Dutch royalty spotted buying iPhone
updated 11:25 am EST, Thu November 29, 2007
Dutch royalty buys iPhone
Members of the Dutch royal family are among the latest to own iPhones, German and Dutch sites are reporting. Willem-Alexander, the Prince of Orange and heir to the Dutch throne, was yesterday spotted buying two iPhones with his wife, the Argentinian-born Máxima. The purchase was unusual in that it was not made at a European store, but rather at Apple's Fifth Avenue outlet in New York City, where the iPhones are by default locked to AT&T; to use an iPhone in the Netherlands, owners must either buy an unlocked device from France or Germany, or else install hacks.
The decision to buy iPhones in America was likely influenced by exchange rates, since the US dollar is at its lowest point in years, while an officially unlocked phone costs a minimum of €749 ($1,105) before service fees. Máxima is also said to regularly visit New York City, while Willem-Alexander is said to be a regular participant in Dutch Apple forums.
The Dutch government is reportedly unhappy with the circulation of a photo of the prince and his wife at the Apple Store (seen below), and is currently asking Dutch websites to take them down.
Saving Money?
11/29, 11:42am reply
Do you think that the Prince of Orange is really that interested in saving a few Euros on his iPhone that he wanted to pick one up while in New York?
jogdish
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2006
Probably a gift or mistak
11/29, 11:59am reply
In all likelihood, these were bought as gifts for someone in the US. Otherwise, it's probably a mistake-- these royals may not have known the phones won't work back home.
njfuzzy
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Joined: Apr 2001
unhappy
11/29, 12:54pm reply
Why is the gov't unhappy with the photo? Does it make his highness look a little shabby in that jacket?
And who the f' cares what the Prince of wherever is buying? That's like caring that Bush has an iPhone. Or Brangelina bought a couple of iPods.
testudo
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
Phhtt!!!
11/29, 12:56pm reply
Well, h***... The Prince of Orange goes and buys an iPhone and gets all sorts of coverage. I'm the Prince of Apples and Bananas and never got any coverage buying Apple products!
smezjj
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Joined: Dec 2001
Prince of Orange
11/29, 01:43pm reply
Big Deal!
Tanker10a
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Joined: Jan 2003
Then what
11/30, 01:25pm reply
Do you hold this an honour for the iPhone or Apple in general? Don't be so silly. It's sad that every idiot can capitalise on his or her financial aptitude and buy iPhones, Lamborghinis, 8-core Mac Pros and so on. And stop with your populace-specific idealisation of the so-called "royals'. Don't try to convince me that any of the vile representatives of the so-called 'royal' - dutch, british (worse yet, cursed plebeians!), or any, for that matter -blood has one millionth as much noble composition as mine. Or that of Ingrid Newkirk, or Mr. Singer, or Paul McCartney and so forth. I lament I will never know of the fates of Marie Antoinette and princesse de Lamballe being shared by the so-called 'royals' (in particular those of Britain). cordially, Leo inter hyenaem
LeoNobilis
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Joined: Nov 2007
Didn't any of you READ?
05/30, 01:28pm reply
This article is making quite an accusation!
As mentioned by the journalist, for the royals to buy a working phone, they need to buy an unlocked one. Which is only possible in France or Germany.
They didn't, they bought it in the States. Which means locked to the AT&T network.
Basically what the article is telling you:
THE CROWN PRINCE AND WIFE HAVE HACKED IPHONES.
(Otherwise they can't use them)
However, an small response (to the pictures) in a Dutch newspaper was made giving the explanation that the phones were gifts.
Speculation still insists that the prince and his wife were either: STUPID or CRIMINAL. Neither very good for their reputation.
JayD213
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Joined: May 2008