Globe Telecom started handing out the new iPhone 4 to the public at 9am today with hundreds (and going to the thousands) lining/waiting to pick-up their handsets.
They also had a corporate launch last Friday but this one’s for the general public.
Globe arranged for 2 venues as pick-up points for the iPhone 4 release — there’s one in Shangri-la Makati and another one in New World Hotel (beside GreenBelt 3). A total of 450 Globe personnel were deployed to man 150 stations/booths for claiming and activating the handsets.
Globe reps claim this is their biggest product launch ever (bigger than the 1000+ iPhone 3G launch they had 2 years ago). But unlike the iPhone 3G launch, this one is much more organized and more prepared. People were comfortably seated and relaxed; and since it was inside the hotel, the atmosphere is less stressful despite the growing crowd.
The entire process of claiming the iPhone 4 was smooth and quick. There were so many Globe personnel to usher people around and they had catering from the hotel so there were lots of good food and bottomless brewed coffee.
I also claimed my unit from a retention plan and the whole process was done in 30 minutes. I asked the staff and they said it could go up to 90 minutes depending on the type of customer (new, switchers, retention, upgrades, etc) which will include the option of transferring/syncing contacts to the new micro-SIM.
From our estimates (based on the initial rate of activations), there could be somewhere around 1500 – 2000 people claiming their iPhone 4s today (9am to 9pm).
Unfortunately, the Globe rep I asked tells me Apple isn’t automatically extending the free bumper case to the Philippines (you need to claim it from the US as it’s only applicable there).
I also managed to switch my plan to My Fully Loaded 1799 from the old iPhone Plan 1599 to get the 16GB iPhone 4 at reduced rate. The 16GB iPhone 4 costs Php37,499 (free on Plan 3799 @ 24 months) while the 32GB is Php43,699 (free on Plan 5000 @ 24 months) on prepaid plan.
Related Stories:
- iPhone 4 Review
- iPhone 4 Corporate Launch
- The Math on Globe’s iPhone 4 Price
- Globe to launch iPhone 4 on September 26
Update: It’s been 11 days since I got the new Globe postpaid micro-SIM and it’s still not activated yet. I have contacted @talk2globe at least 3 times but have not gotten anything done. They might have forgotten about my account already.
I signed the reservation form from here and was able to get mine today as well. thanks to yugatech :)
Is the white iphone 16gb available? I want to upgrade my 3gs to 4g. I hope i can get one before my birthday this nov ;)
Im currently on gflex plan 800 and my 24months locked up plan is not yet finished . Is it possible to upgrade to a much higher plan without any cash out? Thanks!
so the bumper program can still be availed pala….great! thanks for the info.
and it was great to meet you at the launch :)
I went to Makati Shangrila as the text Globe sent told me to do so at 8pm Sunday. But only the 16GB Iphone was available! They should have texted that only the 16GB was available that time.
i just wish that when it’s our time to get the iphone4, meron din “good food and bottomless brewed coffee” =)
para patas ang laban hehe
my tine slot was 1 to 2 PM. I was in Tagaytay at that time but left an authorization letter for Lauren to claim it. I arrived in Manila at 2:30 and immediately let my daughter go at 3PM. Another hour and by 4 PM I was already done. Their network system was down hence the delay. But yes,less stressful.
*iPhone
@denkoi – I’m in the same boat, still waiting. :|
@manny- I agree, you can sell your Iphone two years from now and make back the 10k. Then you can get the Iphone 6. :>
the price isnt actually bad, even for a 24-month contract.
@abe: i didn’t know that adding another 12months from a 24months lock period is equal to a free iPhone 4, i also upgraded my plan to 1799 but i paid 9899pesos for the cash out, sayang :) in shangrila kanina its a different story, my timelot was 1pm to 2pm nakalabas ako 4pm na..3hours dun grabe, lots of people are already complaining.
Nice haggle Abe! I still shelled out 9899 for the 1799 plan hehe
Only iPhone get that kind of treatment.
Can I have that BIG iPhone 4 replica?! HAHA. :D
Iphone 4 free bumper is not restricted to US customers only. Download the Free Bumper Program from the App store to claim your free case
still havent received any email nor stub. talk about customer satisfaction
Android FTW!
The information from the rep is not accurate. I got mine from Singapore and got the free case via the program.
2 hours, 50 minutes wait so far, over here at New World.
If I’m gonna buy this one, I’m not gonna get the Nokia N8 next month, or the upcoming Nokia E7.. Wheww…. Too expensive whew and iTunes dependent.. :|
I wish that I was able to reserve in time, I talked to a Globe rep and he said they had 3000 units. :(
Gotta wait for the next shipment. :(
@Yuga – If you extend the lock in period to 36 months it’s free? I was looking at plan 1799 for 24 months there’s around 10k to pay.
@RJCA – yes, 10k cash for 24 months on 1799. I