Apple will kick off the sale of the new iPhone 3GS in Hong Kong today through its exclusive mobile-operator partner Hutchison Telecom and its online store.
The stand-alone iPhone 3GS will be priced at about HK$5,400 for the 16-gigabyte model, and HK$6,300 for the 32GB model. The existing 8GB iPhone 3G model will sell for about HK$4,500, sources said yesterday.
Hutchison remains the exclusive mobile operator for iPhone 3GS.
For the 16GB model, users can get a phone for free if they subscribe to a HK$398 monthly plan, with a HK$28-per-month value-added service, with 24-month commitment. Users must prepay HK$4,680, which is rebated to users' accounts over 24 months. The 16GB handset will cost from HK$380 to HK$4,080 for users who subscribe to a plan ranging from HK$138 to HK$298 a month.
The 32GB phone is HK$780, with HK$4,680 prepayment, on a HK$398 monthly plan and a HK$28-per-month value-added service for 24 months. With a two-year commitment to plans between HK$138 and HK$298 a month, the phone will cost between HK$1,180 and HK$4,880.
Hutchison has also slashed the price of the 8GB model and lowered the entry barrier to attract more users to join the iPhone camp. Users subscribing to a HK$248 monthly plan or more will get the phone for free, with a HK$3,900 prepayment to be rebated over 24 months. Previously, users needed to subscribe to a HK$298 plan or above to qualify for the free-handset deal.