iPhone launches in UAE and Saudi Arabia

PHONE ARRIVES: The iPHONE 3G is now on sale in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

The iPhone 3G has officially been launched in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, Etisalat announced on Sunday.

Etisalat outlets and other selected retailers are now selling Apple’s iconic phone.

The 8GB version costs up to AED2,646 ($720) on a one-year contract with a AED199 ($54) monthly rental charge, and the 16GB costs up to AED3,090 ($841), also with a monthly rental fee of AED199, with the packages on both phones including 125 minutes of national calls a month, 125 texts and 500MB of data.

There are a range of tariffs available, but all the options lock the buyer into a minimum one-year contract.

The 8GB handset is available for free, for example, on a one-year contract with a monthly rental cost of AED643 ($175), which includes 500 minutes of national calls, 300 texts and 2000MB of data.

Meanwhile, customers can pay as little as AED375 ($102) for the 16GB handset on a monthly rental plan also costing AED643 for 500 minutes, 300 texts and 2000MB of data.

“iPhone is a perfect blend of advanced functionality and high performance and we are delighted to be one of the first operators in the region to offer this to our customers on the nation’s most advanced high speed network,” said Etisalat’s chief marketing officer, Essa Al Haddad.

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READERS' COMMENTS

iPhone pricing
Posted by Mustapha, Abu Dhabi, UAE on Thursday 26 February 2009 at 13:51 UAE time


Its rare to find people like HANS who have an abundance of cash flow in these hard times. Apart from that, the iPhone is over priced and Plans dont work well in this region, fair priced outright purchases do !!

iPhone
Posted by Hans, Dubai, UAE on Tuesday 24 February 2009 at 10:56 UAE time


I own the iphone 3G. i previously owned the blackberry curve. Yes the unlimited data package is an awesome feature of the blackberry, but AED199 for 500MB PLUS 125 texts and 125minutes of calls is a steal here in the UAE (which is where we live - you cannot compare everything to the states unless you go like for like on everything) especially considering a 200MB data package costs AED350 for any other 3G enabled phone. On top of that the iphone is probably the most awesome piece of technology ever created. if i didn't already own one i would buy it at the drop of a hat. Apple ROCKS!!

iPhone and rental nonsense
Posted by Brendan, Dubai, UAE on Tuesday 24 February 2009 at 08:05 UAE time

Strange set up and absolutely absurd pricing. This market does not work by rental agreements. It works on Sales,. However its just another contract to stop you at the airport and put you in prison should you neglect to pay rental amounts.
The iPhone is the most overrated phone in the market. Some good features but after 2 months use, self and many colleagues dumped our phones - various reasons - strongest being the volume. Cant hear it ringing. Simple I know - but Apple??????

Iphone .......NA!
Posted by nasir on Tuesday 24 February 2009 at 02:10 UAE time


i would any time go for the Blackberry Storm which will hopefully be in the market very soon , much better device compared to an iphone.

With the unlimited data national and international roaming packages blackberry would be much cheaper and more usefull compared to an iphone.

iphone data usage is high and the bill you will receive if u just use it a little when roaming internationally will reach thousands of dhs.

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