iPhone is coming

iPhones, revolutionary "smart" cellphones made by Apple, are finally coming to Israel two years after their launch in the United States. The device to be sold locally is the latest generation of iPhone, the GS3, which was just launched in the West a few days ago.

The gadget will be sold locally by Bezeq subsidiary Pelephone and Partner Communications, which operates under the orange brand name. Though it's early days to predict the precise structure of marketing, the companies will most likely tie mandatory surfing packages to purchases of the advanced cellphone.

Although iPhone hasn't been available through stores in Israel until now, plenty of people simply imported their own. At present about 80,000 Israelis own the phone.

The GS3 has a better camera than earlier models of iPhones. Among other things, it has video capacity: Users can use it to film short clips, which they can then send to other cellphone users. The GS3 also has a better processor - so it works more efficiently - and better battery exploitation than previous iPhone versions.

The iPhone created a revolution among cellular users. The surfing experience was far superior to that provided by rival cellular devices. Basically, the iPhone connected the worlds of Internet, computers and communications.

That's why most cellular service providers adore iPhones; they induce people to surf more, and their phone bills are higher.

iPhone is extraordinary in another way too: Its users have access to "application stores." Forget mall rats: The user can pick his applications from among the proffered wares and download his choices for a fee. The applications are from a wide range: music, entertainment, economics, games, photography and options to personalize the phone.

In other countries, iPhones sell at relatively low prices. The latest iPhone version, with a massive 16 gigabit memory, sells for $299 in the United States. In exchange for the relatively low price, the customer has to sign up for a long-term surfing package.

Pricing in Israel is likely to be along the same lines, but once you add VAT and customs duties, you wind up with a cost of several thousand shekels just for the device. You will also probably have to commit to a minimum monthly amount of surfing the Internet from your phone, and will have to pay for that service whether you use it or not.

Pelephone acted much the same way when launching a relatively smart version of a Samsung phone, the Omnia, which among its many features sports a touchscreen instead of a keyboard.

The phones will be imported by iDigital, which said it had bent over backwards to bring the devices to Israel.