the Core group confirms this. This sucks. Go for the Google phone ?

Moonie

 

[ld13]

So what is Core saying?

Article summary:

Aplpe said yesterday that SA can forget about the iPhone. According to Core it is out of their hands as this was a decision form the American headquarters. He said those that are desperate can import it, but it’s not recommended as it's only available in USA/England on Contract and wont work on SA networks as it's network locked. The phones can be unlocked, but they warn against this as this process can brick the phone. He also said that the Core-Group can furthermore not provide any support for these self-imported iPhones. All the other products like the iTouch will be available in SA though … … [They talk about the iTouch, OS X Leopard, 160GB iPod] … …

Strange, my boss has one.

Took him a weekend to "make it work" here in SA. It is pretty cool

Exactly, he had to "make it work" first.

 

[bwana]

Article summary:

Aplpe said yesterday that SA can forget about the iPhone. According to Core it is out of their hands as this was a decision form the American headquarters. He said those that are desperate can import it, but it’s not recommended as it's only available in USA/England on Contract and wont work on SA networks as it's network locked. The phones can be unlocked, but they warn against this as this process can brick the phone. He also said that the Core-Group can furthermore not provide any support for these self-imported iPhones. All the other products like the iTouch will be available in SA though … … [They talk about the iTouch, OS X Leopard, 160GB iPod] … …





Exactly, he had to "make it work" first.

ok - thanks. That's nothing new is it? I wager if the phone was coming to SA then Apple would dealdirectlywith a network operator who has a nation-wide presence rather than Core - the epitome of poor customer service.

Saw this morning in the local newspaper "Die Volksblad" that Apple has confirmed that the IPhone will not be available in South Africa and the Core group confirms this. This sucks. Go for the Google phone ?

Moonie

So far google has a Mobile OS (android) not a phone.

 

[mikef]

It is exactly this attitude of Apple why I in principle will not support them.

 

[ld13]

It is exactly this attitude of Apple why I in principle will not support them.

It's not an attitude, but rather a case of "Hey Apple, here is some $$$. Can we have exclusive rights on the iPhone please? Here is some more $$$. Ok, just sign here there and here, here is some more $$$, thx! Don’t go and sell this to anyone else now! Here is more $$$."

 

[bwana]

It is exactly this attitude of Apple why I in principle will not support them.

Can you elaborate on this "attitude"?

 

[mikef]

Can you elaborate on this "attitude"?

If i am not mistaken Core is the official Apple distributor in SA. Why then will Apple not allow them to sell and service the iPhone in SA?

 

[bwana]

If i am not mistaken Core is the official Apple distributor in SA. Why then will Apple not allow them to sell and service the iPhone in SA?

I would guess because Core doesn't have the capabilities that's why I think Apple would bypass them and deal directly with a network operator.

We also need something like a localised iTS and I'm sure that would require an official Apple presence.

http://www.fin24.co.za/articles/default/display_article.aspx?Nav=ns&ArticleID=1518-1786_2217201

 

[rvanwyk]

what a joke. im really dissapointed. even Core admitted to a 47% growth in apple sales in south africe. i think apple is making a huge mistake. with all the hype around the iphone almost everybody in SA is aware of this device without apple promoting it. would have been a top seller.

imho, screw apple.

 

[bwana]

what a joke. im really dissapointed. even Core admitted to a 47% growth in apple sales in south africe. i think apple is making a huge mistake. with all the hype around the iphone almost everybody in SA is aware of this device without apple promoting it. would have been a top seller.

imho, screw apple.

For all we know that could be an additional three sales or three thousand - there's no context.

For all we know there might not have been an operator who was willing to play ball. From the ATT and O2 deals we can be pretty sure that Apple makes as much money off the contract as they do with the phone itself.

 

[JK8]

Keep your outdated iPhone!!

 

[rvanwyk]

For all we know that could be an additional three sales or three thousand - there's no context.

For all we know there might not have been an operator who was willing to play ball. From the ATT and O2 deals we can be pretty sure that Apple makes as much money off the contract as they do with the phone itself.

agreed, there is no context. but im sure there is growth. look at the istores that opened. surely they wouldnt have thought about doing it if they didnt forecast growth in sales. also, so many people i know have recently purchased not only ipods but mac mini's, mac books, etc. with additional marketing they might be able to increase there sales growth even further. only thing is that in SA it seems apple computer products fall in a specific markets mainly business related.

how many home apple users are there in the UK, US, EU? Suppose percentage wise a lot more than SA?

i still want to see the iphone in SA. Eish.

 

[Rewind]

If Core has the balls to charge R4400 for an Ipod touch that costs roughly R2600 at the current exchange rate I doubt the Iphone would be reasonable in SA.

The simple problem here is Itunes, all the countries that Apple is selling Iphones in have Itunes stores and the Iphone is a big cash cow in conjunction with the Itunes wifi store as well as ringtones and resultant incidental purchases.

Not seeing an Iphone in SA is not a terrible surprise. How many people would buy one? 50000? 1000000? If it was the latter I would be shocked out of my tree and I'd say less than 50000 would adapt from the current SA system of not paying anything for a phone on their contract.

All in all, we don't have a big enough market to support it and the lack of an Itunes store is the clincher.

I'm getting one brought to me from America so I don't really care. I'm also selling the second one I'm getting so if anyone wants an Iphone around the 19th of December when it lands in the country give me a shout. (end shameless plug here)

PS: Core sucks