During a much-anticipated press conference Mobistar (a France Telecom company and Belgium’s second largest mobile operator) today released the details of the Belgian Apple 3G iPhone3G , to go on sale July 11th, our local ‘independence day”. Belgium is really a unique market for Apple. Unlike most countries on the planet, Belgian law does not allow to subsidize the sale of a phone (Apple’s 3G iPhone) with the sale of a subscription, making it very hard to find a solution for Apple’s iPhone3G business model.
After extensive last-minute pressure from Apple’s HQ, the Apple iPhone3G will go on sale in Belgium next Friday: (network) SIM-lock free in 28 Belgian Apple and 150 Mobistar stores, without a “forced upon” subscription, although Belgian operator Mobistar is the only one with a iPhone-targeted content portal. Over 85% of Belgium has full 3G coverage.
The price for all this “legal freedom” is extremely steep: 525 EUR (US $820) for the 8GB 3G iPhone, along with a staggering 615 Euro (US $960) for the 16 GB version. Digitalworld.be [in Dutch] quotes Apple’s COO Tom Cook, who allegedly said: “who cares about Belgium? [pop 10 million]“, “let’s concentrate on the Chinese”. Let me quote digitalworld.be: “This is way out of line Apple, you greedy f***ers “. Do check out this great cartoon.
Anyway, I’m pleased to say that I’m not sponsoring Apple’s greed. Are you? [Belgian Mobistar/Apple optional, inflated cell-phone plan prices (with data limits) for the overpriced $900 Belgian iPhone 3G ]
YouTube: Apple’s Steve Jobs at the US developers presentation: “In almost all of these countries, the price is US $199, all around the world”. At $960 (+monthly voice/data plan) for an iPhone3G sold in Belgium, the word “almost” just got a new meaning, dear Steve
Related: Switzerland’s Swisscom appears to be one of the other carriers where Apple’s iPhone 3G is also available without a mandatory subscription. Unfortunately, at EUR 320 (US $500) the Swiss Iphone is network-locked. As far as I know, Belgium appears to be the only country where Apple is selling a (network) SIM-lock free, no-contract iPhone. But at 615 euro (US$960) plus an indispensable/expensive data plan to use all data-intensive features, Belgians enjoy the privilege of being offered the most expensive iPhone on the planet.
July 9: ZD.net Belgium [Dutch only] reports that the total material and production cost of a 3G iPhone adds up to only US $173. Time magazine also covered this ‘Belgian’ story, one day later. Update July 11: the first iPhones were sold at Mobistar in Brussels at midnight: watch the video [Dutch]. Warning: The iPhone3G is, by design, [in French] not compatible with popular MMS (photo-to-phone) messages, not compatible with 3G video calls, not compatible with Mobistar’s own video and music service and not even compatible with Mobistar Mobile broadcast TV channels… Adding insult upon injury, Apple/Mobistar appears to have locked the iPhone3G to Belgian networks only. Check at the bottom of this page:”The device can only be used with a Belgian SIM card“[removed July 15], implying a (legal) country SIM lock to prevent cross-border sales, although Belgian buyers can use the device on all 3 Belgian cellular networks. After numerous reports of alleged (illegal) aggressive iPhone 3G voice/data-plan pushing in Mobistar stores, I’d stay clear of anything labeled “Apple”
This blog is not affiliated with or endorsed by the city of Antwerp, Belgium.