Apple iPhone 3G makes international debut

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(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-07-11 09:54

In Tokyo, the street in front of the Softbank shop was jam-packed with iPhone fans and media, with staff and angry policemen shouting to make space for passers-by.

Customers wait in line for the new Apple iPhone 3G, at an Apple Store in Palo Alto, Calif., Thursday, July 10, 2008. [Agencies] more photos

The flagship store started selling the phone at 7:00 am (6 pm EDT), after the crowd was asked to practice the countdown three times. The sales will expand to stores nationwide at noon.

Shiho Hishida, a 33-year-old Web designer from Chiba, east of Tokyo, said the monthly fees of over 8,000 yen are expensive, but was happy to snap up an iPhone as she had been wanting one since the launch of the previous model.

"I have three kids, but I pleaded with my husband to let me come out for this," said Hishida, who joined the queue late Thursday. "The interface, functionality, touch panel -- it is just like OS X, and I don't feel awkward using this."

Despite the buzz, some analysts are skeptical about the iPhone's prospects.

Many doubt the device will be popular among mainstream customers in Japan, Asia's largest retail market, as it does not support the television services or electronic payment features so widely used in the country.

There have also been complaints about high rates and rigid agreements.

To help safeguard revenue, many carriers are making buyers of subsidized iPhones commit to contracts they cannot break without a penalty, to discourage them from unlocking the phone to work on other networks.

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