Why is th iPhone 5 is from $199 in America and from £529 in the UK?

It doesn't really make sense to me why the iPhone 5 is $199 in the US and £529 in the UK. I know that the values don't match when converted, so am i just being stupid or do the people at Apple think that everyone in the UK are too ignorant to see the difference in price.

Anyone know the answer?

Its $199 on contract. Which means you pay 199 and then pay a monthly charge for your data and calls. The phone is not free like we get it here, we may have to pay some upfront cost but they have to pay up $199 to get the phone.

And the iphone 5 full price in the US will some 700-800 USD also

you are looking at the 24 month contract price
(and add the local and state taxes also - 10-15%)
The contract won't be cheap either!

when it comes on contract, you will get similar deals to the 4S, don't worry

wait till friday for the pricing
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2205104/iphone-5-uk-pricing-availability-and-networks-announced

With a 2 year contract… The phone company pays the bill on it then, which is a good deal for both company and consumer.

Only that price with a contract from a cellular carrier. If you don't want the contract, you have to pay full price.

I can answer the first part of the question and the very last part.
last part first as already stated $199.00 is the handset price them monthly on contract… Move to the USA or?

IPhone5 prices £529 / £599 / £699 for 16Gb / 32Gb / 64Gb respectively

iPhone4S £449
iPhone4 8GB £319
iPhone 3GS dropped aka discontinued

OK things you should consider
IP5 is IMO the IP4GS [ IP4S PLUS 4G the LTE]

These feature are already in the Samsung Galaxy S3
Given that the IP4 8GB tariffs cost more than the SGS 2 and ALSO IP4S cost more than the SGS 3 on my network 3… Well

Here they are side by side the '4GS' and 4S you should note the size has increased ALSO THINNER but the weight has decreased exactly 20% ! IMO, too thin to be durable just to gain the crown thinnest phone

http://www.gsmarena.com/...hone2=4212

This I DO find funny

If you've got any existing iPhone accessories you want to keep using with the new iPhone 5, which has a smaller charger port, Apple is selling an adaptor. This Lightning to 30-pin adaptor costs £25.

Apple is selling an adaptor NOT PROVIDING?

The $199 is on a contract, here you can get it for free on contract if you spend enough a month. The £529 is sim free and unlocked without a contract.