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People have been asking me how much would the newly announced iPhone 4 will be priced once it arrives in the Philippines. There’s no exact answer to that but it doesn’t mean we can’t make a guesstimate.
When the iPhone 3GS was announced last year by Apple, they placed the post-paid price of the 16GB and 32GB at $199 and $299, respectively. The iPhone 4 is also at that same price point.
When the iPhone 3GS was officially announced by Globe, its official/exclusive Philippine carrier, the prices are as follows:
iPhone Prepaid Kits
iPhone 3GS 16GB – Php38,850
iPhone 3GS 32GB – Php42,250
Globe Regular Postpaid Plans (16GB)
Plan 500 – Php29,500
Plan 800 – Php25,350
Plan 1200 – Php23,100
Plan 1800 – Php19,050
Plan 2500 – Php11,850
Plan 3500 – Php3,950
Plan 5000 – Free
Plan 7000 – Free
Plan 10000 – Free
Globe Regular Plans (32GB)
Plan 500 – Php35,100
Plan 800 – Php30,950
Plan 1200 – Php28,700
Plan 1800 – Php24,650
Plan 2500 – Php17,450
Plan 3500 – Php9,550
Plan 5000 – Php1,000
Plan 7000 – Free
Plan 10000 – Free
Barring any other factors, including foreign exchange rates and other tariffs, we can expect the iPhone 4 to be within a close vicinity of these prices if not exactly the same (I’d give it a 10% variance).
Globe has recently discounted the prices of the remaining iPhone 3GS in their inventory which supports the premise of this theory.
Here’s one thing I think I’m very confident of — the iPhone 4 16GB will be free on Plan 5000 and the iPhone 4 32GB will be free on Plan 7000.
The earliest expected availability of the iPhone 4 is September but Globe insiders peg it at 4th quarter of this year.
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jade bryan says:
🥉 Rookie🏆1
wooop. I like iPhone 4 but the price is too high for its specs. Plus yung mga important apps gaya ng iMovie is not free. So I think September pa ung iPhone 4 sa Philippines at by that time Samsung galaxy and others is already here.
Sherwin says:
🌱 Noobs🏆1
To those wondering how telcos come up with device prices – it’s basically based on the cost given by the device manufacturer. Globe/Smart doesn’t make money on the device – in fact most times they subsidize it.
So why would prices of iPhones be cheaper in HK than in the Philippines? My guess is that it’s more because of volume than anything else. Globe commits a certain volume to purchase from Apple, and depending on this volume, Apple prices the iPhones at an amount. Unfortunately, since the Philippines is still a Nokia country and income is not comparable to other countries, high-end phones do not sell as much as Hongkong or the US. So the volumes aren’t that high – thus, the iPhone cost is high to Globe, and this cost is passed on to its subscribers.
Efren Sy says:
🥉 Rookie🏆2
50k plus
clementine says:
🌱 Noobs🏆1
will this only be available through Globe Telecom in the PH? i have an iPhone plan with my 3GS via Globe and they’re charging us customers an arm and a leg.
Teknisyan says:
🥈 Silver🏆1
Heheheh…. I wonder who are on the 50,000 plan of globe? typo? anyway, that’s the range that globe might implement… since the iPhone3GS was on that price when it came out.
hopefully it would be lower than that… any like what they say good things comes for those who waits!…
http//teknisyan.blogspot.com
Joshua says:
💎 Platinum🏆1
If Apple wants to dominate the phone market then dominate Nokia! Smartphone for the future the future is now! Philippines should be in smartphones like iOS or Android btw I like the nokia N900 and the N8 :D
My guesstimate… $199 = 38k +500 plans yeah… that will dominate the market alright.
Joshua says:
💎 Platinum🏆1
No wait its Globe nga pala the “sosyal” network make that 48k! + 500 on plans
MyMaria says:
🌱 Noobs🏆1
Geez… so i guess this means I’ll be saving up TWICE for the rainy days… September… umm, I think I’ll wait til Christmas to get an iPhone 4. Or maybe buy a factory unlocked one from HK then. :)
mponteres says:
💠 Supremacy🏆3
@abeolandres I am waiting for iOS4 that is compatible for 3Gs, not sure if it is worth to upgrade (since it is free)
yujinroy says:
💠 Supremacy🏆3
@abeolandres On iPhone4 prices, heard (cheaper, unlocked) units in SEA countries like HK & SG. Would you know if there’s any truth to this?
abeolandres says:
💠 Supremacy🏆3
@yujinroy primarily because no vat and import tariffs
yujinroy says:
💠 Supremacy🏆3
@abeolandres Definitely. But unlocked & safe to bring back to PH?
