Last Wednesday, local Apple fans couldn't wait for Thursday. When Apple lifted the veil over its new drool-worthy range of iPods, including the new iPod Touch, in the United States, Singapore fans could buy them the next day at the local online store or in the retail outlets here.
What a refreshing change.
In the early 90s whenever Apple, and other vendors, released a new computer, the product would hit the retail shelves in the United States first. The machine would be gradually rolled out to the European markets and then to the rest of the world.
Usually it would take several months before Singaporeans got their hands on the latest and best digital toys, as if the market here was an afterthought.
That's exactly what many fans of Apple's iPhone are thinking today. In the iPod Touch, they will get an iPhone replica. But it's not the real thing.
It looks and feels exactly like the iPhone, has all the features of the gadget, but no SIM card for it is not a cellphone but an MP3 player.
Those insistent on bragging rights can continue to buy the (so-called) substitute for about $500. Drool over the lush and slim iPod Touch. And still be waiting for the iPhone. It's like ground hog day - like the 90s again for the iPhone and for Apple's online music store, iTunes. They're just not available worldwide. No reasons given.
You read with envy that in the US, the iPhone has been flying off the shelves since its release on June 29.
According to research company iSuppli last week, the iPhone outsold all smartphones in July - including all sales of the Blackberry series and the entire Palm portfolio - accounting for 1.8 per cent of all cellphone sales.
There will be no such situation here. Customers will have to wait until at least next year to buy the iPhone. Even then the timing isn't confirmed.
Europe, which is by far, a bigger market than Asia-Pacific (excluding China) will get the product only this month. According to news reports, the iPhone will be out this month in only three countries - England, France and Germany. Apple hasn't confirmed this yet.
Internally, Apple Singapore is wondering if the roll-out will happen for the entire region or only selected countries. If the iTunes roll-out reflects the action of corporate Apple, then iPhone will only appear in Japan, Australia and New Zealand.
That's where iTunes online music stores have started. Apple Singapore is apparently lobbying Apple headquarters to influence the decision. iPhone fans here can only await the result with fingers crossed.
