Comments on: iPhones abroad: No lines, brisk sales in South Africa

By: Thembelani, South Africa

Thembelani, South Africa — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 07:20:33 +0000

@ FunkinGroovin

You are so ignorant it’s not funny. South Africa has +3 million people who earn more than R300, 000.00 a year (+/- US$36,000.00 a year). Vodacom did not hype up the launch because they only had 30,000 units for sale. For goodness sake only select stores are selling the iPhone because of supply constraints. MTN – Vodacom’s competition – has been pushing Omnia for weeks now to counter the iPhone. Re – affordability – for my stupid Samsung phone I pay well over R900.00 (+/- US$100.00) a month. We have all the high end smartphones because we can afford them from iPhones look – alikes from LG, Samsung, HTC to RIM’s Blackberry offerings and Nokias high end phones and yes now we have the iPhone and I am getting ones as soon as my contract is up with Cell C.

By: Shiraz. Johannesburg. Gauteng, South Africa.

Shiraz. Johannesburg. Gauteng, South Africa. — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 03:22:35 +0000

There were and are no lines for the iPhone in South Africa because virtually no effort has been put into marketing the device. 9 out of 10 people here have never even heard the name 'iPhone' before. Given the potential cash cow that the iPhone is & a strong consumer base with immense buying power, I can only conclude that the lack of advertising or hype was deliberate. For the most part, the fact that it was being released this weekend was only divulged after it had already officially been released. Perhaps Vodacom prefers to not be overwhelmed by biting off more than it can chew on opening weekend.

PS. Sent from my iPhone

By: Nodack Phx AZ

Nodack Phx AZ — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 00:44:41 +0000

Nice job making us look bad again FunkinGroovin from Texas.

"Get your self at least moderatly educated before you open your ignorant american mouth."

How educated to you have to be to spell moderately?

By: American, Mountain View, CA

American, Mountain View, CA — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 23:38:59 +0000

FunkinGroovin is from Texas… like our President. Enough said.

Please don't stereotype all of America by his retardation.

By: Steve, Gilbert, AZ

Steve, Gilbert, AZ — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 23:24:12 +0000

Relax, Sweden. Enjoy some sarcasm.

Even with the middle class having money, that's a lot of Rand for an iPhone. And I love mine.

By: Sam, Las Vegas Nevada

Sam, Las Vegas Nevada — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 23:13:58 +0000

You're a moron… No less than ten years ago South Africa's currency was stronger than the US Dollar.

By: European, Stockholm, Sweden

European, Stockholm, Sweden — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 22:59:10 +0000

South Africa has a considerable middle class = they have money. Get your self at least moderatly educated before you open your ignorant american mouth.

By: FunkinGroovin, Dallas, Tx

FunkinGroovin, Dallas, Tx — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 21:39:11 +0000

You mean to tell me that in South Africa, there is actually somebody there that can afford the phone and service? Are they going to have it surgically implanted so they don't get it stolen or get mugged for it? Otherwise, I'm betting it's only government officials that are snappin' 'em up, in what case, why sell them in a store? They should have just passed 'em out in the African parliament. lol