David Light
writes an article in Khaleej Times on the iPhone 3G. He talks to a few people in Dubai about the new iPhone.
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Zunair Akbar, a student, said: “I think it is a complicated issue and that is why it is not coming here. Really I am not waiting with much anticipation for the new iPhone because there is still a lot of improvement that needs to be done.“The camera is bad and emails are just as easy to send from a Blackberry, I also think it’s too big.”
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Sure, the camera is not the greatest and it can't record video, and Blackberry might be better on email in some ways, but "it's too big"?
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Avinash Dhar said: “I’m going to pick mine up when go for a trip back to India. I didn’t bother with the old one because I was wary about getting it on the grey market here.
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So Avinash will unlock it when he gets back to Dubai, then? Or pay high roaming charges after the trip?
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Maria said: “I really like the new iPhone and think it is fairly priced which is nice. It will cost a lot more here because sellers will charge what they want.
“It would be nice to see emails on my phone and it’s a shame it is not on sale officially here at a set price.” What makes the iPhone 3G special is an increase in features including the ability to make video calls, better web surfing facilities and a new GPS system to name but a few.
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I think David is confused, there is no function for video calls on iPhone 3G.
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The new iPhone which is retailing for less than half price of the original in parts of the world where there is a distribution agreement will have a substantial mark up if sold by traders in the Emirates. According to arabianbusiness.com, sellers in the UAE will place almost a 200 per cent increase in price from the set $199. This will inflate the price to that of the original iPhone when it was released last year for around $599 thus cancelling any saving for* those who waited for the updated version.
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Perhaps not confusion but at least an omission, the $199 price is with a contract. If you want one SIM-unlocked and without contract the iPhone 3G is more than double that price.
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In France iPhones are sold unlocked as a result of their strict anti-competition laws so why not here?
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Indeed, Apple and TRA, why not?