Cupertino, Calif. - Apple (NASD: AAPL) has signed deals with Singapore's Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel) to launch the iPhone in Singapore, India, Philippines and Australia later this year. In related news, Apple said its online stores in the U.S. and U.K. are sold out of the iPhone -- although retail stores still hold stock -- likely an inventory sell-off making room for the expected launch of the next-generation iPhone.
SingTel will handle the launch in Singapore, and counts 2.3 million subscribers there.
The iPhone will launch in India with Bharti Airtel, the country's leading carrier with 64 million subscribers, in which SingTel holds a 30.5% stake.
The Philippines launch partner will be Globe Telecom (21.3 million subscribers), in which SingTel holds a 44.5% stake, while in Australia it will be Optus (7 million subscribers), which SingTel owns outright.
Apple also recently lined up iPhone launch partners for Latin America (America Movil); Canada (Rogers); Italy (Telecom Italia); and 10 other countries through Vodafone.
Digital Media Wire
