Egypt will not NOT have the iPhone released

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As many of you don’t know unless they’ve been to Egypt or are Egyptian, the famous Nokia n95 is banned in Egypt, the reason is because of its GPS capabilities.

Now, a reader left me a comment yesterday (Thanks Bassel) saying:

There is one little problem regarding the introduction of iPhone 3g into the Egyptian market through a legitimate channel such as being subsidized by Mobinil or Vodafone; it is GPS.

Owning a GPS device is illegal in Egypt. The N95 has been banned from entering Egypt. It has of course been smuggled and sold on the black market, but in no way been sold through any official outlet.

That is why I believe apple do still have a long way negotiating with the Egyptian ministry of communications before the iPhone can be released through mobile carriers.

Until then, if and when an unlocking trick comes out, iPhone 3G will be sold illegally on the black market as well.

Well, this is sad news! It is even common in all mobile stores in Jordan, whenever an Egyptian enters or they hear of someone traveling to Egypt, they recommend buying the n95 because it is banned in Egypt and you can probably sell it for a good price or give it as a valuable gift.

So let me get it straight, the Nokia N95 is not sold in Egypt neither the iPhone, none of the distributors have it on sale because it has been banned by the government because it has GPS.

All GPS devices are illegal in Egypt. Yes, lots of people own them and use them, but they are illegal. A lot of people have radar detectors which are illegal, yet they own them and use them.

Owning and using something is sometimes not relevant to whether it is legal or not.

Now this is messed up! Anyways, according to Apple’s website, the iPhone will be available at Orange (which is Mobinil / Orange Egypt) and Vodafone locations across Egypt. Which means there’s probably one near you.