'iPhone Duo' Preorders Kick Off in D-1 as Mobile Carriers Vie for Customers
IT DAILY ·
✦ AI Summary
The three mobile carriers have launched a customer-acquisition battle with benefits on their official online malls during the preorder stage for the iPhone Duo.
SK Telecom is offering up to KRW 1.7 million, KT up to KRW 1.34 million, and LG Uplus is touting discount coupons, additional used-phone trade-in benefits, and interest-free installment plans.
However, expectations that initial supply will be limited have raised securing inventory as the key variable.
Ahead of the launch of Apple's first foldable smartphone, the 'iPhone Duo,' the country's three mobile carriers have entered a customer-acquisition race at the preorder stage. They are focusing on securing subscribers by offering purchase benefits through their official online malls.
The three carriers are touting purchase benefits such as discount coupons, additional used-phone trade-in credits, card discounts, and interest-free installment plans on their official online malls. However, as expectations grow that initial supply will be limited, securing inventory has emerged as the key variable in the competition.
Preorders for the iPhone Duo will begin at 9 p.m. on the 16th, and the official launch date is the 23rd. According to the photo caption, the iPhone Duo will come in two colors, Star White and Night Sky. Domestic launch prices are KRW 3.29 million for the 256GB model, KRW 3.59 million for the 512GB model, KRW 4.19 million for the 1TB model, and KRW 5.09 million for the 2TB model.
The iPhone Duo features a 19.3 cm internal display and a 13.6 cm external display. Its folded size is similar to a passport, and when unfolded, it can be used to watch content or play games on a large screen.
The iPhone Duo supports multitasking, allowing two apps to run simultaneously. Touch ID, the fingerprint authentication feature, is integrated into the side button, and user authentication is available whether the device is folded or unfolded.
The iPhone Duo is equipped with the same A20 Pro chip as the iPhone 18 Pro and also supports on-device AI features. At the purchase stage, the three mobile carriers have prepared benefits such as discounts and used-phone trade-in offers.
Among them, SK Telecom is offering purchase benefits of up to KRW 1.7 million through T Direct Shop. The up to KRW 1.7 million benefit includes payment for trade-ins of used phones. The detailed items consist of a Lucky Roulette discount of up to KRW 300,000, trade-in payment for an old phone of up to KRW 1.17 million, a special trade-in benefit of KRW 200,000 for the first 1,000 customers, and a KRW 30,000 KakaoTalk channel coupon.
KT is offering benefits worth up to KRW 1.34 million through KT Direct Shop. Using Hyundai, Samsung, or BC cards, customers can get discounts of up to KRW 318,891, and through direct rate-plan discounts of up to 7%, they can save up to KRW 218,000 on telecom bills. In addition, it is bundling benefits including a KRW 200,000 discount on Apple Watch, a KRW 100,000 direct mobile phone coupon, and additional used-phone trade-in benefits of up to KRW 200,000.
LG Uplus is running a coupon-drawing event offering discount coupons of up to KRW 300,000 for the first 2,000 customers. It is also paying an additional KRW 150,000 above market value when customers sell used phones, and offering interest-free installment plans of up to 36 months for the first 1,000 customers who make immediate payments with eligible cards.
LG Uplus is also offering customers who sign up for 'Plus Pack 105' or higher 200GB of iCloud+ free for 24 months. It is also providing launch-day morning delivery benefits and has prepared a benefit that compensates 50% of the launch price regardless of damage or cosmetic condition.
The key variable in the early sales phase is being identified as securing supply. It remains unclear whether the initial supply will be enough to meet early demand.
Outside estimates have also emerged. Counterpoint Research projected this year's iPhone Duo shipments at around 6 million units. In domestic distribution channels, the initial allocation is being seen as insufficient.
A retail industry source in Seoul said the allocation for the mobile phone wholesale market is very small. The source explained that, as a result of the shortage in allocated volume, subsidies are expected to be smaller than before.
Source: IT DAILY · Seong Won-young
Original: https://www.itdaily.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=242224
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Source: IT DAILY
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