Apple sets iPhone launch for 50 new markets

NEW YORK CITY: Apple's new iPhone models, coming off record opening sales, will be launched in more than 50 new markets by 1 November 2013, including Russia, Spain and Italy, the company said Wednesday, 9 October 2013.

The iPhone 5S and 5C will go on sale in 35 additional markets starting 25 October and another 16 on 1 November, an Apple statement said.

Apple launched the new handsets last month in the United States, China and a handful of other markets, and reported nine million sold in the first three days, in the biggest iPhone launch in the company's history.

The new devices, including the lower-cost iPhone 5C, are aimed at helping Apple reverse market share losses against smartphones using the Google Android operating system, which hold about three-fourths of the market.

The new iPhones will be launched 25 October in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, French West Indies, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, uxembourg, Macau, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Reunion Island, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan and Thailand.

A November 1 launch has been set for Albania, Armenia, Bahrain, Colombia, El Salvador, Guam, Guatemala, India, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.

The new phones went on sale last month in the United States, Britain, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Puerto Rico and Singapore.

Apple said last month that more than 200 million of its smartphones and tablets are now running the redesigned operating system iOS 7, "making it the fastest software upgrade in history."

The new operating system has a bolder look, and includes the free iTunes Radio launched by Apple. It is a free upgrade for a number of iPhones and iPads sold in the past couple of years.

Source: AFP