December 16th iPhone 4S Launches to Include Russia and Brazil

Apple is continuing its rapid international rollout of the iPhone 4S this month, and while the company has not published any recent press releases detailing its upcoming launch schedule, carrier partners and retailers in several countries have begun announcing availability for December 16th. Notably, this round of launches will include two of the world's most populous countries: Brazil and Russia.

iphone 4s philippines dec16
In South America, Brazilian carrier Claro has posted a promotional page [Google translation] noting the December 16th launch date. MacMagazine.com.br noted last week that several shops had already begun selling both the iPhone 4S and 8 GB iPhone 4 at very high prices (nearly $2000 for a 16 GB iPhone 4S) ahead of the official launch, but official pricing from Apple's carrier partners for the iPhone 4S remains to be seen.

Several Russian retailers including Digital.ru [Google translation] have announced that they too will begin selling the iPhone 4S on December 16th, with pre-orders already underway.

Brazil and Russia are not the only countries set to see iPhone 4S launches on December 16th, as reports are also coming in from Taiwan, the Philippines, South Africa, and Malaysia citing that same date for their iPhone 4S debuts.

Update: The iPhone 4S will also be launching in Saudi Arabia on the 16th.

Update 2: We're also seeing mention of December 16th launches in Chile, Israel, Thailand, Turkey, and Vietnam, bringing this round of launches to a total of at least a dozen countries.

Related Forum: iPhone

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Top Rated Comments

chriscrk Avatar
184 months ago
Oh my god, this must mean it's finally arriving to Chile soon.
It's taken them AGES. But that's great news.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
chanavorn Avatar
184 months ago
http://www.ais.co.th/iPhone4s/index.html
http://www.dtac.co.th/index.php
http://www.truemove-h.com/iphone4s_comingsoon.aspx

Thailand will sell 4S in 16 December 2011 by all 3 carriers.
AIS preorder in 13 December 2011.
Dtac preorder in 9 December 2011.
Truemove hasn't announce yet but open the news register system.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gri Avatar
184 months ago
Syria

And in an interesting development Syria forbid any iPhones from entering the country... And, only iPhones, not Androids or BB... (source: Spiegel.de)
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tucotuti Avatar
184 months ago
deleted
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ricardobeat Avatar
184 months ago
I'm pretty sure it will sell for 2000BRL here in Brazil, not 2000USD.
Of course. Even then, you can buy a Macbook Air for R$2899, or an iPad for R$1649.

These prices are ridiculous, I paid R$1200 for an iPhone 4 almost an year ago, with a cheap plan (R$64 - ~U$35). Prices will very likely drop heavily next year, they are just setting up fools for Christmas.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Tomas127 CL Avatar
184 months ago
Oh my god, this must mean it's finally arriving to Chile soon.
It's taken them AGES. But that's great news.

Is confirmed in Chile, launch date: December 16th

http://www.emol.com/noticias/tecnologia/2011/12/02/515384/iphone-4s-http://www.emol.com/noticias/tecnologia/2011/12/02/515384/iphone-4s-llegara-a-chile-el-16-de-diciembre.html?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=tweets (http://www.emol.com/noticias/tecnologia/2011/12/02/515384/iphone-4s-llegara-a-chile-el-16-de-diciembre.html?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=tweets)

=)

Here is you contract a plan, you can get the iPhone 4S for free, in Chile :P
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)