iPhone comes to Egypt without GPS functions
updated 09:20 am EST, Fri November 14, 2008
iPhone launches in Egypt
The iPhone has launched in Egypt through two separate carriers, reports say. Vodafone has unveiled four different plans, priced at 150, 250, 350 and 550 EGP, respectively. The first includes 150 minutes, 50 texts and 250MB of data. Each of these figures increases through to the last plan, which incorporates 1,200 minutes, 200 texts and 1GB of data. An 8GB phone costs 3,800 EGP, while the 16GB options are 4,450 EGP each.
The same phone costs are present with another carrier, Mobinil, but the carrier is unique in that it offers no specific plans for the iPhone; people must instead choose one of the company's general phone plans, or opt for pay-as-you-go service.
Notable is that functionality of the iPhone has been artificially restricted in the country, as the Egyptian government has placed a ban on GPS devices. The country is not the first to offer iPhones with limitations; in India the phone lacks 3G functionality, and it is believed that a Chinese version could be stripped of both 3G and Wi-Fi.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2007
No GPS?? WTF.
You'd figure a GPS unit would definitely come in handy when you're lost in the desert and that's what I'd expect the majority of Egypt to be. One big frickin' sandbox. I'd sure like to know the reason for no GPS functions. I guess there are some parts of the world that never keep up with mainstream civilization.