What is Digg?57 Comments
- cledford, on 02/18/2008, -3/+24why not just smuggle them straight from the factory?
- ifnotme, on 02/18/2008, -3/+22Now we know where all the "missing" iphones are.
- inactive, on 02/18/2008, -3/+16So what exactly makes them smugglers? They're not breaking any laws. They're just importers.
*Oh right they're Chinese. Now I get it.*
Typical NY Times/Apple related retardedness. - Zalyster, on 02/18/2008, -3/+12Ch-ch-ch-Chia!
- chaoswings, on 02/18/2008, -0/+9They probably do but for one reason or another most people end up getting them imported from the US. There's probably more money to be made by doing the round trip then the direct approach.
- punkcat, on 02/18/2008, -1/+9even smuggling today is being undermined by beuracracy and too many middlemen.
- Aharoni, on 02/18/2008, -0/+8I'm going to go ahead and repeat the question: "so?". Many gadget freaks in Israel have the iPhone even though its not sold here, I bet its the same everywhere else in the world.
Guess what, the Xbox 360 isn't sold here officially either - and many people have it. So are many other gadgets and products... - MisterGnome, on 06/13/2009, -7/+13F**king Han Solo.
- TremorX, on 02/18/2008, -1/+7Why, do you need some company?
- codyman, on 02/18/2008, -1/+6selling anything to a country of over a billion = bank
- metalgel, on 02/18/2008, -1/+6China has no use for smugglers who drop their shipments at the first sign of an Imperial cruiser.
- Willmonwah, on 02/18/2008, -2/+7Because that'd be stealing?
- Zalyster, on 02/18/2008, -0/+4I would imagine Apple would notice that the number of iPhones exported are less than the number created, so they export all of them than smuggle them back in.
- skidooer, on 02/18/2008, -0/+4Because the iPhone does it better? I have a 15 year old computer that can do all those things too. Doesn't mean that I want to use it when I can buy something better.
- forcedfx, on 02/18/2008, -3/+7Because it's trendy. And when the battery wears out you can pay Apple to replace it.
- inactive, on 02/18/2008, -1/+4So ***** what. No law was broken you moron. Just because its apple's business rule not to sell abroad doesn't make it illegal.
Get your head out of steve jobs butthole ffs. - Pinkertinkle, on 02/18/2008, -1/+4Looks like Apple and all the other companies need to stop pulling this selling crap by region business.
- likwidfuzion, on 02/18/2008, -0/+2Installer.app? hmmmm
- AlienMushroom, on 02/21/2008, -1/+3"though many stores may be avoiding import duties"
FYI, it's made in China. Duty is paid when exporting to the US. There shouldn't be any tax bringing back to China. - perfectsilence, on 02/18/2008, -0/+2how does youtube and google maps look on your blackberry?
- Rahodeb, on 02/18/2008, -1/+3you obviously don't understand the role of government. ;P
- Rahodeb, on 02/18/2008, -2/+4relax douchebag.
- ccrt6y, on 02/18/2008, -0/+2now we know why apple its selling that much iphones.
- rossisdead, on 02/18/2008, -0/+1Why do people get their panties all up in a bunch over what phone another person owns? Does the person owning an iPhone suddenly make your phone using experience worse or something? Christ, the things that keep people up at night.
- darlyn, on 02/18/2008, -1/+2Quick summary: Apple still makes money on every iPhone that is manufactured. People from the US purchase them legally and simply export them to China, where a profit is made by the exporter. Further profits are potentially made by someone offering to unlock the phone. The only ones suffering from this little exchange are the exclusive phone service companies the iPhone supports out-of-the-box.
- vaj3000, on 02/18/2008, -0/+1the firing squad thing kinda puts an end to that idea
- dagamer34, on 02/18/2008, -2/+3You want to know what's really insulting? Apparently they cost $500 for an 8GB unlocked iPhone in China. The UK pays $533 including VAT for a LOCKED iPhone. I live in the US, but the UK is getting SCREWED.
- TequilaCollins, on 02/18/2008, -4/+5This is actually quite common in China. A lot of things that they make for us, are then smuggled right back into China. Mostly clothes and electronics. They can't buy direct from the factory because it's under contract with the seller.
