Apple iPhone -- working toward worldwide domination

Posted May 16th 2008 5:14PM by Melly Alazraki
Filed under: Apple Inc (AAPL), AT and T (T), iPhone

On Friday, French wireless operator Orange said it has signed a deal with Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) to sell its iPhone in the Middle East, Africa and several European countries. Well, wasn't it just Monday that we've heard that Apple has signed deals with Singapore's Singapore Telecommunications Ltd and three of its affiliates to bring the iPhone to four Asian countries later this year? And wasn't it last week that Vodafone Group (NYSE: VOD) signed a deal with Apple to sell the iPhone in ten of its markets? That was just what I remembered offhand. Seems like Apple has pretty much signed deals with companies to sell the iPhone nearly worldwide. Let's check that:

From the Vodafone deal we have: Australia, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Greece, Italy, India, Portugal, New Zealand, South Africa and Turkey
From the SingTel deal we have: Singapore, India, the Philippines and Australia
From the Orange deal we have: Austria, Belgium, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, Jordan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Switzerland and African markets
Also, America Movil SAB (NYSE: AMX) will start selling the iPhone in 16 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean
Rogers Communications Inc (NYSE: RCI) signed a deal to sell the iPhone in Canada
Telecom Italia SpA will also sell the iPhone in Italy
The iPhone is already being sold by AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) in the United States, O2 in Britain, T-Mobile in Germany and Orange in France.

What's missing? Not much, mainly small markets, but how about two big ones: China and Japan.
If you recall, early in the year, Apple and China Mobile have called off talks to launch the iPhone to Chinese consumers. Since then, China Mobile expressed renewed interest, but nothing has been announced yet.
And Japan? Japan will have to wait for the 3G version of the iPhone since the current iPhone doesn't work on Japna's networks. However, reports indicated there have been talks with NTT DoCoMo (NYSE: DCM) there.

Having these two markets under its belt would indeed have Apple selling -- or soon to be selling -- the iPhone in almost every market. And in markets where it isn't officially selling (yet or at all), many are using unlocked iPhones.

Apple's goal is to sell 10 million iPhones by the end of the year. From its quarterly results, though, Apple seemed a little behind. But with all the upcoming markets where the iPhone will launch and with the upcoming 3G version -- rumored to be launched on June 9 -- it is no wonder analysts are expecting Apple to beat that number. And with Apple, anything can happen.

(If I have missed a market, or if you have more updated information, please fill us in.)

Tags: aapl, amx, at and t, AtAndT, inthenews, iphone, rci, t, vod

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

5-16-2008 @ 10:50PM

shaun said...

Apple is a company that just keeps growing. I own their stock and I love them.

http://www.stocks-simplified.com

5-17-2008 @ 2:55AM

andrew said...

O2s parent company, Telefinica, has announced the iPhone for Spain.

Also I am pretty sure that all of these deals are based on the 3G iPhone coming in June. So I'm not sure what the deal is with japan. Aren't they on 4G networks in Japan?

5-17-2008 @ 7:30AM

Barry Callebout said...

You must be an American to say that Apple pretty much covers the world now. Just from the top of my head some European countries that are still missing: Denmark. Finland, Ireland, Israel, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Spain...

5-17-2008 @ 8:48AM

ReggieMarie1 said...

Here's a thought, if Apple truly wants to grow in American markets. Why don't they expand their network coverage to include other cell phone carriers besides AT&T? I would love to buy an iPhone, as would many of my friends, but I have no intention of switching the carrier that I have now just for a phone nor do my friends. In America, Apple is a severe disadvantage if they chose not to expand to other carriers... Apple is a great company. I just think that sticking with one carrier might be a mistake.

5-17-2008 @ 9:53AM

melly said...

Andrew, Spain, of course! Thank you.
As for Japan, I'm no expert, but I believe NTT DoCoMo has been testing 4G, but it's still not the standard.

Barry, I've mentioned that many small markets are missing and most of the countries you've mentioned have a population of about 5 million. Luxembourg? Please, soon you're going to say Apple is missing a deal with Monaco or Liechtenstein :)
And despite being smaller countries, with Sweden a little bigger, I believe Nordic telcos have been talking to Apple, but I haven't heard of an agreement yet.

As for Spain, Andrew up there provided the info. The Netherlands, it seems, lacks a technology that without it the iPhone internet browsing is useless I believe, but if anyone knows more, please educate us.

5-22-2008 @ 12:24PM

rob said...

Barry, I believe the iPhone was launched in Ireland in March.

5-17-2008 @ 11:34AM

GI Joe said...

Barry, you must be a European, because only Europeans can convey such snide, misplaced self-importance. Oh and congratulations on possessing such mastery of your local geography. Bravo! From the top of your head! Magnificent!