Apple’s $99 set-top box is scheduled to go on sale in South Africa this coming Friday, January 18. The news was confirmed by Core Group, Apple’s official distributor in the 52 million people market. Core Group also announced pricing and availability information for Apple’s hockey-puck device, which will retail for R1099, or approximately US$125. Additionally, Apple Premium Resellers and authorized dealers will also carry the set-top box come this Friday, though resellers are reportedly “entirely free to determine the actual prices at which products will be sold”, per Core’s press statement…
Jordan Kahn of 9to5Mac passes along a local report by the mybroadband.co.za web site.
The report details that, in addition to Core Group, customers in South Africa will be able to purchase the gadget through Apple Premium Resellers iStore and Digicape, as well as through Apple Authorised Retailers Incredible Connection, Dion Wired, Makro and Hi-Fi Corporation.
It wasn’t immediately clear whether Apple will also cut content deals with local networks for streaming on Apple TVs, like it recently did in Germany through a partnership with the local over-the-top provider Watchever.
Apple in December expanded its iTunes Store to 56 new countries, including South Africa. The iPhone 5 also went on sale that month in South Africa and more than fifty other markets.