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Sat, Jul 04, 2009 - 09:24 PM EDT  —  AAPL: 140.02 (-2.81, -1.97%)  |  NASDAQ: 1796.52 (-49.20, -2.67%)

Apple iPhone frenzy in Russia fueled by smugglers, jeweler
Thursday, April 03, 2008 - 01:23 PM EDT

"Apple Inc. has gained unlikely allies in its bid to boost iPhone sales: Russian smugglers," Alex Nicholson reports for Bloomberg.

"The device isn't sold by Cupertino, California-based Apple in Russia and it can't be used legally on local networks. Still, about 250,000 people own one, more than any other country except the U.S. and China, according to Eldar Murtazin, chief analyst at Moscow-based Mobile Research Group," Nicholson reports.

"That popularity has turned into a bonanza for traders who sell the phones in kiosks and on the Internet for $1,000 each, more than twice the U.S. price. Hackers say they charge as much as 2,500 rubles ($105) to 'unlock' them so they work locally," Nicholson reports. "'It's an icon for Russians,' said Timofei Kulikov, a lawyer and buyer of electronic products for X5 Retail Group NV, Russia's largest supermarket chain. 'If you see two businessmen at lunch in Moscow, they'll both have iPhones on the table.'"

"The evolution from Web-surfing, touch-screen gadget to status symbol has been a boon for Peter Aloisson. The jeweler sold a diamond-studded iPhone encased in white gold to a Russian businessman in March for 120,000 euros and is working on a 500,000-euro ($783,000) version that may go to another Russian client," Nicholson reports.

Much more in the full article here.

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Apr 03, 08 - 01:28 pm Comment from: Jendensam

The hotline between the White House and the Kremlin is not a red phone anymore. It's been replaced by an iPhone.

Apr 03, 08 - 01:32 pm Comment from: shen

sadly Bush still can't figure out how to answer it....

Apr 03, 08 - 01:38 pm Comment from: Buster

Neither can Chene...enven when it interferes with his pacemaker.

Apr 03, 08 - 01:39 pm Comment from: Buster

There is no why when I talk about Cheney

Apr 03, 08 - 01:46 pm Comment from: Jim - TIV

looks like there is also no spellcheck

Apr 03, 08 - 01:51 pm Comment from: lurker

@Buster - that raises the question: Why would you voluntarily talk about Cheney? I'd say, that in addition to there being no Why there's also no real When.

Apr 03, 08 - 02:06 pm Comment from: Crabapple

Grammar Police, Grammar Police! wherefore art thou Oh! Grammar Police!

Apr 03, 08 - 02:13 pm Comment from: TowerTone

Expect to hear that Timofei Kulikov suddenly developed a cold, followed by a "snow" nap......

Apr 03, 08 - 02:15 pm Comment from: cptnkirk

I guess we need "Shakespearean Grammar Police", too!

Grammar Police, Grammar Police! wherefore art thou Oh! Grammar Police!

"WHEREFORE" in Shakespearean English means "WHY" Not Where! ;-}

See a degree in English is worth something, albeit not very much! LOL!

Apr 03, 08 - 02:31 pm Comment from: Ampar

TT: And if you're still looking for a Russian iPhone supplier, you should probably quit stalin and chekov Timofei Kulikov from your list.

Apr 03, 08 - 02:35 pm Comment from: GreenH.

Brazil has a pretty bunch of iPhones too!

Apr 03, 08 - 02:44 pm Comment from: TowerTone

Amp: I like how you put in those names. I bet if you trot Sky news out, and drop off the pretense, printing that would make Lenin glad.

Apr 03, 08 - 03:01 pm Comment from: TowerTone

Yuri be glad to hear I cut my mullet off. Czarry, I'll try not to boris with any more of this bolshevik.

Apr 03, 08 - 03:18 pm Comment from: Xgenius

Apple is aware of this practice (and others similar) and has instituted a 5 phone purchase per person in their stores. This is not a one-time limit. It is five phone lifetime per person.

The manager in the local store said that they could only sell 5 phones at a time per person, and that person had to register their name as shown on the credit card to prevent further purchases.

Apr 03, 08 - 03:43 pm Comment from: Ampar

TT: Excellent use of bolshevik! I thought you might be russian it a bit if I red that right. You could look at it from different engels but it still just feudal in the end.

Apr 03, 08 - 03:47 pm Comment from: Ampar

"It is five phone lifetime per person."

That could really suck. What if the sixth phone grants you total consciousness? Screw 3G. I want my gunga galunga... gunga, gunga-galunga.

Apr 03, 08 - 04:25 pm Comment from: TowerTone

Amp: I must give you good marx for the social list. I need to get with the pogrom or ural best me. However, I moscow and drop a gulag.

Apr 03, 08 - 04:45 pm Comment from: darknite

Sure..... A 5 phone lifetime limit.... Whatever. So I have purchased 4 for my immediate family members, that means like when Gen2 3G hits the market the rest of my family can pound sand, and only I get the new model? And that it will be the last ever iPhone I can purchase ever? I really don't think so. That would be a very foolish position to take.

Apr 03, 08 - 04:51 pm Comment from: Ampar

TT: Tanks. I'm no slav to it. But now uri just putin on heirs! Laika I've said before, it's all about czechs and balances.

grin

Apr 03, 08 - 08:48 pm Comment from: Cullen Factor

Buster, you are a big dumbass.

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