Apple iPhone Australia - The Latest Info

TELSTRA has confirmed that it will release the Apple iPhone 3G next week for (lowest plan) $279 on a $30 plan.

Unlike Optus and Vodafone, which will offer the iPhone 3G outright without contract, Telstra will only offer the iPhone on 24-month contracts.

The carrier revealed the first official Australian prices for the 3G iPhone, with total minimum prices for the phone and contract ranging from $999 to $2400.

The new 8GB iPhone 3G will be available with Telstra for $279 upfront on a two-year contract at $30 per month, or for free on the carrier's $80 per month plan.

The 16GB iPhone 3G model will be available for $399 on a $30 per month contract or included for free with a $100 per month contract.

The company did not release any further information about data charges, only adding that each plan included free Wi-Fi access at Telstra hotspots.

Steve Jobs of Apple has announced its new 3G iPhone and lowered the cost to almost half the price of the previous model.

The new 3G iPhone is now smaller and faster and will appeal to the 56 per cent of people who want an iPhone, but have not bought one because of the price, says Jobs.

The new Apple 3G iPhone will cost $US199 ($209.32) for the 8GB model and $US299 ($314.50) for 16GB.

The new Apple 3G iPhone will be released in Australia on July 11th.

Specific contract and price details are not yet available.
A Vodafone press release said the Apple iPhone 3G "will be available via Vodafone on both prepay and contract price plans which will include great value data bundles".

Despite selling 6 million iPhones in one year, Jobs said its research showed the cost of the previous iPhone had put off possible buyers.

Optus previously announced it would be expanding its 3G network to 96 per cent of the population by December 2008 and 98 per cent by December 2009.

Optus and Vodafone – the first carriers to announce an iPhone offering – are allowing customers to pre-register online and in retail stores.

The new model has 3G speeds faster than the Nokia N95 and Treo 750, according to Apple, and is almost on par with WiFi speeds.

- It has better battery life, with almost 5 hours of 3G talk time.
- Sports a slimmer form factor.
- GPS
- Some of the iPhone's new innovative features stem from Apple's iPhone software development program.

Apple is internationally launching a new App Store that will make applications available for download to the iPhone. Games, office tools and even learning aids will be available for free, or around $US9.99 ($10.50), according to presentations.

The iPhone 3G will be released with version 2.0 software, which includes support for:

- Office and iWork documents,
- live contact search,
- bulk message delete,
- image saving,
- scientific calculator,
- language support and parental controls.

Steve Jobs launched the Apple 3G iPhone at the Worldwide Developer's Conference in San Francisco, June 10 (Aust).

The next-generation model will be released in 22 countries on July 11th and will eventually reach 70 countries in total.

The 3G Apple iPhone will be released here in Australia with mobile carriers Vodafone and Optus, while Telstra and 3 have yet to make any announcements relating to the iPhone.

According to an anonymous official at Telstra, the upcoming 3G iPhone will support a 42-megabit advanced 3G data connection in Australia, making it by far the fastest data connection available for iPhones.

The official added that he has even seen the device in use and says that by the holiday season 2008 the phone will be upgraded "to to the advanced HSPA+ wireless standard on Telstra's 3G network."

Telstra hopes the move will drive sales, and he cites that the connection will actually be faster than most fixed-line broadband services.

Other sources have already claimed the Telstra is testing 3G iPhones and that the launch should be "within 2 weeks" of Apple's unveiling of the 3G iPhone at this year's WWDC.

On the record, Telstra is set to launch a 21Mbps version of HSPA+ later this year, with its speeds doubling by the end of 2009. In the US, AT&T has reported that they will be offering a 20Mbps upgrade in 2009 for American users.
(via http://www.electronista.com/articles/08/05/23/3g.iphone.42mbps/)

OPTUS may hold a 2 or 3 month head start over rivals carriers when it releases Apple's iPhone to to the Australian mobile phone market.

Apparently the timed exclusive iPhone distribution deal is part of Optus owner SingTel's regional iPhone sales pact with Apple, a SingTel source said.

