Americans often have the idea that they are on the forefront of technology in the world, and that other nations are somehow “behind the curve” on the latest technological developments. While this may be true in some areas, in the wireless world, it is in fact completely backwards.
Both the Asian and European markets tend to get new wireless technology long before it reaches American shores. Nokia is a good example of this; the company routinely releases cutting edge models in Asia and northern Europe six months or more before they make it to the US Market.
But when it comes to the Apple iPhone, it appears America may have one-upped the rest of the world — at least for once. The iPhone was released a full four months ago to a staggering amount of hype and advertising excess in the US. But Apple’s breakthrough cell phone is only now being released in Europe. What gives?
On November 19, the iPhone will debut in both the United Kingdom and Germany. Later in the month, France and Scandinavia will be introduced to the iPhone, and the rest of Europe in the weeks to follow.
For the iPhone’s initial release in the UK, sales are expected to be brisk. Likewise, Apple’s German headquarters has received a record number of inquiries about the release of the iPhone, and is expecting sales to be strong throughout Germany. In fact one German Apple representative has publicly wondered if they’ll actually have enough units in stock to meet the demand. I suppose they’ll find out on the 19th.
The funny thing is, the Europeans are getting a taste of the “wait for it” technology lag that the United States normally has to deal with. And in fact this delay in receiving the iPhone is likely one of the reasons why sales are expected to be so robust. Everyone wants what they cannot have.
In America, the price of the iPhone fell nearly $200 just a few weeks after its initial release, but in Europe the expected retail price will be roughly the same as the initial American launch. But the Europeans are actually getting a far better deal than many Americans got on the iPhone’s initial release. Time has gone by, and Apple has had a chance to iron out many of the creases, and address connectivity and other problems with the iPhone.
So it may turn out that in iPhone is not an always an iPhone. In other words, the European iPhones are likely to have less operating system troubles, while using faster network carriers than their American counterparts.
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