More info on Oz's iPone

[Ext User(Snapper)]

http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/index.php?id=1070361067&fp=4&fpid=762455&eid=150

According to the article the iPhone won't support Optus' new 900 Mhz 3G network,
which will be a blow to many travelling business people who may roam outside of
the metro areas where the 2100 Mhz system currently dominates.

It said too that it will support Telstra's NextG network. It will be interesting
to see if Telstra will eventually market the iPhone and at what price range.

Hopefully Telstra will make an announcement on this soon. It may be the
replacement that my wife wants when her contract expires. If it does everything
that the iTouch or iPod Classic does it will be the perfect replacement phone.

[Ext User(Horry)]

On Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:45:54 +1000, Snapper wrote:

> http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/index.php?id=1070361067&fp=4&fpid=762455&eid=150
>
> According to the article the iPhone won't support Optus' new 900 Mhz 3G
> network, which will be a blow to many travelling business people who may
> roam outside of the metro areas where the 2100 Mhz system currently
> dominates.
>
> It said too that it will support Telstra's NextG network. It will be
> interesting to see if Telstra will eventually market the iPhone and at
> what price range.

Why not just buy it outright and put your Next G SIM in it? At USD199,
it's not worth signing up for a 24 month contract.

(And it'll almost certainly be cheaper than AUD299 outright in
Australia for the "Australian stock" 8GB model -- given our current
exchange rate).

I could fit the whole family out with 8GB iPhones for less than the
current cost of a single Nokia N95 8GB.

[Ext User(Horry)]

On Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:00:42 +0900, Horry wrote:

> On Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:45:54 +1000, Snapper wrote:
>
>> http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/index.php?id=1070361067&fp=4&fpid=762455&eid=150
>>
>> According to the article the iPhone won't support Optus' new 900 Mhz 3G
>> network, which will be a blow to many travelling business people who may
>> roam outside of the metro areas where the 2100 Mhz system currently
>> dominates.
>>
>> It said too that it will support Telstra's NextG network. It will be
>> interesting to see if Telstra will eventually market the iPhone and at
>> what price range.
>
> Why not just buy it outright and put your Next G SIM in it? At USD199,
> it's not worth signing up for a 24 month contract.
>
> (And it'll almost certainly be cheaper than AUD299 outright in Australia
> for the "Australian stock" 8GB model -- given our current exchange rate).

http://www.itwire.com/content/view/18678/1085/

"If Jobs sticks to his global pricing parity promise, the 8GB iPhone 2.0 will
sell for around $AU220 in Australia. At that kind of bargain basement
price for the iPhone 2.0, you'd be lucky to get $AU100 for your old iPhone
on eBay. Most people would rather keep their iPhone 1.0 as an iPod touch,
or hand it down to a friend, than sell it for a mere $100."

[Ext User(Oscar)]

On Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:00:42 +0900, Horry <horacewachope@gmail.com>
wrote:

>On Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:45:54 +1000, Snapper wrote:
>
>> http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/index.php?id=1070361067&fp=4&fpid=762455&eid=150
>>
>> According to the article the iPhone won't support Optus' new 900 Mhz 3G
>> network, which will be a blow to many travelling business people who may
>> roam outside of the metro areas where the 2100 Mhz system currently
>> dominates.
>>
>> It said too that it will support Telstra's NextG network. It will be
>> interesting to see if Telstra will eventually market the iPhone and at
>> what price range.
>
>Why not just buy it outright and put your Next G SIM in it? At USD199,
>it's not worth signing up for a 24 month contract.
>
>(And it'll almost certainly be cheaper than AUD299 outright in
>Australia for the "Australian stock" 8GB model -- given our current
>exchange rate).
>
>I could fit the whole family out with 8GB iPhones for less than the
>current cost of a single Nokia N95 8GB.
>

Where can you buy it outright ? From what I have read, you can only
get it by going on a 24 month contract with Optus or Vodafone..... and
you cannot buy it from the Apple store.

[Ext User(Horry)]

On Tue, 10 Jun 2008 18:26:44 +1000, Oscar wrote:

> On Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:00:42 +0900, Horry <horacewachope@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>>On Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:45:54 +1000, Snapper wrote:
>>
>>> http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/index.php?id=1070361067&fp=4&fpid=762455&eid=150
>>>
>>> According to the article the iPhone won't support Optus' new 900 Mhz 3G
>>> network, which will be a blow to many travelling business people who
>>> may roam outside of the metro areas where the 2100 Mhz system currently
>>> dominates.
>>>
>>> It said too that it will support Telstra's NextG network. It will be
>>> interesting to see if Telstra will eventually market the iPhone and at
>>> what price range.
>>
>>Why not just buy it outright and put your Next G SIM in it? At USD199,
>>it's not worth signing up for a 24 month contract.
>>
>>(And it'll almost certainly be cheaper than AUD299 outright in Australia
>>for the "Australian stock" 8GB model -- given our current exchange rate).
>>
>>I could fit the whole family out with 8GB iPhones for less than the
>>current cost of a single Nokia N95 8GB.
>>
>>
> Where can you buy it outright ? From what I have read, you can only get
> it by going on a 24 month contract with Optus or Vodafone..... and you
> cannot buy it from the Apple store.

