The long-awaited Apple iPhone 2.0 (not version 3.0) finally arrived officially in Thailand on Friday and yet on the day of the launch everyone was talking about the next version. Which is perhaps not quite what the exhibitors had in mind.

The TrueMove iPhone 3G (which makes it sound like the 3.0 version that it most certainly is not) was launched in Thailand at Royal Paragon Hall on Friday. BLORGE was there to report the occasion.

The name True Move was used to describe the phone because that is the name of the distributor – True Move. And it was going to make the best of this historic occasion. Let not the names bother you.It is still an Apple iPhone 3G or, being pedantic, an iPhone 2.0.

Supachai Chearavanont, chief executive officer and managing director of True Move, outlined the iPhone’s arrival in Thailand. Listening to him you would have thought he had invented the damn thing. He pushed the idea of convergence and of the device as part of a ‘lifestyle,’ which is not an original thought but is accurate for all that.

He did mention the multi-use features that may not be familiar to all users – phone, music player, games, pictures and Internet.

He also mentioned that True has its own apps for the iPhone. There are 12 currently available via the App Store, and while some are specifically for the iPhone, some also work on the Generation 2 iPod touch.

However, Supachai Chearavony was not able to clear up the vexing question as to whether you could input in Thai – you can’t – nor when this essential item will be available which is Real Soon Now, an industry term which means your guess is as good as ours, possibly better.

Difficult to believe but there was no one from Apple at the briefing or the subsequent Q&A session. Thus asking about the version 3.0 was an exercise in frustration and humility.

In fact, Apple personnel WERE there, BLORGE chatted them up, but only as advisers on the installation and wild horses would not get them to discuss version 3.0. Not in any way.

In fairness, a Martian going to this event would not have believed the iPhone was totally invented in Thailand. Just most of it. Which is a little way from the truth.

Then came Adiruth Thothaveesansuk, managing director of True Convergence. He examined more of the details of the iPhone’s workings here, discussing the availability of high-speed Internet access as well as the way Google Maps is incorporated into apps like Bangkok Attractions and the Wi-Fi Hotspots finder.

He took time to look at the apps that True has online, and it is clear from this that True recognizes the value of added services that will bring in a continuing cash flow.

This is not to say that this is the first iPhone on sale in Thailand.

For a Reality Check the reporter was sent to the MBK – MahboonKrong Centre – where two floors the size of very large football fields are given over to iPhone and iPods – plus a wide range of accessories.

Some of them may well have been genuine. Certainly the prices suggested that.

Now, legally, there are a couple of ways that the iPhone may be acquired.

In the last week or so a new opportunity was announced allowing True customers (that was not defined) to buy the iPhone for 23,275 baht (US$670) and 27,075 baht ($780) for the 8GB and 16GB versions. With this method a user signs-up for a year and pays 599 baht ($17) per month. On the information handouts there is also a complete purchase of the phone, with no package, for 24,500 ($706) or 28,500 baht ($820) (8GB and 16GB). That information was not on the web pages.

Better to buy one for cash at MBK.

Related:

Gray market iPhones appearing in Asia

Apple iPhone knows not Thai. Shame.

iPod Touch and iPhones can know what ails you

Two iTouches are better than one

iPhone in China in October, say sources

Entry was posted on Sunday, January 25th, 2009 at 12:28 pm under International, iPhone.  Print This Post

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