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UAE iPhone could cost AED3,000 to buy - sources
by This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it on Friday, 6 February 2009Posted on Thursday, 19 February 2009
Foolish Move!
Posted by Reader at 11:25 UAE time
If the iPhone is launced with AED 3000 price tag its understandable BUT only if there are other benefits with the package such as the device being unlocked and monthly variety of monthly packages on offer (like the Blackberry).
It would be very uncompetitive and greedy of Etisalat to launch without milking the first mover advantage. This is their chance to wipe out the grey market and build a strong customer base from the get go!!
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Posted on Wednesday, 11 February 2009
iHack iPhone
Posted by FirozRam at 19:02 UAE time
I got one from US, hacked it myself, loaded it with n # of free softwares & I switch between different SIMs from around the world....including Etisalat & du...& I don't pay no monthly fee of AED 500....happy & enjoyin' my phone...
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Posted on Tuesday, 10 February 2009
iphone in dubai
Posted by concerned citizen at 09:43 UAE time
"fair competition"..is that what they said???...Its pure monopoly..everybody i speak to in what today is known as the "developed world" laughs at me whenever i tell them what i pay for my internet,cable(which leaves a lot to be desired), and phone bills!..if the industry insiders are true in their predictions...what we will end up paying for the iphone is pure extorsion..i'm better off with the unit i bought off the market...and by the way its unlocked and i get all the updates i need!..sorry Etisalat but the guy in karama i bought my iphone off wins...FREE MARKET RULES!!!
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Posted on Sunday, 8 February 2009
Response to MUSTAFADXB
Posted by Raz at 17:25 UAE time
Mustafa,
I dont think your logic makes any sense here mate! Thsi would apply for an UBER class product. Some thing that only gets produced in limited quantity and access in itself is rare. In the Telecom industry, volume speaks and hence ridiculously pricing yourself out of the market is what ETISALAT is doing! As well all already know the class of Internet provided in teh region is no match to the infrastructure of developed countries but then again the kind of monopoly they flaunt gives them the ability to force big bills down the throats of consumers effortlessly!
Hence, the title of your post 'it is simple math. no Brainer' would apply perfectly as long as the consumer was not kept in mind.... Not using the brain seems to be the No brainer here! :-) Weird but True!
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Time for economics 101
Posted by Doug at 13:43 UAE time
Ok, it's time that businesses in the Gulf learnt a few basic economic lessons.
The most important market segment is known as the "stupid rich", so named because of their tendency to buy anything that's new, regardless of the cost or usefulness. It is this market segment that has served Dubai well so far.
Then comes step 2, the step that ALL Gulf companies forget, and one which is even more vital in a slowdown. If you can sell enough units to the stupid rich, your production costs per unit will decrease. Then you can lower your costs and sell to the stupid poor - that's where the real volume is.
It's never a good idea to design your product for the smart poor or smart rich. The smart poor will figure out a way to steal it, while the smart rich will simply buy your company and then fire you.
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Apple may not have let this happen...
Posted by Yasser Masood at 10:53 UAE time
In a way I doubt if this pricing structure was approved by Apple in the first place. The reason is that you don't find other Apple products in the market at such high rates (if compared to the US prices) and those products sell really well here. I doubt if these sources are correct since for one Apple don't want any other device to beat the iPhone on pricing grounds and since its affordable in other markets, it must be here as well. I don't see why Apple would let Etisalat kill their best product and let it help sell other products like the Blackberry. Do note that the BB packages from Etisalat (data packages) are really very affordable at AED. 185 for the starting one. If BB users can get unlimited data for this much, why can't this be done for iPhone users. This is just one way to look at it and I'm hopeful that Apple would have given real good thought to these factors.
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it is simple math. no Brainer
Posted by mustadxb at 09:36 UAE time
Guys, Think about the following, if I was going to sell a device at 1000 aed, and i have 100 buyers, I could think about selling the same product for 2000 aed for 75 buyers and make the sell as a premium and exclusive wich still leaves me higher margins at 50% extra.
Also, I will have potentially 75 customers who will complain on my bad after sales services instead of 100, which is a less headach since my policy restricts me to take action only after 100 complaints are registered. . .
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iPhone 3G in UAE
Posted by Andy at 09:04 UAE time
They can't be serious, because the customer has the choice. Thanks to teh extreme delay the market has found its way from Asia, Europe and US to bring iPhones here. I am using them since they were sold in the US and I am also used to "open" them myself.
But in the other way, of course they will sell it expensive. They rip us off with extremely high prices on Internet charges and extremely low speed, they rip us off with the phone charges, too. But there we cannot really help ourselfs.
If the price is real - especially along with the monthly fee - I can only suggest anyone to buy the HKG iPhone 3G from Apple Store. They are totally open unlike the others, including that they dont have the weblock!
Anyone considering to sign a contract like that shall be sent to psychotherapy.
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“Principle of fair competition”
Posted by Setup at 08:59 UAE time
Whatever happened to “principle of fair competition”??
A year back they published an article stating refusal to bring the iphone to UAE because of a breach in the policies of fair competition.
For once i was proud of the stand UAE telecom took. Guess it was all a joke. What does DU have to say about this?
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Iphone ripoff
Posted by Jude at 06:31 UAE time
Id rather go to ebay which sells Iphones, 8 - 16GB unlocked for around 500 - 700$ Canadian which translates to about 2100Dhs max and add a little extra for shipping...even more saving! The Etisalat Iphone however would have the GPS maps of Dubai...but then again if you get lost, ask someone on the street - free. My bill for my Iphone with a 6GB browsing package here in Toronto, Canada comes to around 95$ with taxes - abt 285 Dhs...and Dubai charges Dhs500? For what? Total ripoff!! Lets see what Du has to offer - if they manage to get a contract from Apple as well.
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Posted on Saturday, 7 February 2009
I phone - Etisalat
Posted by Jawahar K at 19:24 UAE time
Etisalat have made huge profits over the past few years. Even though the price is not yet fixed, this time considering the current economic situation, they should subsidize this product atleast to US / UK level. if they are too good, perhaps they should give that phone free of cost (iam Joking !!) to their clients who are already spending more than 500 Dirhams every month easily.
Etisalat only can decide how much they want to charge - we would not have any say - whatever (prices) happens elsewhere.
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i phone
Posted by worried at 18:27 UAE time
yes there will be many people who will buy. why?? How else would they show off to the Nokia guys?
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Rip off
Posted by Hasan Saad at 16:00 UAE time
This price is SO "Dubai"...in another way, a total rip off,
This is very traditional , they bring the new stuff a year after it's release, and sell it twice the price.
But you know ? there ARE many people who r going to buy it, stupid people, i would like to call them.
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What's wrong?
Posted by M Metwally at 13:33 UAE time
Why is that the American consumer with average income of $40,000 is offered the iphone at $200 while the Emirati and Saudi consumer is offered the same phone for $817. Gulf citizens who can afford $817 for this phone have already bought unlocked sets for less. Gulf states will earn first world status when their consumers get first world treatment...
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iPhone 3G in the UAE, well "officially"
Posted by Amir at 12:02 UAE time
So what do you think will happen to thousands of so-called "unlocked" versions of Apple iPhone 3G handsets we have purchased (by the way for AED 4,500.00 for 8GB model) and are in use ?
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