The iPhone finally makes it to Israel

June 16, 2009 - 2:22 PM by

At long last, the wait is over. People all over Israel will be delighted to hear that Apple is finally bringing the iPhone to Israel.

After an extended wait, the iPhone finally arrives.

After an extended wait, the iPhone finally arrives.

Not that you’d know the iPhone isn’t here all ready. Thousands of Israelis already have the phone – bought from abroad, and hacked into here – it’s the phone to have right now. All the more fashionable for being unavailable. We also have our own unofficial Apple store selling all the gadgets that go with it.

Even five-year-old Israelis know what the iPhone is, as I discovered when I made a call at the swimming pool the other day.

“Cool,” he said. This either says a lot about the iPhone, or about five-year-old Israelis.

The Apple iPhone will be imported into Israel by Pelephone and Partner Communications. Both companies are keeping mum about launch, prices and marketing, though when Pelephone announced that it plans to market the iPhone 3G S (launched last week), Partner quickly said that it too will sell the device.

Cellcom is staying out of the iPhone melee, preferring to sit on the sidelines and see what the level of demand is. The company’s reasoning is pretty sound – there are already thousands of devices in the country.

While a launch date hasn’t been set, the iPhone should go on sale in Israel sometime in the next few months, and certainly by the end of the year.

All very well and good, but now I’ll have to look for a new gadget to impress the kids at the pool.

Tags: , , , , , • Category: Life, Pop Culture, Technology 

Comments

7 Comments on The iPhone finally makes it to Israel

  1. Joel Katz on Tue, Jun 16th 2009 4:43 PM

    2. According to Haaretz – iPhone is coming – the iPhone will be sold locally by Bezeq subsidiary Pelephone and Partner Communications, which operates under the Orange brand name.

  2. David-Joe on Wed, Jun 17th 2009 12:36 AM

    3. Wait until the complaints begin as it s-l-o-w-s down as the memory becomes filled.

  3. Jessica on Wed, Jun 17th 2009 8:31 AM

    4. Oh, David-Joe, that’s so negative! I, for one, am very excited as I’ve found that the iTouch doesn’t quite do the job.

  4. Nicky on Wed, Jun 17th 2009 8:56 AM

    5. I have to admit that I’m not a gadget fan at all, but I love the iPhone. It’s so simple to use.

  5. Max on Tue, Jun 30th 2009 5:05 AM

    6. How could that be the case? Pelephone is a UMTS netowrk, whereas the iPhone is only available as a GSM phone. I bet it’s Orange or Cellcom that will get it.

  6. Micha on Mon, Nov 9th 2009 10:33 PM

    7. Apparently, all 3 major carriers (Orange/Partner, Cellcom, Pelephone) will be carrying it.

  7. iPad Imports Banned In Israel | Gizmodo Australia on Thu, Apr 15th 2010 10:19 PM

    8. [...] not the first time that Israel has been standoffish towards Apple products: the iPad wasn’t officially allowed until December of last year. The reasoning for the delay was the same. But this seems to be a [...]

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