Israel officially gets the iPhone

Cleve Nettles
|
June 15, 2009
|
Share

According to popular Israeli website nana10 (via MacBlogz), Israel will be getting the iPhone in short order.  The tiny nation is chock full of technology companies and jailbroken iPhones are a dime a dozen there. 

But until now, Apple hasn't officially partnered with any of the telecoms.  Strangely, Orange who has iPhone contracts in many other surrounding countries and all over the world, isn't going to be the carrier of choice.  Apple has gone with Pelephone, a smaller local carrier.

Update: Orange also will be carrying the iPhone in Israel it appears ... which makes sense. 

You'll recall that Scott Forstall announced during WWDC '09 that Hebrew, Arabic and other right to left languages would be officially supported in iPhone 3.0 - so this news timing makes sense.

Comments (18)

elminno (not verified) | June 15, 2009 - 11:33pm

Given the poor quality of Orange iPhone services here in Slovakia it's no wonder...

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | June 15, 2009 - 11:42pm

update: both Pelephone and Orange IL will market the iPhone 3GS, no exclusiveness given by Apple. Rev-Share model.

Mac Anonymous (not verified) | June 15, 2009 - 11:44pm

Another carrier announced to provide iPhone -Orange Israel.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | June 16, 2009 - 2:22am

The only question is, will it be simfree or not?.

free ipod (not verified) | June 16, 2009 - 6:12am

It cannot be much longer and nearly every country in the world will have the iPhone. Certainly testimony to its design and mass appeal.

I should imagine it will do well in Israel, since it is such a "western" product.

free ipod (not verified) | June 16, 2009 - 6:13am

It cannot be much longer and nearly every country in the world will have the iPhone. Certainly testimony to its design and mass appeal.

I should imagine it will do well in Israel, since it is such a "western" product.

free ipod (not verified) | June 16, 2009 - 6:15am

If other countries are anything to go by it probably will not be sim free - apple cuts a deal with the network operators who in return help with the distribution and marketing. It would be a lot harder from them to distribute sim free.

Free Ipod (not verified) | June 16, 2009 - 6:16am

If other countries are anything to go by it probably will not be sim free - apple cuts a deal with the network operators who in return help with the distribution and marketing. It would be a lot harder from them to distribute sim free.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | June 16, 2009 - 10:56am

Mazel tov and L'Chaim!

May you enjoy your iPhones in the best of health!

Maor (not verified) | June 22, 2009 - 1:20pm

I dont know who you are but your wonderful...
Maor from Israel

Ben Addlestone (not verified) | June 16, 2009 - 11:02am

Pelephone are actually the biggest and most popular network in Israel, so despite Orange's help, the iPhone should still do quite well.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | June 16, 2009 - 12:23pm

I thought Pelephone was CDMA... I use to roam on Pelephone when I was with Verizon

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | June 16, 2009 - 2:28pm

MAZAL TOV!!

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | June 17, 2009 - 3:10am

Israel should not be aloud to get the iphone! Only civilized people/countries please! :)

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | June 17, 2009 - 8:12am

My dear you probably forget that the un-civilized country as you define it is the place where developed both the processor and the software of your computer. Just to make an example...

So tell us...from which amazing country are you from?

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | June 17, 2009 - 7:10am

can someone please delete the comment above mine please ?

daniele (not verified) | June 17, 2009 - 8:14am

Orange Israel is not connected to any other Orange in the world. A group of private investors acquired it from Orange Corp something like 10 years ago...

BawlmawrBob (not verified) | June 22, 2009 - 12:05pm

Can I swap out my sim card and use Pelephone or Orange there?