iPhone Finally Arrives Next Week?
Authentic iPhone advertisement in Korea. (Hat tip to Jeremy)
Could it be true? The iPhone is actually coming next week?
The iPhone is rumored to be released on November 28 by KT with 4 service plans, and a maximum data plan of 3 gigabytes (no unlimited plan?). Service plans range from 35,000 won to 95,000 won per month.
The iconic Apple iPhone is receiving its final approval by the Korea Communications Commission. Recent rumors suggested that SK Telecom was also releasing the iPhone in Korea. However, no news about an SK Telecom release of the iPhone in Korea next week.
November 17th, 2009 at 3:13 pm
according to the Korean Herald, the iPhone will be going on pre-sale Nov 28th. It’s a little contradictory but nevertheless, it seems the iPhone is coming really soon!
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEWKHSITE/data/html_dir/2009/11/17/200911170060.asp
November 17th, 2009 at 5:47 pm
I have heard, on and off twitter (an employee of KT told me a couple of weeks back) that the iPhone released in Korea will be the 3G, not the 3Gs. If it’s true, I don’t think that customers of KT are going to be very happy with that decission. Have you heard anything about it?
November 17th, 2009 at 11:04 pm
@jkim38
How much did Samsung pay for that “news” piece?
I tried the Omnia 1 and it sucked. It’s a dumbphone.
November 18th, 2009 at 12:01 am
Jose-
I would be surprised and disappointed if the iPhone 3G AND the iPhone 3GS aren’t both offered in Korea. I would imagine that profit margins for the premium 3GS are much higher for Apple. Even if there is a big difference in price between the two models, a good amount of buyers would opt for the 3GS. If only the 3G is offered in Korea, that decision would have been made by someone else besides Apple.
Let me know if you hear anything else about this.
iPhoneinKorea.com
November 18th, 2009 at 12:03 am
JKim
There’s definitely some conflicting data out there. It seems like everyone is very quick to get hot news out there, whether or not its concrete.
iPhoneinKorea.com
November 18th, 2009 at 11:36 am
where did you get your heads up from? i got mine from fortune500, i was browsing and the title
“The iPhone is headed to Seoul” caught my eyes.
i have a question though, what do you mean by a maximum data plan of 3 gigabytes?
November 18th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
i’m pretty sure 3GS is also coming to korea… i read the korean news. there’s leaked posters popping up at Show stores around Seoul now. heard Apple isnt happy about the leak but o well~ it is coming to korea finally pretty soon ! here’s the proof. it’s 100%
http://cafefiles.naver.net/20091117_137/mazoram_1258441034894V2hPW_jpg/1_mazoram.jpg
November 18th, 2009 at 4:59 pm
oops sorry…. this is it
http://cafefiles.naver.net/20091117_249/skychals_1258439433516BxqXd_jpg/p091117001_skychals.jpg
November 18th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
somehow the link doesnt work but copy n paste the link n it should work. dear admin. sorry for posting too many comments, please delete everything if you want. thank you.
November 18th, 2009 at 7:49 pm
Jeremy,
No such thing as “too many comments.”
iPhoneinKorea.com
November 18th, 2009 at 7:56 pm
Joseph,
A maximum data plan of 3 gigabytes means that 3 gigabytes of data can be transferred whether it be browsing, downloading, or uploading, per month. After the plans 3 gigabytes are maxed out, you will be charged extra for all data that is transferred after. If you are a heavy duty internet guy, you might burn through 3 gigabytes pretty quickly.
My source for the iPhone arrival in Korea news was Jonhapnews.co.kr.
iPhoneinKorea.com
November 19th, 2009 at 12:14 am
seriously, i love apple and all that apple is, even its need for complete secrecy. but in this case, korea has been waiting for this moment for what seems like forever. pissed as they may be, i think there are many people almost pissing in their pants in excitement.
it’s about time!!!
btw… anyone else think it’s kinda strange that apple.com doesn’t have korea listed as a “coming soon” country for the the iphone? maybe because nothings been really finalized?
November 19th, 2009 at 12:38 am
Joseph,
I noticed that on the Apple website as well. There’s some chatter about November 28th as only being the first day when you can “pre-order” your iPhone in Korea, and not actually the first day of buying and owning an iPhone. Seems like it’s acceptable for companies in Korea to make announcements about release dates when they aren’t truly release dates. Can you imagine Apple making a similar announcement? Frustrating, I know.
iPhoneinKorea.com
November 19th, 2009 at 10:53 am
so how will the sim or usim work?
will kt and sk start using sim cards?
will these iphones be different than the rest of the world and work with usim?
November 19th, 2009 at 11:51 pm
I was wondering if when the iphone is released will you be able to bring it to other countries and use it unlocked? I have friends that travel around the world with their iphones and are able to do this but I just wonder since Korea is not on the same network as the rest of the world, if this will be possible?
November 21st, 2009 at 10:57 pm
28th does seem like a pre-order date rather than a receive and use date.
but i don’t protest too hard, since i’m not in the country at the moment and won’t be back until mid jan 
maybe by then i can have one in my hand?? and the 3 gigs max is a pretty crappy deal, i wonder how much it take to browse the web for an hour takes up, nonetheless, better late then never right, the iphone is all about the APPS baby!! thanks to this awesome site~ keep me posted 
November 21st, 2009 at 11:33 pm
IT’S OFFICIAL NOW…..
it’s in korean….. but yeah…
http://www.apple.com/kr/
November 22nd, 2009 at 12:05 am
The show website is taking pre-orders, too
November 23rd, 2009 at 7:20 pm
I heard that you can get the iphone for cheaper from a source.
Is it possible to buy one from there and get it shipped over here in the US?
just a thought