You can't buy it anywhere, on contract or off contract, until July 11. It
was only launched a little over 12 hours ago.

Are you suggesting that Apple might somehow prevent Australian retailers
stocking and selling the 3G iPhone other than bundled with a mandatory
24-month network connection?

[Ext User(Rod Speed)]

Horry <horacewachope@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Tue, 10 Jun 2008 18:26:44 +1000, Oscar wrote:
>
>> On Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:00:42 +0900, Horry <horacewachope@gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> On Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:45:54 +1000, Snapper wrote:
>>>
>>>> http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/index.php?id=1070361067&fp=4&fpid=762455&eid=150
>>>>
>>>> According to the article the iPhone won't support Optus' new 900
>>>> Mhz 3G network, which will be a blow to many travelling business
>>>> people who may roam outside of the metro areas where the 2100 Mhz
>>>> system currently dominates.
>>>>
>>>> It said too that it will support Telstra's NextG network. It will
>>>> be interesting to see if Telstra will eventually market the iPhone
>>>> and at what price range.
>>>
>>> Why not just buy it outright and put your Next G SIM in it? At
>>> USD199, it's not worth signing up for a 24 month contract.
>>>
>>> (And it'll almost certainly be cheaper than AUD299 outright in
>>> Australia for the "Australian stock" 8GB model -- given our current
>>> exchange rate).
>>>
>>> I could fit the whole family out with 8GB iPhones for less than the
>>> current cost of a single Nokia N95 8GB.
>>>
>>>
>> Where can you buy it outright ? From what I have read, you can
>> only get it by going on a 24 month contract with Optus or
>> Vodafone..... and you cannot buy it from the Apple store.
>
> You can't buy it anywhere, on contract or off contract, until July
> 11. It was only launched a little over 12 hours ago.
>
> Are you suggesting that Apple might somehow prevent Australian
> retailers stocking and selling the 3G iPhone other than bundled with
> a mandatory 24-month network connection?

Thats what they did with the first one.

[Ext User(Horry)]

On Tue, 10 Jun 2008 19:30:40 +1000, Rod Speed wrote:

> Horry <horacewachope@gmail.com> wrote:
>> On Tue, 10 Jun 2008 18:26:44 +1000, Oscar wrote:
>>
>>> On Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:00:42 +0900, Horry <horacewachope@gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> On Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:45:54 +1000, Snapper wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/index.php?id=1070361067&fp=4&fpid=762455&eid=150
>>>>>
>>>>> According to the article the iPhone won't support Optus' new 900 Mhz
>>>>> 3G network, which will be a blow to many travelling business people
>>>>> who may roam outside of the metro areas where the 2100 Mhz system
>>>>> currently dominates.
>>>>>
>>>>> It said too that it will support Telstra's NextG network. It will be
>>>>> interesting to see if Telstra will eventually market the iPhone and
>>>>> at what price range.
>>>>
>>>> Why not just buy it outright and put your Next G SIM in it? At
>>>> USD199, it's not worth signing up for a 24 month contract.
>>>>
>>>> (And it'll almost certainly be cheaper than AUD299 outright in
>>>> Australia for the "Australian stock" 8GB model -- given our current
>>>> exchange rate).
>>>>
>>>> I could fit the whole family out with 8GB iPhones for less than the
>>>> current cost of a single Nokia N95 8GB.
>>>>
>>>>
>>> Where can you buy it outright ? From what I have read, you can only
>>> get it by going on a 24 month contract with Optus or Vodafone..... and
>>> you cannot buy it from the Apple store.
>>
>> You can't buy it anywhere, on contract or off contract, until July 11.
>> It was only launched a little over 12 hours ago.
>>
>> Are you suggesting that Apple might somehow prevent Australian retailers
>> stocking and selling the 3G iPhone other than bundled with a mandatory
>> 24-month network connection?
>
> Thats what they did with the first one.

Well, they tried to... without much success.

http://www.smoothmobiles.com.au/Apple-iPhone-s/21.htm

Even worst case scenario, it should be possible to buy it on contract then
pay out the network's early termination fee. Or import one from o/seas or
a place like the site linked to above (at $199 warranties aren't a huge
concern -- other than replacement for DOA units).

[Ext User(Paul Day)]

On Tue, 10 Jun 2008 19:11:19 Horry may have written:
> Are you suggesting that Apple might somehow prevent Australian retailers
> stocking and selling the 3G iPhone other than bundled with a mandatory
> 24-month network connection?

Yes.

