"Hey Siri" support and possibly wireless charging case alongside AirPower charging mat.
iPhone 5 Launches in 33 New Countries Including China
In line with its announcement from earlier this month, Apple today launched the iPhone 5 in 33 new countries, with the most prominent member of the group being China.
Unlike the chaos that reigned at the iPhone 4S launch earlier this year, The Wall Street Journal reports that the iPhone 5 appears to have been quite subdued. It is unclear, however, how much of the change may be due to lack of interest and how much may have been related to snowy weather and changes in Apple's sales policies designed to reduce scalping and other factors that have led to problems at previous launches.
Fortune has also collected a handful of videos showing launches in China, Malaysia, and the Philippines that were part of today's major rollout in the following countries: Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Ecuador, Grenada, Indonesia, Israel, Jamaica, Jordan, Kuwait, Macedonia, Malaysia, Moldova, Montenegro, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Taiwan, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela.
Unlike the chaos that reigned at the iPhone 4S launch earlier this year, The Wall Street Journal reports that the iPhone 5 appears to have been quite subdued. It is unclear, however, how much of the change may be due to lack of interest and how much may have been related to snowy weather and changes in Apple's sales policies designed to reduce scalping and other factors that have led to problems at previous launches.
Friday’s iPhone 5 launch was notable for a different kind of white: a rare accumulation of fresh snow that blanketed the nearly empty plaza outside the Sanlitun store.Apple's new sales policies require customers to enter a lottery for the right to purchase an iPhone in the store, with winners being given specific windows of time in which to pick up their devices.
At 8 am on Friday, when the store opened to hurrahs from employees, only two consumers stood inside a cordon set up by Apple, though they were joined by a desultory snow man someone had made on a bench near the entrance.
Fortune has also collected a handful of videos showing launches in China, Malaysia, and the Philippines that were part of today's major rollout in the following countries: Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Ecuador, Grenada, Indonesia, Israel, Jamaica, Jordan, Kuwait, Macedonia, Malaysia, Moldova, Montenegro, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Taiwan, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela.
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Top Rated Comments
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80 months ago
I wont Apple to go back to making computers for professionals. Yes cut out all the consumer orients "glossy" screens and put all thos engineers back to work on Mac OS X and the suite of props, like Logic and Aperture. So what if they have a 2% market share, you can choose to be in this 2% club if you like.
Eventually this WILL happen.
Apple is riding high on consumer sales in the most profitable market segments.
They are experiencing success greater than ever in their history, and arguably, greater than any company in history.
Eventually, the sun will die too. But don't hold your breath for either event.
80 months ago
The iPhone will sell well in China, but more and more people are opting for the Galaxy/Android phone. The iPhone needs a refresh, it's facing stiff competition.
And you're basing this on?
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Wow, two people? That's a stark contrast to past launches. Even considering some snow, a lottery system and anti-scalping policies that is strange. Perhaps this is a turning point for the iPhone. Not that Android products are super exciting either.
We heard the same stories about no lines the day the iPad mini came out. Heck I was able to walk right into an Apple store and get one no problem. Now NPD is claiming Apple is asking for 12 million displays for this quarter. http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57559159-37/ipad-mini-set-to-eclipse-retina-ipad/
I don't think lines outside a store are indicative of anything these days.
80 months ago
One Trick Pony?
This is very, very bad news. The iPhone accounts for a huge chunk of Apple's profits. If not for the iPhone, Apple would not be the same company. It would not be a huge corporate name brand as it currently is.
And now it looks like there may be significantly less demand for the newest iPhone in China?
The stock is currently down more than 3%.
This is very, very bad news. The iPhone accounts for a huge chunk of Apple's profits. If not for the iPhone, Apple would not be the same company. It would not be a huge corporate name brand as it currently is.
And now it looks like there may be significantly less demand for the newest iPhone in China?
The stock is currently down more than 3%.
