Globe Telecom will soon carry Apple’s iPhone handset, the cellular firm said.

“Globe, SingTel, Bharti Airtel and Optus announced that they have signed an agreement with Apple to bring the iPhone to the Philippines, Singapore, India and Australia later this year,” the two-paragraph statement on Globe’s web site stated.

When sought for comment, Ferdinand de la Cruz, Globe consumer wireless business group head, said “more information will be available at a later date.”

Four months from now, a source said, the iPhone will be launched in the Philippines. “The commercial launch will be set towards the end of September or early October.”

If this pushes through, Globe will be among the first phone firms in Asia to officially carry Apple’s popular iPhone handset.

The source explained that iPhone was launched in the US, exclusively to AT&T, in January last year. “There is a big possibility that the same exclusivity set-up could be done here,” the source said.

“The iPhone handset that will be available in the region requires modifications. The handsets could be customized,” added the source.

Globe co-owner, Singapore Telecommunications Ltd. joined Vodafone Group Plc. in clinching agreements to iPhone to coverage areas.

It looks like business magnate Alfredo M. Yao may be softening his stand on buying low-cost carrier South East Asian Airlines Inc. (Seair)

Brewer’s shares up 6% on first trading day

AMID the prevailing volatility in the equities market, San Miguel Brewery Inc. (SMB) completed a successful market debut as its share price jumped 6.25 percent to P8.50 each at the end of its first trading day yesterday.

THE Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) Group will not hike yet investments in mobile television services even if commercial operations are expected to start within this year.

Globe Telecom will soon carry Apple’s iPhone handset, the cellular firm said.

“Globe, SingTel, Bharti Airtel and Optus announced that they have signed an agreement with Apple to bring the iPhone to the Philippines, Singapore, India and Australia later this year,” the two-paragraph statement on Globe’s web site stated.

BUSINESS process outsourcing firm StarTek Inc. said soaring inflation, wage and attrition rates in the country are not as “painful” as in the US, boosting confidence of executives on the center the company is opening late this month.

NEW YORK—Tribune Co. agreed Sunday to sell the Long Island newspaper Newsday to Cablevision Systems Corp. for $650 million.

The deal—structured as a tax-free joint venture—would give Tribune $612 million in cash to pay down its nearly $13-billion debt.

THE obvious sign of bad times, it seems, is taking its toll on the market as shown by what KS Investments Pte. Ltd. of Singapore, a holding company investing in ship building, is about to undertake: it is set to take out of the Philippine Stock Exchange its unit, Keppel Philippines Marine Inc. (KPM).