iPhones in Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay

So while everybody up north is getting ready for the introduction of the 3G iPhone, it’s also arriving down at the bottom of the world. Apple chose the mexican company, Claro, formerly CTI Movil, to sell iPhones in latin america, probably because they could go with provider and get the whole region.

While Claro hasn’t been very clear about exactly how much the iPhone will cost, when it’ll be for sale, or really anything except to say that it’s coming. I do have some information.

According to their prices posted for mexico the monthly plans will cost between $45 USD per month and $85 USD per month. The rumors for chile had similar prices. The phone will cost between $450 USD and $0 USD depending on contract, 8gb vs 16gb, etc… Taxes included, which in latin america are substantial, here in Uruguay the IVA sales tax is %21.

How many iphones are coming down south? Well i don’t know all the numbers, but Claro’s confirmation page when you request notice about the phones says that they have imported 20,000 phones to Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay each. On the surface that seems fare, each country gets a nice shipment. The problem is, Argentina is a MUCH bigger country than the guay’s. Argentina’s population is 40.6 million, Paraguay’s 6.8, and Uruguay’s 3.4. The data i found is from 2006, but Argentina’s cell phone penetration is better than %76. Uruguay’s is %67, and Paraguay’s is %47. So not only did Argentina get fewer phones, they’ve got more people are likely to WANT one. There are 13.5 times more iphones for sale when adjusted for the cellphone ownership market in Uruguay than Argentina!

Given that it’s a couple hour ferry ride across the river from Argentina to Uruguay i expect there might be a grey market of Argentines buying their iPhone from Claro Uruguay if Claro Argentina sells out.

There have been come claims that Movistar (owned by the spanish telefonica) also will be selling iPhones in latin america, but clearly it’s not at launch, because there’s nothing on their websites about it.

I’ll followup when they actually release their prices and say when they will start selling them.