MANILA – The iPhone 6 launched with much pomp and circumstance in the Philippines on November 13 via a series of events, courtesy of top local telco providers Smart Communications and Globe Telecom. Boasting larger screens, thinner bodies and more processing power than previous models, the arrival of the iPhone 6 in the Philippines may very well be the largest telco launch of the year.
Smart held a launch party on November 13 for VIP guests and Smart Infinity subscribers at the Manila Peninsula Hotel’s Salon de Ning, with the official unveiling taking place at midnight following a countdown led by Smart Infinity head Julie Carceller. The iPhone 6 was made available the following day at Smart Stores and via pop-up booths at selected malls that were graced by media and celebrities alike.
Globe Telecom entertained media and guests as they welcomed the first 100 of their subscribers to respond to pre-order calls with a blue carpet event at Bonifcaio Global City under the hashtag #thatwonderfulmoment wherein their VIP customers were treated to live music and plied with food and drink with an exclusive butler service before moving to the GlobeTower for the midnight countdown and subsequent after-parties.
While midnight launches are nothing new to inaugurate new products in other countries, it is only in recent years that the trend reached Philippine shores. With the success of the respective iPhone 6 launches, it would seem that the phenomenon of increasingly elaborate launches and queues will be one we will definitely be seeing more of in the future.
