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iPhone Officially Goes Live In Israel, Sales Go Very Slow

At last, after long expectations and some high hurdles standing in the way, Apple’s mobile star – the iPhone – finally lands in Israel and gets official across the state. It’s been over a month since we first started guessing about potential debut dates, optional packages and probable prices to be set. Back than it was just rumors, now it’s for real. Official release started exactly on midnight, December 10th, with both Pelephone and Cellcom organizing a huge event, while Orange deciding to go with a more restrained release, the day after.

Pelephone was the first company to officially publish their iPhone prices – fair or terribly expensive, it’s up to you to decide:

First package: includes an 18 month obligation with a monthly fee of 299NIS that includes 250 minutes of talk, 250 SMS messages, and 10GB data. The iPhones will cost in this package as follows: iPhone 3G 8GB 399NIS (one time fee), iPhone 3GS 16GB 799NIS and finally, iPhone 3GS 32GB will run for 1199NIS.

Second Package: Same as first package, includes an 18 month obligation, this time with a monthly fee of 349NIS that includes 300 minutes of talk, 300 SMS messages, and 10GB data. The iPhones will cost in this package as follows: iPhone 3G 8GB FREE,  iPhone 3GS 16GB 399NIS and finally, iPhone 3GS 32GB will run for 799NIS. Sells will start at the night between the 9th and the 10th of December, while first buyers are claimed to received some cool freebies. Checkout the table after the break (courtesy of Calcalist).

Turns out if you don’t want to get into a package and commit yourself to a cellular company for 18 months, you can buy the iPhone “on the go” (without any obligation) in the following prices: iPhone 3G 8GB at 2625NIS, iPhone 3GS 16GB for 3150 and iPhone 3GS 32GB will cost you in Pelephone 3675.

Orange came second to release the iPhone prices, and it seems their packages are more reasonable for average mobile users (despite the poor data capacities). For example, a monthly fee of 159NIS package will buy you 100 minutes of talk, 50 SMS messages, and 30MB data. Other alternative that Orange offers is “Air Time” packages which let you buy a monthly talking time for a fixed price. For example, 169NIS will give you 200 minutes to speak with your friends and family, send 200 SMS/MMS messages and consume 250MB of data. The third option that Orange has published is the “Fix Price” packages with permanent 19.9NIS fee fee and prices that start at 81.3NIS for 36 months for those who will take the iPhone 3G and up to 113.8NIS in the next 3 years, in case you decide to buy the iPgone 3GS 32GB edition. For more details about the packages hit the break and see the charts.

Cellcom was the last company to release the iPhone prices, among the three. Their first package includes a 249NIS monthly fee that will get you 300 minutes of talk, 250 SMS messages, and 1GB data. In this package iPhones will cost you 799NIS (iPhone 3G), 1299NIS (iPhone 3GS 16GB) and 1699NIS (iPhone 3GS 32GB). The second package is priced at 349NIS per month and includes 400 minutes of talk, 500 SMS messages, and 1GB data. In this package iPhone devices will cost you 399NIS (iPhone 3G), 799NIS (iPhone 3GS 16GB) and 1299NIS (iPhone 3GS 32GB). All packages involve 18 months contract and you can get the unlimited data for extra 60NIS a month. More details and upgrade plans are now available in Cellcom’s website.

Update: We’ve just added some photos, taken today while we were touring for iphone queues. So far haven’t found any. Last 2 images are courtesy of iPhones.co.il, while previous two came from Cellcom’s PR.

apple-iphone3gs

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Mobile, News, Phones

Apple's iPhone Release In Israel – Dates, Prices and What's Between Them

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While most info is scarce, we’ve managed to pick up some new unconfirmed details about the long awaited iPhone release in Israel. As reported, Apple has recently approached the Antitrust Authority in order to officially approve all of its activities with the local carriers in the country, and to make sure there are no legal issues left ahead of the coming launch, which initially supposed to take place back in August. Now we’ve been told, that the official debut will happen somewhere between the 25th to the 27th of November, in all large Israeli operators, contingent upon final approvals from the Ministry Of Communication. Additionally, we’ve just learned that the iPhone itself will be offered in the following forms:

iPhone 3GS 16GB – is priced around 4000 NIS, pay to go (prepaid), while contract packages will run you only 999NIS.

iPhone 3GS 32GB – is priced around 5000NIS, pay to go (prepaid), while contracted users will pay only 1499NIS.

iPhone 3G – we were told there’s a small amount of 3G devices, that may (or may not) go out for 599NIS .

In any case, all packages include a monthly fee, ranged between 200 – 300 NIS, and being delivered with A) 150 SMS text messages B) 200 minutes talk and C) 100MB of data.

From what we know, and specifically for this task, all carriers already recruited special salespersons, who suppose to take a two weeks course and learn about the iPhone machines during this period of time. The orders these people were given are very clear: “Sell only iPhones or don’t sell anything”.  Stay tuned for more info to come.

“Pay to go” = without a contract.

Update1: Mind you this info is relevant for today, as dates and details may vary.

Update2: Data packages will apparently cost 69NIS for 1GB, both in Cellcom and Orange, if you’re buying iPhone or Android devices.

Update3: As mentioned, 1GB of data will cost 69NIS, but those who exceed the limit will pay 10NIS for every additional 1MB they use.

Update4: Besides the 1 year warranty, it seems the carriers will not include any repairing insurance when buying an iPhone in Israel. That means you won’t be able to buy insurance for your iPhone in order to subsidize repairing beyond the first year.

Update5: After endless rumors floating around, the Cupertino team has officially announced that all three carriers can start selling the iPhone in Israel, starting from December 10. That of course happened after Apple has managed to clear up a few regulatory hurdles and received the final approval needed.

Update6: Read more updates about release day, packages and prices in here.apple-iphone3gs