COSTA RICA TECH NEWS – Blame it on the economic uncertainties, the high price or maybe competition from other brands, demand for the iPhone 6 was luke warm Friday, when compared to the arrival of the iPhone 5 the same time last year,
Mobile providers Kolbi, Claro and Movistar all debuted the new Apple phone Friday and say that demand will pick up with the Aguinaldo (annual bonus) around the corner and the Christmas shopping season getting into full swing.
Carolina Sanchez, spokesperson for Claro Costa Rica said the new phone is “selling well.” But did admit that the sales aren’t at the same level as the iPhone 5 last year.
Jorge Abadía, general manager of Movistar in Costa Rica, said “it’s difficult to judge the impact of sales on the first day”, explaining Christmas is still some ways away.
The iPhone 6 marketing strategy at Movistar includes calling on customers who have plans coming due and for the first time, having been making home and office delivery for the new phones, according to Abadía.
At Kolbi, the mobile operator of the state telecom, the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE), spokesperson Danny Salas said the first day sales were “positive”, admitting, however that the number of people visiting the stores is less than last year.
Another reason for the low turn out for the iPhones on Thursday night, the introduction was on the same night of the Selección (national team) game (with Uruguay). Fubtbol (soccer) trumps the iPhone.
