iPhone Risk: Italia Independant! 3G Senza Una Lock-In?
Engadget, via typically credible Italian newspaper La Repubblica, reports that a 3G iPhone will be coming soon to Telecom Italia, and what’s more: without carrier or contract lock-in.
Ch-ch-ch-che?
First, a quick look at our scoreboard, if this be true:
| Europe | North Am. | South Am | Asia | Africa | Oceania | Antarctica | |
| 2.5G | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3G | 1? | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Next, Apple Insider brings some details:
[A] formal agreement on the matter was signed last week when Franco Bernabè, chief executive officer of TIM’s parent company Telecom Italia, met with Steve Jobs at Apple’s Cupertino-based headquarters. Under the terms of the deal, TIM will reportedly receive a several month exclusive on sales of a 3G iPhone through its retail shops [...] Apple is also reported to have agreed to terms by which the new iPhone will be sold at a higher price than in other European countries, but without a carrier lock and two-year service agreement.
Apple Insider further notes that, given the high percentage of pay-as-you-go plans in Italy, this unprecedented arrangement would give both the carrier and customers multo-flexibility in selling units and either using them on TIM, or with other providers, with plans or with pre-purchased bundles/minutes.
No comment, of course, from either Cupertino or Roma, but we’ve repeatedly repeated Apple COO Tim Cook’s comments on being open to other business models, and this particular one is very intriguing to say the least.
How does the idea of a contract-free 3G iPhone coming soon (albeit to Italy) grab you?
April 21st, 2008 at 10:06 am
With each new carrier Apple carries less and less weight, and the business model the other carriers agreed to looks more and more stupid.
Stupid AT&T, stupid, O2 and stupid Apple. Welcome to the real world.
Surur
April 21st, 2008 at 11:02 am
That’s true, if you ignore any common principle of business.
Carriers who wanted first and exclusive regional access paid a premium (revenue sharing) for it. …
April 21st, 2008 at 11:10 am
So you agree that Apple failed to find a carrier in Italy who felt “first and exclusive regional access” was worth bending over backwards anymore?
Heaven forbid the JesusPhone came to this!
Italy is one of Europe’s biggest smartphone markets, and it seems the iPhone failed to impress.
Surur
April 21st, 2008 at 11:27 am
They found a carrier who, based on their own pre-paid percentages, wanted to charge more per phone initially then incrementally based on subscription revenues.
400+200 right away ~= 400+(10×24 months).
Tim Cook pretty much said this last con call. You must love quoting him
April 21st, 2008 at 11:34 am
You mean like everyone else does it? What a revolutionary business model!!! Next they may even sell UNLOCKED IPHONES!!
Surur
April 21st, 2008 at 11:44 am
Er… They already did in Germany and still do in France… (As required by French law).
April 21st, 2008 at 11:47 am
Merely complying with the law is not a business model, its the law.
Surur
April 22nd, 2008 at 6:22 am
With hindsight (and presuming the story is accurate) I guess it’s not very surprising:
Link (4.6 MB pdf)
To offer the iPhone as contract-only in market so predominantly contract-free would be slightly crazy.
I wonder if this will impact on Apple’s accounting and how updates will be handled. Will the Italians have to pay for updates (a la iPod Touch)? Do owners of iPhones bought unlocked in France and Germany?
April 22nd, 2008 at 7:34 am
Apple TV is accounted for under the subscription model, as are/were unlocked German/French iPhones, so I don’t think there will be a problem maintaining it in Italia.
April 22nd, 2008 at 8:15 am
[quote=surur;1434241]So you agree that Apple failed to find a carrier in Italy who felt “first and exclusive regional access” was worth bending over backwards anymore?
Heaven forbid the JesusPhone came to this!
Italy is one of Europe’s biggest smartphone markets, and it seems the iPhone failed to impress.
Surur
:rolleyes: Is it merely your mission in life to hunt down and destroy the iPhone? If it basically a child’s/moron’s toy and isn’t a threat to your beloved Win Mobile platform, why not just give it a rest. Since it is so obviously inferior, and Apple’s marketing/business model is a failure, then go back to your pontifications on the Windows mobile sites and enjoy your superior intellect Khan.
April 22nd, 2008 at 8:25 am
It’s a gag. dude.
Surur is like Steven Colbert. He takes a seemingly indefensible position and viewpoint and, while feigning to defend it, actually annihilates in grand comedic fashion.
Simply brilliant satire.
April 22nd, 2008 at 8:27 am
yeah. i mean, did you see the thread where he said WM is “open” while android is “closed?” The man’s a brilliant humorist!
April 22nd, 2008 at 9:08 am
His book, “I am WinMob and So Can You!”, instant classic.
April 22nd, 2008 at 9:42 am
Do I enjoy rubbing the noses of the iPhone snobs who claimed the iPhone would single-handedly change the carier business model into the facts of the real world? Why yes I do!
Lets call it WM Schadenfreude.
Surur
April 22nd, 2008 at 9:52 am
hey – quit trying to trick us with them fancy European words.