The World’s Most Expensive iPhone
As Apple’s latest smartphone hits Middle Eastern markets consumers have noticed one thing: the price.Often viewed as a high-tech hub, when is comes to consumer electronics Israeli tech analysts say pricing goes through the roof.
According to a survey by Israel’s business daily The Marker the price of an unlocked 16 gigabyte iPhone 4 in Israel will set you back $1,084, compared to $790 for the same model in the United Kingdom and $751 in Canada. It is not possible to buy an unlocked iPhone in the United States.
Israel is also expensive when it comes to data pricing. A one gigabyte data package with Israeli mobile operator Cellcom costs $21 compared to a two gigabyte option for $25 with American operator AT&T.
“The consumer market in Israel is really small and the profit margin for companies is really small,” Gal Mor an Israeli Technology blogger at holesinthenet.co.il, told The Media Line. “Its not like in the United States with tens of millions of early adapters and then 150 million consumers, where you can afford to sell consumer electronics at a reasonable price and still make a profit.”