IanMedina says:
🥉 Bronze🏆1
Buy factory unlocked in australia or HK. Mas ok na un, hopefully bumaba pa conversion nila. But still too pricey!!! Android OS na ko this time. Froyo rules
Jon says:
🥉 Bronze🏆1
HAHA. Another cash cow for Globe. I kinda feel sorry for people paying so much for a “hyped-up” and overrated phone.
No wonder people prefer to get prepaid SIMs and get their phones from their “suking tindahan” in Greenhills.
Tip for telcos: Try not to overprice phone and their bundled plans. It definitely pushes subscribers away. Come on, there are a lot of ways you can earn more money. After all, its the loyalty of subscribers you are after, right?
manong says:
💠 Supremacy🏆2
how about apply for the plan 5000 then disappear into thin air? i’m sure globe has a lot of delinquent customers, and terminated employees.
what could be globe’s statistics on that?
loadex says:
🥉 Rookie🏆1
to be released by the 4th Quarter?.. in time for the Holiday bonus huh!
Elbert says:
🥉 Rookie🏆1
I’m getting mine from HK in July instead. Factory unlocked na, cheaper pa!
Dhan says:
🌱 Noobs🏆1
@Jon, I couldn’t agree more. Same thoughts although I don’t think Globe is after the loyalty of its customers, more like their pockets :D.
Joshua says:
💎 Platinum🏆1
Globe is kurakot!
Jon says:
🥉 Bronze🏆1
@Dhan
Good point. Haha. But yeah, if they would get more loyal subscribers, the more money they get to stuff their pockets with. Win-Win I guess. Why won’t they subsidize phones and maybe just lengthen the lock-in period to get their money back?
If subscribers like their service, they wouldn’t even bother switching to another carrier.
Ardz says:
🥇 Gold🏆1
I think the reason why the iPhone, or any gadget, is more expensive here in the Philippines is bacause of the tax imposed by the customs on importers. Some say that the tax here is very high compared to other Asian countries.
jade bryan says:
🥉 Rookie🏆1
Please don’t post your blog url here. So annoying to see. Nawawalan ako ng gana basahin yung comments.
Economics lg yan with a little psychology.
Law of suplly and demand plus the people like to show off iPhones and they feel that they holding the most SMARTest phone. So that would be the causes of that price.
Efren Sy says:
🥉 Rookie🏆2
The only simple and direct answer to that is,
All Filipinos wants to make big money fast, that is why from the start the item arrives here bunch of taxes has to be paid to government official and also from the importer.
“ONLY IN THE PHILIPPINES” right you are!!!
trust me based on present experience
headaches
Efren Sy says:
🥉 Rookie🏆2
why are electronics cheaper in Hong Kong and Singapore and so much expensive in the Philippines.
Obama said: “CORRUPTION!!!”
JKisaragi says:
🥉 Rookie🏆1
@Dhan
You’re probably right. Why else would there be a barrage of comments about Globe not treating their current (loyal) subscribers right and always (always!) giving new ones the red carpet treatment.
They lure you in, wring you dry, then leave you hanging in the air. @_@
Anyhow, pasingit na rin, any guesstimates as to how much would the iPhone 3GS 8GB cost? Me thinks of getting one (or maybe I should just wait for the iPod Touch 4 and stick with my E72 XD)
Leo says:
🥇 Gold🏆1
even if a have money lying around.. hindi ko pa rin bibilhin yan. overhyped-overpriced.
Abe Olandres says:
🥉 Rookie🏆3
@Efren – HK has no import tax and no VAT. Philippines has 12% VAT and high import tax.
@jkisagari – I think they’ll phase it out.
mico says:
🌱 Noobs🏆1
guys ask ko lang kung open na sila for reservation?
nagtanong kasi ako after ng launch ng 4, tapos sabi nila wala pa daw advisory about sa product.
thanks
Joshua says:
💎 Platinum🏆1
@yuga Nope I don’t think 3GS won’t be phasing out because Steve is still selling them for $99
btw how big is the import tax here compared to others?
Abe Olandres says:
🥉 Rookie🏆3
@Joshua – ahh yes, I stand corrected. Globe recently announced the 8GB is free at Plan 3500.
Import tax varies and can go up to 100% like with luxury cars.
Ebengt0t says:
🌱 Noobs🏆1
Very expensive for unremarkable features. Kung apps lang din symbian nalang ako, hackable para pwede modded or unmodded apps at mas affordable pa kumpara dyan. Im n0t interested with the screen density, pixel count, sapphire glass screen na dagdag alalahanin. Android or symbian nalang ako.
Joshua says:
💎 Platinum🏆1
@Ebengt0t – Ok sana Android but mababa ang availability nya dito sa pinas… if i’m not mistaken.