Mobile phone buyers in Singapore are expected to get their first look at the new 3G iPhone in the third quarter, courtesy of SingTel.

Yesterday, Optus was not commenting on availability dates or any other matters to do with the iPhone.

Optus previously had said its iPhone agreement was part of a regional pact and the contract with Apple also covered SingTel associates in India and the Philippines, namely Bharti Airtel and Globe Telecom.
(via news.com.au)

OPTUS is now the second mobile carrier to announce that it will release the iPhone in Australia, confirming Apple does not have an exclusive deal.

"Optus, SingTel, Bharti Airtel and Globe today announced they have signed an agreement with Apple to bring the iPhone to Singapore, India, the Philippines and Australia later this year," the company said in a statement.

The announcement comes one week after Vodafone already announced it will release the iPhone in Australia.

Optus' revelation confirms that Apple does not have an exclusive deal with any Australian carrier.

It is not known if the handset will be unlocked, and be useable on all mobile networks, or locked to Optus and Vodafone.

Apple is holding its Worldwide Developer's Conference (WWDC) in June, where the company is expected to make an announcement on the 3G iPhone and new markets.

THE Apple iPhone will be released in Australia later this year (2008) with mobile phone carrier Vodafone, the company has now confirmed.

Vodafone issued a short press release (6 May 2008) stating that it will sell the Apple iPhone handset in Australia later this year, as well as in New Zealand, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Greece, Italy, India, Portugal, South Africa and Turkey.

The spokesperson for Vodafone Australia confirmed that Vodafone will release the iPhone here in 2008, but could not provide any further information on the model (3G iPhone?), the price, the release date, or if Vodafone would be the exclusive carrier.

"I can't go into it at the moment," he said.

Russell Hewitt, chief executive officer for Vodafone Australia, also released a short statement after the announcement.

“Vodafone Australia is enormously pleased to be included in the agreement to sell the iPhone to our customers later this year," he said.

“The iPhone will be the perfect addition to Vodafone Australia’s mobile handset range. The iPhone’s Australian launch is well-timed to coincide with our plans to deliver an enhanced mobile internet and entertainment experience to customers.

“The iPhone has already proved to be extremely popular with customers in other parts of the world and Vodafone is confident that today’s announcement will be well received by all Australians who are keen to get their hands on their own iPhone.”

This is the only official confirmation from an Australian mobile carrier that it will release the Apple iPhone here.

According to legal experts, it is possible that other mobile carriers could also release the 3G iPhone in Australia. Last week, an anonymous industry source told CNET.com.au that mobile carrier Optus would launch the iPhone in Australia.

A spokesperson for Optus said the company had no comment.

Telstra principal analyst Warren Chaisatien told The Courier-Mail that Vodafone's announcement demonstrated the iPhone would likely be sold by a number of phone companies in Australia, rather than through just one as in the US and some other countries.

