i guess the $199 3G iPhone is highly subsidized by the telco carrier.
in the local scene, prices are absurdly high. got this from another forum:
Globe releases Apple iphone 3g prices/plans
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http://iphone3g.globe.com.ph/i/i?id=2256650
The new Globe iPhone 3G Plans with FREE Mobile Internet and Wi-Fi hours
PLAN 1599 PLAN 2199 PLAN 3299 PLAN 3999 PLAN 4999
Monthly Service Fee Plan 1,599 Plan 2,199 Plan 3,299 Plan 3,999 Plan 4,999
Free Local Voice Minutes 100 210 350 500 750
Globe to Globe P5.50 P5.00 P4.50 P4.00 P3.50
Globe to Non-Globe P7.00 P6.50 P6.00 P5.50 P4.50
Free Local SMS Text Message 350 350 450 550 650
Text fee after free text allocation P1.00/msg. P0.50/msg. P0.50/msg. P0.50/msg. P0.50/msg.
Free Local Mobile Internet Hours 40 hours 60 hours 100 hours 100 hours 100 hours
Rate in excess of free Mobile Internet hours P0.50/min. P0.50/min. P0.50/min. P0.50/min. P0.50/min.
Free WiZ Wi-Fi Hours 20 hours 30 hours Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited
Rate in excess of free WiZ Wi-Fi hours P2.00/min P2.00/min P2.00/min P2.00/min P2.00/min
8 GB P16,800 P14,600 P12,300 P5,600 FREE
16 GB P22,300 P20,000 P17,800 P11,000 P5,500
Get the iPhone 3G Prepaid Kit and enjoy 50 hours of FREE Internet!*
PRICE
8 GB P41,889
16 GB P48,899
Get the iPhone 3G with Globe's GPlan or GFlex Plans
Plan GText GMix / GFlex 800 GTalk / GFlex 1200 GTalk Plus / GFlex 1800 GMatch / GFlex 2500
Monthly Service Fee P500 P800 P1,200 P1,800 P2,500
8 GB P29,000 P25,700 P23,800 P22,000 P20,000
16 GB P34,500 P31,100 P29,300 P27,500 P25,500
Plan GMax / GFlex 3500 GPlan / GFlex 5000 GPlan / GFlex 7000 GPlan / GFlex 10000
Monthly Service Fee P3,500 P5,000 P7,000 P10,000
8 GB P18,000 FREE FREE FREE
16 GB P23,400 P6,500 P5,000 P3,300