empty banner ad

What do you make of Etisalat’s iPhone launch without plans?

Magnus Nystedt | Oct 28, 2009 | Comments Comments

iphone_browsing_etisalatYesterday both Etisalat and du launched iPhone 3GS in the UAE. Concerning handset prices they are almost identical with Etisalat being just a little bit cheaper. Concerning plans there’s a huge difference as du announced all their plan details when they started taking bookings on October 17a and Etisalat still haven’t revealed any plans.

What’s up with that? How can you launch a new iPhone model, start selling it and not have any plans?

I certainly don’t know what’s going on with Etisalat and what the reason might be. On Saturday October 24 Etisalat sent out a press release saying that they would start selling iPhone yesterday. At the same time they put their prices up on their web site. I was told that plans would be available the day after, Sunday October 25. Sunday came, so did Monday and apparently also Tuesday, and we still don’t know any iPhone plans from Etisalat.

In fact when we visited an Etisalat store yesterday we were told that there was “no need” for plans, we could just buy an iPhone today and was shown the 10GB data plan Etisalat offers. Plans would be coming “soon”, we were told, but no more exact date or information was available.

Perhaps that’s Etisalat’s idea, that they will sell iPhone without any particular iPhone plan? Just like pretty much like any other handset in the market. But then why still pretend there is a plan coming “soon”? Perhaps the TRA is holding up the plans, which is what I was told on Saturday, but then why is that and what’s the sticking point? If we assume for a moment that Etisalat has submitted to the TRA plans similar to those offered by du then why aren’t they being approved?

It’s fun speculating but that’s all there is of course. Perhaps the coming days and weeks will give us some answers.

Popularity: 5% [?]

Related posts:

  1. Etisalat to launch iPhone 3GS end of this month – should we believe it?
  2. iPhone Etisalat Plans: A Major Downer
  3. My experience from iPhone 3GS launch day
  4. Etisalat iPhone 3GS plans now available
  5. Etisalat explains delay in iPhone 3GS plans

Filed Under: Blog

  • ziham
    I am so frustrated with Etisalat. Ever since the iPhone 3GS released in the US, I have been waiting for Etisalat to launch it in UAE. Probable dates like August 9th, mid- Ramadan, around Eid, during Gitex kept coming and going with no signs of the phone and no reponse from Etisalat, but I still kept waiting instead of buying it in the grey market. And finally when they decide to launch it (and from the looks of it, just for the sake of launching it on the same day as Du just so that Du can't claim to have launched it first), there are NO PLANS. Etisalat is not even advertising the iPhone 3GS release very strongly - I guess they're just somehow trying to offload all the 3G stocks before concentrating on the 3GS. Anyway, so I guess I could buy the handset now and whine a few days, weeks or months later when Etisalat does decide that there is a "need" for plans, and the phone becomes available at the same price as now with data included, or something of that sort. The only thing holding me back from buying the phone from Du is that I don't want to change the number I've been using for 9 years now. But I'm seriously thinking of just making the shift. Anyone has any idea whether all the issues related to signal reception of Du in certain areas of Dubai is now sorted, or still there?
  • Ziham, I think many people feel the same frustration. I got an Etisalat 3G in Feb but this time I didn't hesitate to get a du one. I understand that coverage is a worry for many but du is working seriously hard on that issue. I've had du SIM in one of my iPhones for many months and I've never had any issues with coverage but then I move mainly in and around Dubai. Concerning your number, TRA has said that in November you should be able to take your number with you between operators.
  • I was totally confused as to which one to choose between Du and Etisalat in the end I've concluded to take Du. Waited for Etisalat to launch it's Data plan. But nope never came out. Went to Etisalat and asked why no plans? The man said "no idea sir but you can take 195AED per mo. 1GB connect" What the? So Du it is! And yes like the above post mentions there is a problem with coverage but I guess the price and offer will make everything even for now. I guess Etisalat really needs to think about that.
  • I'm with du too. Yesterday going to F1 I had some issues with coverage but I never lost data connection. This delay from etisalat with 3GS plans is crazy, not sure what the reason is but it's totally putting them in an awkward position.
  • I was talking to my relative who is in the head of the engg dept of etisalat. Well it seems TRA rejected etisalat's pricing. and etisalat teams say TRA always favours Du no matter what.
  • Unless Etisalat submitted something very different from du I don't see why they would reject it. You may be right about TRA but from what I can tell from people in TRA there are other factors in play that sometimes affect decisions.
  • well true that etisalat's will be very different. Curious to know what pricing did they submit to TRA. Will try to find out. anyways coverage wont be a very big issue for me looking at my situation so Du it is! :) just waiting for the courier to bring it here.
blog comments powered by Disqus