Based on information found on Apple’s international websites, it appears that sales of the iPhone 3G in Apple’s company-operated retail outlets will be limited to stores in the United States. Apple previously sold the first-generation iPhone at its stores in the United Kingdom, but those stores are conspicuously absent from the “Where to Buy” page on the company’s U.K.
website, and are also absent from similar pages for Italy, Australia and Japan. Currently circulating reports claim that Apple’s decision to not sell the iPhone 3G in its Canadian stores was a response to consumer outrage at Rogers Wireless’ service plans for the device, however, confirmation of Apple’s decision was received alongside Rogers’ announcement, making this scenario highly unlikely.
A more likely reason for the decision would be that Apple’s international retail stores may lack the ability to handle in-store activation, and the company may also want to avoid potential confusion in countries where the iPhone is being offered by multiple carriers.
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