Aussie iPhone pricing: from zero dollars ...
With the countdown on to the 3G iPhone's July 11 debut in Australia and New Zealand, Aussies learnt their pricing today.
Telstra will hawk the 8GB version of the 3G iPhone for $A279 ($NZ336) on a $A30 a month, two-year plan, or "free" if you sign up to a $A80 a month, two-year plan. The 16GB version of Apple's musical phone will set Ockers back $A399, or come free on a $A100/month plan. Wi-fi is thrown in free with all plans.
US pricing, through AT&T will be $US199 for the 8GB version and $US299 for the 16GB version ... or $US599 or $US699 with no plan (a first for the iPhone, which has previously always been welded to a two-year contract, as it will be in Oz and NZ).
$A279 is a breath-takingly low price. A Nokia N95, which has many of the same features, including GPS, costs around $NZ1100. It must be below cost (though not according to one report, here). Remember, the first-generation iPhone sold for $US599 tied to a two-year contract on its initial, US-only release - and still costs more than $NZ1000 through parallel importers (who include the cost of unlocking an iPhone for NZ).
Vodafone will take an initial hit, but recoup its money through monthly plans (apparently Vodafone and other telcos in the worldwide July 11 roll-out haven't been cornered into Apple's unprecidented US deal, which saw Cingular secure exclusive iPhone bragging rights by agreeing to pay Apple a slice of the revenue on every call).
Here at PC World Towers, we know Vodafone's NZ pricing, though we're still under NDA for another few days (keep watching this space ... and watch out for Scott on TV1's Breakfast with one of only two units in the country July 10).
What I can say is: Vodafone's 3G iPhone pricing will wipe out the parallel importers' Apple business.
Comments
It seems very strange to me that if you knew vodafones pricing plans that you would have said "Vodafone's 3G iPhone pricing will wipe out the parallel importers' Apple business." Their pricing has done exactly the opposite in my opinion, it's created a huge market for anyone who can bring in an unlocked iphone!
[I'm afraid this comment is only too true. Data rates were released this morning, and at up to $250 per month, they're what you'd expect to pay if you were on some kind of corporate - big LearJet corporate - BlackBerry handset plan (see Ted Gibbons' story for more details:
http://pcworld.co.nz/pcworld/pcw.nsf/feature/579E9B13FB4085B6CC25747F00110EB1)
Only limited data plan pricing has yet to be released for Australia, but from what we know so far (again, see Ted's dispatch) it's cheaper. Clearly, it's better to have three telcos offering the iPhone (in Oz, Telstra, Optus and Vodafone) than one. CK]
Posted by: Ryan Hollaway | July 8, 2008 3:28 PM
I see your point Matt, but my problem really is that when you buy a contract you are basically being told how to use your phone (200 free minutes 50 txts and 100meg data or so) for $40 a month or something. The main reasons I want an iphone are 1. Ipod 2. Personal organiser 3. Phone. It'd be awesome to have all those integrated into one device but I rarely use a cell phone for calls and if I go online with my phone chances are it'll be via wifi (not 3g) but I'm still going to be forced to pay for calls and data if I decide to get a contract which I really don't like.
Posted by: Ryan Hollaway | July 7, 2008 12:30 PM
@Ryan
I understand the want for a prepaid version of the iPhone, not only for the ability to upgrade but also because it is very common for private (especially younger) phone owners to use prepaid in New Zealand.
However, I think that having a prepaid iPhone would take away from why it can be so great. The iPhone is intended for users that will use the internet heavily, and the only (major) country that has capped broadband usage is Canada, which is causing an uproar.
If you had to pay per MB of usage (as you would on prepaid) it would discourage people from using the iPhone to its full potential.
Posted by: Matt | July 6, 2008 12:38 PM
I really hate that we're going to be forced on to a contract in the first place. Especially given Apples tendency to update their products pretty regularly. Six months down the track I'm probably going to want a 32gig iPhone with a 5mp camera but will probably be stuck with my old 8gig phone for the next 18 months. At least with prepay I can sell my phone and then upgrade easily.
Any chance of prepay please Vodafone?
Posted by: Ryan Hollaway | July 3, 2008 8:47 PM
I can't wait to get my hands on the iphone in Aus on July 11!!!
Posted by: Helen Booth | July 2, 2008 6:58 PM
I think $A279 + $A30/month on that 24 month contract is reasonable, not a 'breath-takingly low price' as you suggest. What Telstra have not stated is the cost of data. On current Telstra plans, data is $A2 per Mb, which is not cheap. As for the N95, most carries in Aussie sell the it for $A49 plan for a 24 month contract.
[I appreciate data is expensive on Telstra - but it's also expensive on Vodafone and Telecom NZ, and across all phones on an equally punitive basis. It's pretty nosebleed given that many 3G phones are now fast enough to use as a full-blooded modem for your laptop, but it's the same for all brands. CK]
Posted by: Tony | July 2, 2008 6:49 PM
The only thing i like to know is will vodafone NZ lock the phone?
[They shouldn't from recent comments. Here's a snip from Jan's May 28 story on the topic:
Vodafone has been heavily criticised for its decision to lock handsets, announced in May this year, and it now appears the Telco giant has reversed its decision. Pressure from the Commerce Commission and the Telecommunications Commissioner looks to be the reason behind the turnaround.
Locking handsets would mean that users could not use their phone with SIM cards from other telcos, an issue that is likely to come up once Telecom launches its new GSM network.
In an interview with the Independent Financial Review, Telecom's GM of mobile Martin Butler said the company would not lock handsets on its new GSM network.
"We want our customers to choose to be with us for the value and services we offer, not because we've locked their handsets to our network. The handsets when purchased belong to our customers and from our perspective they're free to use them as they see fit." CK]
Posted by: Jeremy | July 2, 2008 9:32 AM
Hmm.. does a few days mean 10th July??? *ponders* I hope it comes out tomorrow! :)
[Midnight on July 10, officially ... though now Telstra's blabbed I sense it might be sooner. CK]
Posted by: Jason Chew | July 1, 2008 11:42 PM