Oz gets the iPhone, thanks to Telstra
By Erna Mahyuni
China cellphone users are still waiting for their iPhones, but the Aussies can rejoice with Telstra’s iPhone announcement.
The Sydney Morning Herald carried Telstra’s news, making it the third mobile carrier to offer the iPhone. But it is also the first carrier to announce actual pricing. Thankfully Telstra’s plans aren’t as crushing as Rogers’s in Canada. The two-year plans start at $30 a month with an upfront cost of $279 for the 8GB model and $399 for the 16GB model.
Willing to pay more? Then pay the $80 a month plan to get a free 8GB iPhone, or add $20 more ($100) and choose between an 8GB and 16GB plan.
The two other carriers in Australia to go the iPhone way are Vodafone and Optus. Only 3 mobile has yet to sign up, instead opting to launch a website at three.com.au/iphone to encourage their customers to register their interest "for the powers that be at Apple to see".
Telstra’s consumer group managing director David Moffat said, "With iPhone 3G on the country’s largest and fastest 3G network, providing coverage to 99 percent of the population, more Australians will enjoy the iPhone 3G experience in even more places."
Why did Telstra take so long to announce their iPhone deal? Rumours are that there was a dispute with Apple about Telstra’s content services on the iPhone. Well, obviously, that’s been ironed out.
Now the pressure’s on Vodafone and Optus to provide plans just as attractive for their customers.
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July 1st, 2008
except that Telstra’s plans do not include any data, and they have not released any information regarding data cost…which Rogers, at least, has…no comparison can be made until all the facts are out