Gaybutton Posted January 19, 2009 Posted January 19, 2009 The following appears in THE NATION: _____ Test of Marketing as iPhone 3G Mobile Phones Make their Debut Published on January 19, 2009 True Move's iPhone 3G mobile phones, which made their debut last Friday, got an overwhelming welcome from businessmen to hi-so people but it remains to be seen if True Move can meet the sales target. True Move executives showed mixed feelings of happiness and anxiety when not only those pre-registered for the phones went to pick up the devices at the launch event in Siam Paragon's Royal Paragon Hall, but also shoppers in the mall, who rushed to register and wait for the phones. This prompted True Move's chief executive Supachai Chearavanont to hurry to check if the availability of the iPhone 3G at the event is enough to serve the unexpectedly long queue, of enthusiastic teenagers to businessmen. Tech geeks, who registered for the phones since last December could pick up the devices from last Friday until today. One woman in the queue said she picked up the phone for her sister. "My sister told me that someone had reserved the phone for her and wanted to give it to her as a birthday gift," she added. True Move even set up a gift- wrapping booth in the hall, in anticipation that many people would buy the devices as a present. A "Learn" room was also set up for those who had the phones to learn about iPhone 3G phone applications from True Move staff. One high-society woman said she could not wait any longer in the long queue and would call her housemaid to come and stand in her place. A businessman named Krit Jiramongkol, who said he is an Apple fan, was the first person in the queue. He arrived at the venue at 3.30pm on Friday, well ahead of the launch time of 8pm. The reward for being the first in the queue was he was given the iPhone 3G accessories by Supachai himself, including the T-shirt, which had the words 'I Got the First iPhone 3G by True Move'. The first group of people in the queue were welcomed by continuous applause from 500 True Move staff when they were led to their seats in the phone receiving area. "We studied the iPhone 3G launch ceremonies in many countries and applied them to our own style," said one True Move executive. But he was silent on the number of people pre-registered for the phones. A telecom industry source said True Move had committed with Apple to sell around 100,000 iPhone 3G mobile phones per year for three years but True Move executives declined to confirm the report. True Move was in talks with Apple for more than three months to become the authorised cellular service provider for the iPhone 3G in Thailand. True Move will start retailing the devices at its shops on February 16 and will initially spend Bt50 million on the phone-marketing campaign. Supachai said the company spent Bt20 million on developing the applications for the phones. True Move has offered several iPhone 3G mobile-phone packages - some are tied in with a monthly fee. Industry observers said those who buy the phones with no tied-in monthly fee, will sign up with different networks. But Supachai believes they would sign up with True Move for better mobile applications and after-sale services. Quote
PattayaMale Posted January 19, 2009 Posted January 19, 2009 I tried to sign up for the phone but since they needed a credit card from a Thai bank, which I don't have. I passed. I have a few friends that have the iPhone that was unlocked in Thailand. They love the features but I imagine they do not get the 3G service. I wonder if the other connection providers will have 3G service soon? I think True is the only one right now Quote
Gaybutton Posted January 19, 2009 Author Posted January 19, 2009 I wonder if the other connection providers will have 3G service soon? I think True is the only one right now The article says, "Industry observers said those who buy the phones with no tied-in monthly fee, will sign up with different networks." But nothing is said about which networks will provide service or when such service might be launched. Whatever companies intend to provide service better get with it soon or True Move will have a virtual windfall monopoly. Quote