I find the whole thing ironic. :-) - tektalk, on 02/19/2008, -0/+1Well that explains why iPhones are turning up in Hangzhou, but that was months ago.
- inactive, on 02/18/2008, -2/+3REALLY? OMG THE SMUGGLING BASTARD HOW DARE HE!!!!!!!!!!
- alz0rz, on 02/18/2008, -0/+1The iPhone does it better and looks GOOD doing so, lulz blackberry.
- FHKE, on 02/18/2008, -1/+2Smuggling?
I guess we can call Canadians who use iPhones with Roger network "smugglers" too...
This is callled "Free Trade."
Even Apple don't sell them in China they can't stop this kind of activity. - rossisdead, on 02/18/2008, -0/+1Yeah man way to rage against the guy who agrees with you.
- SanTe, on 02/19/2008, -0/+1It wasn't Han. Jabba's through with him. He has no time for smugglers who drop their shipments at the first sign of an Imperial cruiser.
- inactive, on 02/18/2008, -3/+3Smuggled back into China?? What the ***** planet are you on. This is not smuggling. Its importing. Apples business rule preventing sale abroad IS NOT THE ***** LAW!!!
Oh yeah and http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ironic - inactive, on 02/18/2008, -2/+2Really??? OMG tell the FBI!!!!!!!!!!!!
Foreign talkin people are buying our iPhones and not telling us what they're doing with them. Its a national security issue!!!!!!! - inactive, on 02/18/2008, -1/+1And I still have to pay a premium price for the steel bezels and metal rear housings, ugh! I'd love to find a generic version of those parts on the cheap.
- idannyb, on 02/18/2008, -1/+1Massive unlocking is a sign of massive demand and this can work to Apple's advantage in China negotiations (which despite reports to the contrary, are happening). Here is one possible negotiation scenario... http://idannyb.wordpress.com/2008/02/16/400k-unloc ...
Another scenario... LOCKED and UNLOCKED option: Don’t be surprised if new TBA carrier deals include a two-tiered offering for next-gen iPhone (ala Orange in France where law prohibits handsets from being locked to a network for more than 6 months) - a locked iPhone in each nation and an “official” unlocked iPhone at a modest premium price. If the premium is too high, black-marketers will engage in arbitrage (unauthorized unlocking options at a lower cost). If the premium is modest, or “just right,” buyers will opt for the “official” easily upgradable iPhone that will come with a warranty and w/o the need to hack or jail-break. - Klin3o, on 03/03/2008, -0/+0I know, crazy right?
- inactive, on 02/18/2008, -2/+2Yeah. try reading and replying to relevant articles.
- mahela, on 02/18/2008, -2/+2
File this one under 'who cares'? - Accolade1, on 02/18/2008, -1/+0Smuggling phones that cannot make phone calls back into your country: priceless.
- Neuro421, on 02/18/2008, -5/+4I bought an iPhone for someone in China just this past winter. I even told the guy at the Apple store that I was going to give it to someone in China. What can they do? Apple still makes money and AT&T doesn't provide service in China so ***** them.
- Keyser_Soze, on 02/18/2008, -5/+3I know a Dr. that went back home to China to visit and took 4 iPhones with him to give to family members.
- yabos, on 02/18/2008, -3/+1Dvorak recently said he talked to someone who worked in an Apple Store and that person said they get people who come in who don't speak much english and buy the 5 phone limit and then leave. Granted it's coming from Dvorak but it's sounds plausible to me.
- gadgetkng, on 02/18/2008, -4/+2Gotta love the Chinese knockoffs.... some are pretty freaking creative. Check this bad boy out - http://www.gadgetking.com/2008/02/06/iphone-knocko ...
Russ - fritzek, on 02/18/2008, -2/+0You know the world has gone crazy, when...
- inactive, on 02/18/2008, -6/+3I don't understand what the big deal is. I have a Blackberry that handles all my calls, surfs the Internet, and easily checks my email plus runs spreadsheets etc., why do you need an iPhone??
- diggdowner, on 02/18/2008, -4/+1Lol, "Ai Feng"... now I'm curious.
- Klin3o, on 02/18/2008, -4/+1what's that blue little icon next to itunes in the picture? hmmmm
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