xbox 360 will be launched in Malaysia in the next 12-18 months.

The launch has been delayed due to logistical issues at the beginning including xbox live testing from Malaysia current broadband environment.

The other matter to rectify is the distributors / retailers that needs to be setup to handle the sale, support and marketing. Anybody distributing or retailing xbox 360 in Malaysia are grey imports. There is no official support per se.

FYI for every xbox 360 sold you need FIVE games to break even.

For the enthusiast and early adopters you can get it from grey imports and what not and they will send the unit back to Singapore / HK for claim and what not.

Even the games have reached our shores at RM$180 or something like that from local distributors.

The launch will just put Malaysia on the xbox live map and official support.

I work for Microsoft. There is no link per se but I am high enough internally to know the planning into FY08. (Fiscal Year 08). Microsoft fiscal year starts from 1st July till 30th June. Hope this clarifies your curiousity and animosity.

Officially it is not supported as it is not launched.
Whether MS will give retrospect warranty or otherwise to units bought before the launch date I cannot answer. I am one of those owners as well. Though I work for MS I still have to send my machine for warranty in Singapore just like everybody else.

I have replied to Marauderz on the matter as well and they are several people in MS (Senior people) including myself who wants to see xbox 360 launched officially. They have already formed the Entertainment and Devices division (the guy is sitting outside my room). The change of heart comes from MS Malaysia and not WW. We are fighting a long battle since xbox launched in 2001. The battle is not over yet.

Rest assured I will invite the early adopters and users of xbox 360 from this forum to the launch event for the support. Don bother calling the call center (1-800 number) and sending an email to xbox.com as they are not right position to make the decision to launch or not to launch. The right people sit way higher than me. (like Corp VP and above).

So have a heart and let's wait. The fight continues.

The other way you can support is to call 1-800-88-6295 and ask when is xbox 360 available in Malaysia. I will be monitoring all calls on inquiry for xbox 360 interest. I have asked our call center to track all xbox 360 calls.

As far as Malaysia is concern xbox 360 is not launched yet therefore any distributor are buying it parralel from Singapore.

Ingram Micro is one of Microsoft authorized OEM Disti in Malaysia but not for xbox 360. They could be buying from their Ingram Micro Singapore who could be a xbox 360 reseller.

That said they "might" have the capability for maintenance but for warranty purposes you still need to send back to Singapore.

Hope this clarifies everybody question in mind.