Free iPhone 3G for Hong Kong

The release date of iPhone 3G is getting closer and, lately, more and more operators have announced the prices and data plans that will come with Apple's new handset. One of the most attractive offers, until now, seems to be the one of Hutchison 3 which, in Hong Kong (its home country), will be offering the iPhone 3G even for free, with an unlimited data plan and for a decent monthly fee.

More exactly, Hutchison will allow Hong Kong users to get an 8GB iPhone 3G for free, if they sign a contract agreement for two years and pay a monthly fee of 498 HKD (about 64 USD or 41 Euros). This includes unlimited data transfers (meaning all the emails and Web browsing you want) as well as 2200 airtime minutes. With the same data plan, the 16GB version of the iPhone will cost you 138 HKD (18 USD or 11 Euros). This plan is obviously more advantageous than the one AT&T is offering the new iPhone for (in the US), which requires $199 for the handset as well as 69 USD per month for two years.

Of course, Hutchison has other offers too for users who don't want to pay 498 HKD per month or don't need unlimited data transfers - but these make the handset itself more expensive. For example, the 8GB iPhone 3G can also be bought for 2,938 HKD (about 377 USD or 240 Euros), with a 2-year agreement and 188 HKD (24 USD) per month - this plan includes 500MB of data and 500 airtime minutes. On the same conditions, the 16GB iPhone 3G is priced at 3,738 HKD (480 USD or 305 Euros).

For all the details about the iPhone 3G plans for Hong Kong, please see the image on the left.

To make the release of Apple's new touchscreen handset more interesting, Hutchison 3 has opened the registrations for the handset and all those who register before July 7 will enter a competition that offers 500 users a "limited edition leather case" for the iPhone 3G. Obviously, this will happen on July 11, when the sleek handset starts its commercial availability journey.