80 months ago
Ah so this is why AAPL stock is down 4% today. I figure when they announce they've sold 50M iPhones in the quarter the stock will probably drop 10% :D
80 months ago
This is very, very bad news. The iPhone accounts for a huge chunk of Apple's profits. If not for the iPhone, Apple would not be the same company. It would not be a huge corporate name brand as it currently is.
And now it looks like there may be significantly less demand for the newest iPhone in China?
The stock is currently down more than 3%.
What are you basing this on? Sales figures beat out antidotal evidence of people standing outside a store. Especially in China where they have a reservation system. But I'm not surprised FUD is driving the stock down.
80 months ago
This is very, very bad news. The iPhone accounts for a huge chunk of Apple's profits. If not for the iPhone, Apple would not be the same company.....
I really do hope this iPhone/iPad thing blows over and fizzles. I wont Apple to go back to making computers for professionals. Yes cut out all the consumer orients "glossy" screens and put all thos engineers back to work on Mac OS X and the suite of props, like Logic and Aperture. So what if they have a 2% market share, you can choose to be in this 2% club if you like.
Eventually this WILL happen.
80 months ago
after 2 long months of waiting, finally it was released on my country.
I think people that say that Apple is losing market to Samsung because iPhone become stale are wrong. It is as simple as Apple did not have competition earlier on, the S3 is the real competitor because S2 was no where as popular. It would be the same if some one invented an iPod competitor(worthwhile one, not Zune)
it is only natural to losing customers after losing the monopoly.
As for the iphone I am not sure what would Apple do to enhance it, it already works too well, fast and light. though I would say the iOS could use refrshing and extra capabilities . Gui can be highly enhanced and it about time to get numbers on the same keyboard of the letters.
hardware wise, its as good as it gets until there is a new advancement in technology. Steve Jobs was always about the software not the hardware, isn't that what separates macs from Wndows machines?
I think people that say that Apple is losing market to Samsung because iPhone become stale are wrong. It is as simple as Apple did not have competition earlier on, the S3 is the real competitor because S2 was no where as popular. It would be the same if some one invented an iPod competitor(worthwhile one, not Zune)
it is only natural to losing customers after losing the monopoly.
As for the iphone I am not sure what would Apple do to enhance it, it already works too well, fast and light. though I would say the iOS could use refrshing and extra capabilities . Gui can be highly enhanced and it about time to get numbers on the same keyboard of the letters.
hardware wise, its as good as it gets until there is a new advancement in technology. Steve Jobs was always about the software not the hardware, isn't that what separates macs from Wndows machines?
80 months ago
here's a good Wall Street Journal video report on the iPhone 5 reception in Beijing:
http://live.wsj.com/video/shoppers-stay-away-from-beijings-iphone-5-launch-2012-12-14-41154351/390E7EFC-401F-4162-AECF-677D9D7113E0.html#!390E7EFC-401F-4162-AECF-677D9D7113E0
even in "Spring City" of Kunming, Yunnan (Western China) today... the iPhone 5 reception is very chilled.
to be honest... there are so many worthy android smartphones in the Chinese Market today that utilize China's top social mobile apps such as weixing, momo, ect. just as effectively as the iPhones.... also, Samsung advertisements has been omnipresent and aggressive in the month leading to today's iPhone 5/iPad mini launch...
80 months ago
It is not surprising that there is no line.
1) reservation system. You will not get the phone by being in line without winning the competitive lottery the day before. If you win, there is no point being in line as the phone is already reserved for you.
2) Only iphone from China Telecom , the country's smallest mobile carrier, is available at Beijing Apple stores.
http://www.zacks.com/research/get-news.php?id=349h6904
1) reservation system. You will not get the phone by being in line without winning the competitive lottery the day before. If you win, there is no point being in line as the phone is already reserved for you.
2) Only iphone from China Telecom , the country's smallest mobile carrier, is available at Beijing Apple stores.
http://www.zacks.com/research/get-news.php?id=349h6904
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