A spokesperson for Apple Australia told NEWS.com.au, "Apple has nothing to announce."
~~~ Details via news.com.au

So, could there be an Optus 3G iPhone, a Vodafone 3G iPhone, a Telstra 3G iPhone, a 3 3G iPhone, a Crazy John 3G iPhone? It seems possible that the 3G iPhone in Australia could be avaialable to all 3G carriers and major mobile re-sellers sometime this year.

OPTUS has reportedly been named as the winner in the struggle to bring the 3G iPhone to Australia, according to CNET.com.au .

Website CNET.com.au is stating that an industry insider has now confirmed that in Australia Optus will begin selling Apple's iPhone in the final week of June 2008.

If correct, the announcement is likely to be confirmed ahead of Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference on June 9 in San Francisco where Steve Jobs is widely tipped to launch the 3G version of the iPhone.

The release of a 3G iPhone clears the way for carriers, such as Optus and Vodafone to provide 3G services for iPhone customers.

CNET.com.au also reports that Apple may begin selling unlocked iPhones via its Apple stores and resellers.

A spokeswoman for Apple told NEWS.com.au, "This is a rumour," adding that the company had no announcement to make regarding the iPhone in Australia.

Optus has yet to respond to a request for comment on the iPhone release in Australia.

9 April 2008

Australian iPhone Release Date Info Given to Resellers by Apple Australia

Rumours have been rampant for months since the launch of the iPhone in the USA back mid-2007 regarding Australia's chance to buy the iPhone. There have been numerous dates and leaks of false info, so much so that some people even think Australia is never going to get it. Today however, Apple have been informing resellers of their iPhone release strategy for Australia.

Resellers have been informed of the following things:
· Last week of June release
· More than 1 carrier
· No contract lock in
· Current resellers will be able to sell iPhones

That's a lot of juicy info there and might not make sense off hand. Let me break down the significance of this.

Last week of June release
This ties in perfectly with the Sydney Apple store opening, any WWDC announcements, iPhone 2.0 software and time for stock to filter in to the country.

WWDC is in the first week of June this year, which could be the announcement of the 3G iPhone we're all waiting for. A 3G iPhone lends credence to the fact resellers have been told the iPhone will be on multiple carriers, as every telco in Australia has a 3G network. The current iPhone will only give high speed data on Telstra.

iPhone 2.0 software will be released then, and a late June release gives it time to be rolled out on new factory models for shipping to Australia, so the iPhone can be sold on the new features v2.0 brings.

A late June release also ties in well with the Sydney and Melbourne Apple stores currently under construction. It's well reported that at the progress of the Apple stores, a June opening is likely. What better grandstanding event to launch the store with than a new 3G iPhone? Would be be worthy of a visit to Australia from Steve Jobs - I'm sure he'd like to have a nice holiday in Sydney too.

Resellers have been told specific dates, but they have all been told different dates within the same week. If a specific date is said in the media, then Apple knows who leaks it and can slap them around. As the sources of my info are also my friends, I haven't included the dates. However, it is fairly certain Apple will not pre-announce the iPhone very far in advance, or at all, with a simple "iPhone is available now, come and buy it!" approach, compared to the dates given overseas to let people prepare.

More than 1 carrier
Having multiple carriers is a shock, but not unbelievable. Our telcos have been notoriously stubborn dealing with Apple, not seeing the potential benefits of having exclusivity of the device. It is highly likely Apple simply said "Seeing as you won't play with us, we'll give the iPhone to anyone who wants it, meaning you all lose out on exclusivity for your network".

More than 1 carrier also leads to the rumours of a 3G iPhone. In Australia, the only high speed network the current iPhone works on is Telstra's EDGE network. If Apple was to release the current model here in Australia, they would need to be exclusive to Telstra, or persuade another telco to upgrade their GSM network to EDGE to support it (like what O2 is doing in the UK). However, if a 3G iPhone is released, it won't matter, as all telcos have a 3G HSDPA network (either running on the 2100mhz or 850mhz frequency, both of which are supported by multiple 3G chipsets in mobile devices).

No contract lock in
No contract lock-in ties into the idea of multiple carriers, as there's no need to hold anyone in to a certain provider to use the iPhone, unlike in the USA and other countries. Perhaps Apple have learned that there's no point holding the iPhone back to a certain provider, as we're all unlocking them anyway and are using Australia as a test-bed for rolling it out elsewhere due to Australia's high adoption rate of mobile phones and new technology, but our small market that won't hurt them if it fails.

Current resellers will be able to sell iPhones
In the USA and other countries, you can only purchase iPhones from Apple, or from branded stores for the provider (AT&T stores for example). In Australia however, Apple are planning on letting resellers stock and sell iPhones, just like any other product, as the range of telco stores and official Apple stores is low, but resellers are wide-spread - together with driving people into stores where Macs are, so they'll look at what else Apple does. Also, it's the reason Apple is telling resellers in the first place, because they'll be selling them - otherwise Apple would do what they need to do without them.

So that's what we know about the iPhone so far. No doubt more info will be released over the coming weeks. Australia finally gets the iPhone - now let us all speculate on the plans and whether it will be 3G or not! (~sourced from Digg & Apple MacTalk Forum) - [Naturally Apple have NOT openly confirmed these details yet]