Comments on: Orange is bringing the iPhone to Poland – but how will they activate it?

By: Bruno B

Bruno B — Mon, 19 May 2008 23:32:57 +0000

It seem that Orange (Mobistar) will have the exclusive in Belgium.

By: elminno

elminno — Sun, 18 May 2008 17:37:34 +0000

About the updates.. If Apple really releases the iPhone in Slovakia before they introduce the iTunes Store, my best guess is that the updates will work just like they do with iPods. You just sync the phone with iTunes Library and it will automatically check for any new iPhone software available.

By: elminno

elminno — Sun, 18 May 2008 14:16:42 +0000

Okay, the most likely scenario for Slovakia is that Orange will sell the phone SIM-unlocked, as the carrier does not sell any SIM-locked phones at the moment. Even when you buy a cell with a contract, or get it for free, it’s unlocked. So in that case, they might sell the iPhone already ‘activated’. That is assuming that it will be introduced ‘later this year’ as stated. Another alternative is that Apple will provide a single-purpose utility to activate the device. Or, Orange might be given a utility to activate it for their customers, but I don’t see this one coming.
I also don’t see Apple introducing the iTunes Store in Slovakia before 1st January 2009 when we are supposed to switch to euro currency. Our own currency is currently probably the biggest hold up when it comes to introduction of the iTunes Store, simply just because of the unstable exchange rate.

By: Andrei Potorac

Andrei Potorac — Sat, 17 May 2008 19:01:29 +0000

In Romania too we do not have the iTunes store. I’m really looking forward to seeing how they’re going to address this problem.

By: Hugo Baeta

Hugo Baeta — Sat, 17 May 2008 15:33:28 +0000

Thanks Phill!
I’ve investigated and came to that same conclusion.

Now we need to wait to get it officially distributed, I honestly don’t care which company does it!!! I just want one!

By: Phil

Phil — Fri, 16 May 2008 22:39:41 +0000

hugo, there appear to be several countries where the iphone will be distributed by at least two carriers at the same time. another example besides portugal is switzerland, where swisscom has made the deal as well as orange. no more carrier exclusivity, it seems – at least in some places.

By: Bruno B

Bruno B — Fri, 16 May 2008 19:37:01 +0000

In Belgium one cannot sell a mobiel phone with a carrier contract, nor may the phone be locked to one carrier. So I guess that we will have to pay the full price (600 – 700 Euros ???).

This also mean that more then one carrier can sell the iPhone.
(Mobistar = Orange)
(Proximus is partner with Vodafane)

By: Hugo Baeta

Hugo Baeta — Fri, 16 May 2008 14:10:24 +0000

Hey there!
I’ve been following the podcast for some months now and love it! Thank you for that!

Reading this I found a conflicting information that I’d apreciate if you could give me an answer:
In this article it is mentioned that the orange is bringing the iPhone to Portugal (where I live), but I’ve heard/read somewhere that Vodafone just signed a contract to deliver the iPhone to a bunch of countries, including Portugal.
Now, the rumour of Orange bringing it to Portugal, through it’s local partner – Optimus – has been heard for some time. That’s why I’m confused!
Can you help me?

About the iTunes store thing you were mentioning, well, at least we have the iTunes store here… it’s a crappy one, but we have it!!!!!

Cheers and keep up the good work here!

By: Phil

Phil — Fri, 16 May 2008 14:01:27 +0000

well, it shouldn’t be much of an issue to enable just the iphone activation procedure and probably even the app store without giving the country a full-fledged itunes store, if for some reason that is not an option. or even just send them to, say, the us store for activation.

or maybe you won’t have to activate the next gen iphone at all! maybe you’re free to use it with any sim card you want! or maybe i’m fantasizing. who knows!