News
SmarTone launching iPhone 3G, 3GS in Hong Kong
By Charles Starrett
Contributing Editor
Published: Tuesday, December 29, 2009
News Categories: iPhone
SmarTone/Vodafone is preparing to launch the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS in Hong Kong. The carrier will become Hong Kong’s second to offer the iPhone directly, but has little information about its plans and pricing online, offering only a simple form to sign up for future updates. Competing carrier 3 has sold the iPhone 3GS since July, and offers pricing between HK $4,880 (roughly $630) for a 32GB iPhone 3GS on the cheapest plan—which offers 100MB of data and 400 basic minutes for HK $138 (~$18)—to free for a 16GB model with the most expensive, HK $398 (~$51) monthly tariff. The iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS were also previously available unlocked directly from Apple online.
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1
I do not understand this post. 3 have been offering the iPhone for at least 18 months in hong kong. I think there has been a mistake in this post.
Posted by Paul on December 29, 2009 at 4:34 PM (PST)
2
Paul, you are correct - our original story incorrectly included 3 as a new carrier along with SmarTone. We have corrected the post.
Posted by Charles Starrett on December 29, 2009 at 7:30 PM (PST)
3
Smartone-Vodafone’s is indeed going to sell iPhones directly, but they had always offered iPhone specific tariff plans for over 6 months.
There are several plans that are specifically designed for the iPhone.
Smartone-Vodafone also have a couple iCombo plans that are designed to rebate the full cost of either models of the iPhone 3GS purchased in Hong Kong through authorized resellers (ie. Apple, Apple Retailers, etc.).
Given the little savings of subsidized iPhones at 3 HK, this announcements from Smartone-Vodafone is nothing special.
BTW: all iPhones sold through official Apple resellers had always been unlocked since the introduction of the iPhone 3G in Hong Kong.
Posted by Vinko on January 4, 2010 at 8:06 PM (PST)