apple news/media reports
11/29/2007, 11:25am, EST
Thursday, November 29th
Dutch royalty spotted buying 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.
Filed under: iPhone
Other story tags: Apple Stores, unlock, Netherlands, Dutch royalty
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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.
Didn't any of you READ?
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.