iPhone service in HK?

How is iPhone service in HK? We are moving there in a few months from the US. I will need a smart-phone as soon as I arrive. Do iPhones have good service or is there another brand I should look into? We have a Mac laptop, so iPhone is the natural choice for us, but I'm willing to change if they do not get good service in HK.


Also, how quickly could we purchase a new phone (such as an iPhone) and get our service, including a data package, activated?


Thanks!

iPhones work just fine. Everyone and his dog seems to have one too (including yours truly). Frankly this stuff works as well as in any other modern country. Haven't heard anything like the complaints from US users about iPhone service either.


You can buy a new phone and service as soon as you arrive. Activation takes an hour or two. However as you will not yet have your HKID you'll need to put down a deposit of a few thousand HK$ (at least that's how it works at PCCW). You can get this refunded when you have your HKID. There are no credit checks in the US sense in HK.


Note also that iPhones (and any other phones) in HK are unlocked so there is a bit more flexibility. Unfortunately Apple is not shipping phones to HK right now through the Apple Store online so you'll have to get one from an operator, which limits choices to 3 (yes there is an operator called 3) and a couple of others.

my colleague walked into an Apple reseller (Fortress/Broadway..not sure which one) yesterday and picked up a phone no problem..my understanding is picking up thru the mobile provider (3/SMV) means waiting weeks...

It keeps varying. Last month Fortress had no stock but 3 did. Right now Apple online shows as "unavailable", as it has for a couple of months. But in early October they had a couple of days delivery time.


Bottom line, you will find an iPhone somewhere. ;) Frankly I personally prefer getting one from Fortress or Apple instead of an operator. That way you can choose the operator you really want.