Apple + Orange = 3G iPhone for Botswana

TSHIRELETSO MOTLOGELWA
Staff Writer | Friday July 18, 2008 00:00

This follows the formalisation of agreements between the manufacturer of the much-hyped device Apple and the global mother company Orange.

Although he was non-committal on pricing, Orange Botswana's Public Relations Manager, Karabo Tlhabiwe, said the latest status symbol cellphone would retail from US$199 upwards, excluding freight costs. 'Maybe a little more for freight costs to Africa,' Karabo warned gingerly.

The mother company recently announced an agreement with Apple under which Orange will take the device across a number of markets, including Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

'The iPhone takes advantage of our widespread 3G networks and together we are making the mobile experience for our customers even better,' Olaf Swantee, head of Orange's Global Mobile Operations, said earlier this month.

The 3G iPhone is a more refined, but more affordable version of the original iPhone, which has been a run-away success around the world. The recent launch of the 3G version caused stampedes and all-night vigils around the world.

The iPhone combines three devices into one, namely a mobile phone, a wide screen iPod and an Internet device. After launching in America, it became a fast seller in Europe and Australia and is now expected to reach parts of the Middle East and Africa in the next few months.