Efren Sy says:
🥉 Rookie🏆2
For Sure the Ever Trusty Greenhills Shopping Malls will be the first to have the iPhone 4th Gen
Trusty and Dependable black market I must add!
wong says:
🌱 Noobs🏆1
does anyone knows where to find (or download) free symbian apps?
wong says:
🌱 Noobs🏆1
does anyone know where to find (or download) free symbian apps?
fr0stbyte says:
🥉 Rookie🏆1
I can build a freaking i7 system with that kind of moolah.. Sheeznick.
xtian1986 says:
🥈 Silver🏆1
seriously the prices of Apple products are waaaay too overpriced, and all this Apple-hype aint making it any cheaper.
“OMG ITS AN APPLE PRODUCT WOOOOOW!”
fanboy much?!
jay says:
🥉 Bronze🏆1
If you have been to developed countries, you will see a lot of people using iPhones, its the future of mobile phones, call it a late bloomer or overrated, but iPhones are refined versions of all other cellphones out there :-) peace to all!
marco says:
🌱 Noobs🏆1
to wong- downloading symbian apps is a breeze to do.
just download it thru kickasstorrents.com or other torrent sites like torrenttree, pirate-bay etc.
( assuming you know how to download stuffs thru torrents)
pangit ang iphone 4. mas ok ang WAVE.. mas highend ang specs at very affordable price.. (20,000 more or less) plus in the near future eh madami na ang apps sa samsungapps.. and will be a big rival of apple.. hehehehe
Jiro Yan says:
🥉 Bronze🏆1
whatever!
spoiled_by_leaks says:
💎 Platinum🏆1
kung ganun ka mahal – iPad na lang ako or iWait for iPod Touch 4th Gen baka by that time Retina Display na din sila… :)
Jon says:
🥉 Bronze🏆1
@Jay
Refined? I don’t think so. Maybe it just looks elegant and classy. Refined, I highly doubt that. In developed countries, the iPhone isn’t still the biggest in the smartphone market. I think Blackberry still holds the number 1 spot in the US.
The iPhone isn’t the only smartphone out there. There are still a lot of better phones to choose from. To say that it is the future, I’d say that’s pretty ignorant, or at least fanboy-ish.
Joshua says:
💎 Platinum🏆1
@xtian1986 – actually Apple products aren’t expensive IN OTHER COUNTRIES dito mahal talga pero pag nokia = iPhone pricing and marketing mag boboom ang iPhone dito
Jon says:
🥉 Bronze🏆1
@spoiled
Yeah, I’d rather have an iPod touch 4th gen than an iPhone. I’d like my smartphone to be a serious one, not one like a overpriced toy-phone.
I’d still get Android. If Windows Phone 7 is good, and reasonably priced, maybe I’d try that one out too.
Joshua says:
💎 Platinum🏆1
@Jon Nothing is reasonably priced here T_T
Jon says:
🥉 Bronze🏆1
@Joshua
Nah, there are a bunch of reasonably-priced devices here. Sometimes, its just a matter of how and where you get ’em ;)
Ebengt0t says:
🌱 Noobs🏆1
Iphone fanatics check this out.
http://theiphonefever.blogspot.com/
wong says:
🌱 Noobs🏆1
@marco:
meron bang medical apps? so far puro games kasi nakikita ko..kung meron man hindi games..hindi ko maintindihan yung function niya..like remote..etc..iba nmn never heard..meron bang torrent sites na naka list down (categorize) na yung symbian OS?..parang apps store ng apple?..
To anyone:
maganda ba mag-android?..in terms of apps (preferably medical apps)?..
Ebengt0t says:
🌱 Noobs🏆1
@wong
try mo sa ovi store o kaya sa mga wap sites kasi may mga modded din dun. Android talaga the best pagdating sa apps kasi kahit simpleng app lang useful talaga at madalas libre pa.
yohan says:
🥉 Bronze🏆2
thanks for sharing :)
louie6380 says:
🌱 Noobs🏆2
It’s too pricey!!! I would rather go for Nokia N8 and get the iPod Touch 4th Gen… Or possibly buy iPhone 4 elsewhere but totally not with Globe!!!
AJ says:
🌱 Noobs🏆1
AW matatagalan pa sa pinas toh hallerr.. this phone uses MICROSIM technology..which is unfortunately..WALA pa sa pinas^^… meaning mga simcards natin di magkakasya dto…
Abe Olandres says:
🥉 Rookie🏆3
@aj – Globe is already selling the micro SIM for Php50 in stores.
Efren Sy says:
🥉 Rookie🏆2
@Yuga – Sir saan particular globe business center may Micro Sim
Galing na ko sa Globe Valenzuela wala pa daw lahat.
I would like to test the speed sana