Wealthy Brazilians get their unlocked Iphone 2.0

MOST OF the Northern hemisphere IT press has gone stark staring bonkers after a Brazilian phones-unlocking firm began advertising its Iphone 2.0 unlocking services with a video on Youtube.

A recent report on the Beeb claimed Brazilians shun the "American Dream". But apparently that doesn't extend to mobile phones, as AFP reports, "the slick handsets have already become a must-have item for the wealthy". The problem is, that IPhone 2.0 hasn't been officially released yet in the country famous for its samba carnival in the streets.

So when there's a will, there's a way, legal or not. With regards to the official roll-out, Steve Jobs' fruity-named keyboardless phones firm announced the introduction of the Iphone 2.0 on Mexico starting last Friday, but dates for other countries were blurry, only mentioning "later this year" for Argentina, Brazil, Central America, Chile, Colombia and the Dominican Republic.

Unlike what happens in some Euroland countries where Apple has signed exclusivity deals with carriers, consumers in LatAm, and particularly the so-called Southern Cone region will at least get some choice, as both Mexican mogul Carlos Slim's America Movil and Spain's Telefonica will use the Iphone 2.0 as yet another weapon in their battle for consumers'wallets and minds.

This has angered people in Spain and Mexico whom lament having just one carrier to choose if they want a legit, mobile operator-subsidised Iphone 2.0. Alejandro Negrete from MundoMac.org said: "The only countries with exclusivity deals and no choice are Mexico with the Mexican carrier Claro, and Spain with the local carrier Movistar. That's the drawback of having big companies in your home country. When will they get that if there's no competition there's incompetence?"

Who's on First?
Six days ago a group dubbed the "iPhone Dev Team" announced the cracking of the Iphone 2.0 OS, and less than a week later, people in South America - specifically in Brazil - are making money out of it. Some electronics kit vendors are importing the Iphone 2.0 and selling it unlocked in the country. For instance we found one advertising the unlocked Iphone 2.0 for about R$1,100 -$690, €434 and £344.

Then there's another business, which is selling unlocking services for those who bring themselves an Iphone 2.0 from abroad. On Monday, a São Paulo firm dubbed Desbloqueiobr.com.br which sells "unlocking services, but no devices" and which claims to be the first to offer Iphone 2.0 unlocking services in the country, uploaded a demo video showing two Iphone 2.0 units calling one another and allegedly operating on Brazil's phone network.

The moral of the story, we guess, is that the rich often get their way. µ

L'INQs
Iphone 2.0 Unlocked (Gizmodo, July 11)
Sao Paulo, Brazil, Goes on a Shopping Spree
Brazil's Elites Fly Above Their Fears
In Brazil, rule of law is for the birds
The Fine Art of Separating People from their Money
Telefonica and TelMex step on the gas pedal in Latin America