It Takes “3” to Tango

I am one of those people who hum “You are so beautiful to me” every time I lay my eyes on an iPhone! The touch screen is so cool and the phone camera is awesome. And one can listen to songs and podcasts while on the move and browse the Internet too. What else could one want from a phone? Ahh… I almost forgot… the iPhone lets you make and receive calls too!!!

Little wonder that people across the globe wait anxiously for Apple to launch its iPhone in their country. It seems that the wait is about to be over for the people of Macau and Hong Kong. Hutchison Telecommunications International is the latest carrier to have signed a deal with Apple to offer the iPhone in Hong Kong and Macau. Hutchison is part of the host of businesses controlled by Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-Shing. Li is among the leading investors in Asia.

With people gung-ho on the combination iPod and smart phone, Apple has been going berserk signing deals to launch the device in markets across the globe. Apple is keen to see its iPhone launched in China, which represents a massive market. However, talks between China’s largest mobile operator China Mobile and Apple having recently ended. So, the US company is looking at Macau and Hong Kong as a prelude to launching the iPhone in bigger markets, such as China, Japan and Russia. Of course, China already has loads of iPhones being sold anyway. Once the device is legally available in Macau and Hong Kong, iPhones will become rampant in China.

Hutchison said it would offer the iPhone sometime “later this year.” Apple may announce further details of this launch at the Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) (scheduled for Monday – June 9, 2008). The firms have not disclosed either the terms of the agreement or whether the touchscreen handset will use 3G. Li’s Hutchison did mention, however, that the service for the popular iPhone would be offered under its “3” brand.