Filed under: iPhone
Cellucity apparently to be exclusive South Africa iPhone retailer
TUAW reader Nathan spotted this banner ad at the bottom of South Africa's Cellucity's home page. As you can read, Cellucity states that the iPhone will be available for sale this September and that it will be the exclusive distributer. Cellucity is a retailer for Vodacom, one of the four South African mobile networks. It looks like the global iPhone roll-out is moving forward.
Update: Several readers have pointed out that if Cellucity is going to be an official retailer, they're doing a pretty bad job so far. Check out their iPhone requirements, e.g. 10.4.8 required when 10.4.10 is actually required, no mention of Windows, etc.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
addi elding said 3:54PM on 7-11-2007
looks like the phone features list is somewhat updated:
http://www.cellucity.co.za/phones/apple_iPhone.htm
# Polyphonic , MP3
# SMS, MMS, EMail, Instant Messaging
# Voice memo
# PIM including calendar, to-do list and printing
# Games
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Stephen said 4:03PM on 7-11-2007
I don't believe that - they're trying it on just like Phones2u did a few weeks back in the UK.
Nice try but there have been so many conflicting rumours now I won;t believe anything until it comes from Apple.
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Greenline said 4:14PM on 7-11-2007
Website shut down and lawsuit in 5. . .4. . . 3. . . 2. . .
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Ben Lawson said 4:34PM on 7-11-2007
Since when was "Mac OS X 10.4.8" a feature of the iPhone?
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Darren said 6:48PM on 7-11-2007
I'm calling wishful thinking. If Vodacom gets the iPhone, as is widely rumoured, it will be distributed throughout their dealer network. Especially Vodashop, which is Vodacom's official dealer network with hundreds of outlets. The idea that Cellucity (a pretty small dealer network) would get exclusivity just doesn't make any sense whatsoever and flies in the face of the way Vodacom currently does things.
The date is also odd. Local media have already quoted the Core Group, the South African Apple distributor, as saying that the iPhone will be launched in the country in November, not September. I'll be overjoyed if it's the earlier date, but I think I'm going to take the word of the official distrbutors over that of a small-time retailer.
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Johnny Appleseed said 10:16PM on 7-11-2007
If you look at their Specs, it says EDGE. I guess they are not getting 3G, unless this is just preliminary and will change. Hmm...
I don't know much about South African cell phone networks--do they have a 3G network there? Please post in comments if anyone knows.
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me too! said 1:31AM on 7-12-2007
Good Grief. If this is true it means that S.Africa gets the iPhone before the Netherlands? I'm so sad!
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Steve said 3:05AM on 7-12-2007
1600x1200 ???
OMFG WTF ??
THATS BETTER THAN MY $78,000 103" FLAT SCREEN HDTV !!
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Justin said 3:39AM on 7-12-2007
Heres a quick tip, iphone is coming to the middle east to. Apparently Orange is taking up on the iphone in israel as a 3.5G device.
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Lebo said 6:31AM on 7-12-2007
I BEEN RESEARCHING IT ON THE NET AND WANT ONE SO BADLY. ITS THE ANSWER TO ALL MY PROBLEMS - OK MAYBE I'M EXAGGERATING A BIT. BUT I WAS PLANNING TO BUY A NEW PHONE AND MY FIRST iPOD. SO I COULD KILL 2 BIRDS WITH ONE STONE BY GETTING THE iPHONE. OH WOW IS ME!!!!!!!!!!
GUYS AS SOON AS IT HITS SA SHORES PLEASE TELL US HERE. I HOPE ITS GOING TO BE OPEN NETWORK. I LIVE IN BOTSWANA AND WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO USE IT IF IT WASN'T.
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Darren said 6:35AM on 7-12-2007
#6. Vodacom and MTN, the two biggest cellular carriers in South Africa, have 3G and HSDPA networks in all major urban areas. But all the carriers support EDGE as well. For Cell C and Virgin Mobile the EDGE networks are only in urban areas, but apparently the Vodacom and MTN rollouts of EDGE are a lot broader.
Still, it will be unusual if Apple releases the non-3G version of the iPhone in South Africa, considering the comparatively high usage of 3G/HSDPA locally. But again, see my previous comment for why this announcement by Cellucity is dubious.
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Pieter Hartzenberg said 4:06PM on 7-13-2007
Cellucity HQ Cape Town sales employee confirmed that the iphone will be released nationwide by Cellucity and Vodashop, exclusively on the Vodacom network. Contract package details are still unknown. First models expected in Gauteng province in September.
When asked if buyers should camp outside stores to ensure instant gratification, the employee said only to remember 3 months bank statements, your id book.
I am dying to have this!!!
check out my software for the iphone online
www.sawebspace.co.za/ispeak
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Marko said 9:51AM on 8-20-2007
OS X is not a requirement, it *is* a feature. It is the operating system running on the device.
What *is* required is iTunes 7, Windows or Mac version.
In any case, Cellucity seem to have removed the banner from their site although the link is still active: http://www.cellucity.co.za/phones/apple_iPhone.htm
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pscs said 4:37PM on 8-26-2007
YAY!!!!!
I LIVE IN SOUTH AFRICA!!!!! WOOOOO~~~
(that doesn't mean that i'm south african)
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marc gevers said 4:23PM on 9-25-2007
Hmmm, there is obviously a shortcut to all these problems - buy it off eBay! There are network unlocked models by the truckload available off eBay, a good friend just got his and mine is on the way. Just be sure to use a seller with good sales history and one that offers buyer insurance. PS - they get a bit sticky about shipping to SA, if you have a contact in the US with a paypal account, they can pay on your behalf and just put a south african shipping address - simple and quik - stuff from eBay normally takes 10 working days to arrive (I shipped an iPod 30gb earlier in the year as well, no problems!)
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