Expat Tech: iPhone 4 in Argentina

UPDATE (5.4.12): I should have updated this post earlier, but iPhones are no longer available in Argentina from the mobile carriers due to import restrictions put on them by the Argentine government. You can buy them from Mercadolibre and other sites, but they are 2-3 times the price that they would be in the States.

UPDATE (26.9.10): The iPhone 4 has been released in Argentina.

Apple has done it again.

Today they announced their newest iPhone – the iPhone 4. And it is cool. Super cool. And a whole slew of people now want the latest and greatest iPhone, myself included. The iPhone 3GS, just released last year, seems like an ancient relic.

What makes it so cool? Here’s just a few of the new features:

  • now even thinner
  • front and back made of glass for improved reception with a stainless steel border that also doubles as the antenna
  • 5mp camera with flash
  • HD video recording and iMovie for the iPhone
  • new iOS 4 includes multitasking, folders and more
  • it has a freakin’ gyroscope, which means better augmented reality and games
  • the best mobile screen ever seen
  • front facing video camera with noise canceling microphone
  • FaceTime – iPhone to iPhone video chat
  • and more…

Of course, one of the major drawbacks of living in Buenos Aires is being able to acquire new technology. As I’ve mentioned before, prices are about double what they are in the States and things arrive here later too.  The good news from today’s announcement was that Apple will be rolling out the iPhone to other countries faster than ever before. The iPhone 4 will be available on June 24, 2010 in the States but should be in Argentina by September 2010.

I’ll have to suffer through July and August, but I’m definitely not signing up for a mobile contract until September. And yes, I’ll pay the Argentine premium for the iPhone too. It’s worth it.