The rollout of the iPhone 5 continues, three months after its debut in California.
The latest Apple smartphone launches in 32 countries, including Brazil, Russia, and perhaps most importantly China.
Preorders for the iPhone 5 have been positive for carrier China Unicom with over 300,000 reserved days ahead of today's launch.
The prices for the iPhone 5, according to Sina Tech, starts at 5,899 yuan for the 16GB model, which equates up to $947 when converted to the US dollar, 32GB model for 6,899 yuan, or $1,107, and the 64GB model will cost 7,899 yuan, or $1,268.
Currently only China Unicom serves as the iPhone 5's carrier but negotiations have been in order with China Mobile, the largest mobile carrier in the country with over 703 million subscribers. The negotiations appear to have gone nowhere as China Mobile President Li Yue stated the reason for his company for not selling the iPhone 5 was due to business and benefit sharing issues.
The other countries seeing an iPhone 5 launch today are Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Ecuador, Grenada, Indonesia, Israel, Jamaica, Jordan, Kuwait, Macedonia, Malaysia, Moldova, Montenegro, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Taiwan, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela.
Next Friday will see the iPhone expanding to 20 additional countries: Barbados, Botswana, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Egypt, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritius, Morocco, Niger, Senegal, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Tunisia, Uganda, and Vietnam.
The launches of the iPhone 5 in these countries come as Google Maps officially launched after Apple's iTunes Approval.
Unfortunately Google Maps is unavailable in China or any of the countries launching today except Brazil, Jordan, Kuwait, South Africa, and Taiwan.
Reaction to Google Maps' return to iOS 6 devices, although it is compatible with iOS 5.1 users as well, has been positive. The updated maps app currently sits number one of the "Top Free Apps" chart on iTunes.
Google Maps has garnered over 16,620 ratings from Apples users with 13,986 (at the time of writing) give it five stars.
Reviewers that have stood out are:
Reed Morse: Better than apple maps - I almost died in Australia, thank god this is out.
Ballin360: Finally! - Great app, much better than the stock iOS app that often has wrong data. I'm glad we have the choice to choose our favorite map service.
Maxintosh7: I know where I am now! - I've been stuck in a desert in Bolivia for the past few months; after Apple maps mislead me. They said there was a Chick Fil A there, didn't think anything of the 1,200 mile travel distance, as I know that those tasty restaurants are few and far between but there wasn't a Chick Fil A. There wasn't even a location coming soon (as I would gladly took residence for the period of construction till they opened). ...Google maps has saved me.
Some features of the Google Maps for iOS 6 includes:
- Sign in to sync your searches, directions, and favorite places between your computer and your phone.
- Get voice guided, turn-by-turn driving directions.
- Find your way by train, bus, subway, or walking directions.
- Access live traffic information in cities across the world.
- View 360-degree panoramas of places around the globe with Street View.
- View high resolution satellite imagery of locations around the world.
To download the app, click here.
For early reviews on the Google Maps on iOS 6, click here.
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