Oh yes. You might have thought that the world’s most popular phone, the iPhone, is already alive and kicking in the Holy Land, what with Israel’s reputation for technological wizardry and the number of iPhones already here…
But no, up til now there hasn’t been an official way of getting your hands on an iPhone. All those iPhones you see in Israel are cracked copies usually brought over from abroad.
Everybody knows what the iPhone is and what it looks like (even my wife’s 10 year old nephew), so you’ve got to say Apple have done an outstanding branding job, extending worldwide. And now, in just a few days (36, but hey, who’s counting!), Israel is finally getting on board the iPhone express! Everyone who wants an iPhone in Israel (the 3GS), complete with full Hebrew and Apple’s official support, will be able to get their hands on one.
Well, in theory at least.
Firstly, because demand, as in many countries throughout the world, is high, very high, and that scheduled 36 days might end up being longer, as stocks of iPhones in Israel dry up and get replenished. Secondly, the official release date of 15th October depends on answers from the antitrust authorities here in Israel, who may end up causing the postponement of the official release.
Apple apparently is trying to ensure that its agreements with Israel’s three mobile phone companies will not be ruled as restraint of trade, or cause other problems with the antitrust authority. However, because of the upcoming holiday season (including the Jewish New Year and Sukkot), reaching a ruling by the planned release date looks unlikely. Will Apple still go ahead with the release anyway, especially as they know the hordes will be waiting impatiently? And this is an Israeli horde, somebody better remind them…
All three of Israel’s main mobile phone operators, Pelephone, Cellcom and Orange, are launching the iPhone simultaneously. Apple usually never makes a general launch like this one, usually pickling one or two operators to offer different pricing options and improve sales. As the Israel launch will be simultaneous, it is assumed Apple has the same contracts in place with all three operators, something that could be considered as restraint of trade.
Never mind. Apple has a local version of their website, all in English with lots of pretty pictures of iPhones, go check it out if you can’t wait for your iPhone…