PD

--
Paul Day

[Ext User(Horry)]

On Tue, 10 Jun 2008 18:41:46 +0900, Horry wrote:

> On Tue, 10 Jun 2008 19:30:40 +1000, Rod Speed wrote:
>
>> Horry <horacewachope@gmail.com> wrote:
>>> On Tue, 10 Jun 2008 18:26:44 +1000, Oscar wrote:
>>>
>>>> On Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:00:42 +0900, Horry <horacewachope@gmail.com>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> On Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:45:54 +1000, Snapper wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/index.php?id=1070361067&fp=4&fpid=762455&eid=150
>>>>>>
>>>>>> According to the article the iPhone won't support Optus' new 900 Mhz
>>>>>> 3G network, which will be a blow to many travelling business people
>>>>>> who may roam outside of the metro areas where the 2100 Mhz system
>>>>>> currently dominates.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> It said too that it will support Telstra's NextG network. It will be
>>>>>> interesting to see if Telstra will eventually market the iPhone and
>>>>>> at what price range.
>>>>>
>>>>> Why not just buy it outright and put your Next G SIM in it? At
>>>>> USD199, it's not worth signing up for a 24 month contract.
>>>>>
>>>>> (And it'll almost certainly be cheaper than AUD299 outright in
>>>>> Australia for the "Australian stock" 8GB model -- given our current
>>>>> exchange rate).
>>>>>
>>>>> I could fit the whole family out with 8GB iPhones for less than the
>>>>> current cost of a single Nokia N95 8GB.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>> Where can you buy it outright ? From what I have read, you can only
>>>> get it by going on a 24 month contract with Optus or Vodafone..... and
>>>> you cannot buy it from the Apple store.
>>>
>>> You can't buy it anywhere, on contract or off contract, until July 11.
>>> It was only launched a little over 12 hours ago.
>>>
>>> Are you suggesting that Apple might somehow prevent Australian
>>> retailers stocking and selling the 3G iPhone other than bundled with a
>>> mandatory 24-month network connection?
>>
>> Thats what they did with the first one.
>
> Well, they tried to... without much success.
>
> http://www.smoothmobiles.com.au/Apple-iPhone-s/21.htm
>
> Even worst case scenario, it should be possible to buy it on contract then
> pay out the network's early termination fee. Or import one from o/seas or
> a place like the site linked to above (at $199 warranties aren't a huge
> concern -- other than replacement for DOA units).

Or buy it on a prepaid plan.

"THOUSANDS of Australians have already paid deposits on Apple's new 3G iPhone- which will also be available on prepay plans.

"Both Optus and Vodafone today confirmed they would offer the next-gen iPhone on a prepay plan when it goes on sale on July 11."

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23839731-661,00.html

[Ext User(Horry)]

On Tue, 10 Jun 2008 04:44:05 -0500, Paul Day wrote:

> On Tue, 10 Jun 2008 19:11:19 Horry may have written:
>> Are you suggesting that Apple might somehow prevent Australian retailers
>> stocking and selling the 3G iPhone other than bundled with a mandatory
>> 24-month network connection?
>
> Yes.

You're wrong.

Optus and Vodafone have both said it'll be available on prepaid.

[Ext User(Rod Speed)]

Horry <horacewachope@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Tue, 10 Jun 2008 19:30:40 +1000, Rod Speed wrote:
>
>> Horry <horacewachope@gmail.com> wrote:
>>> On Tue, 10 Jun 2008 18:26:44 +1000, Oscar wrote:
>>>
>>>> On Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:00:42 +0900, Horry <horacewachope@gmail.com>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> On Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:45:54 +1000, Snapper wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/index.php?id=1070361067&fp=4&fpid=762455&eid=150
>>>>>>
>>>>>> According to the article the iPhone won't support Optus' new 900
>>>>>> Mhz 3G network, which will be a blow to many travelling business
>>>>>> people who may roam outside of the metro areas where the 2100
>>>>>> Mhz system currently dominates.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> It said too that it will support Telstra's NextG network. It
>>>>>> will be interesting to see if Telstra will eventually market the
>>>>>> iPhone and at what price range.
>>>>>
>>>>> Why not just buy it outright and put your Next G SIM in it? At
>>>>> USD199, it's not worth signing up for a 24 month contract.
>>>>>
>>>>> (And it'll almost certainly be cheaper than AUD299 outright in
>>>>> Australia for the "Australian stock" 8GB model -- given our
>>>>> current exchange rate).
>>>>>
>>>>> I could fit the whole family out with 8GB iPhones for less than
>>>>> the current cost of a single Nokia N95 8GB.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>> Where can you buy it outright ? From what I have read, you can
>>>> only get it by going on a 24 month contract with Optus or
>>>> Vodafone..... and you cannot buy it from the Apple store.
>>>
>>> You can't buy it anywhere, on contract or off contract, until July
>>> 11. It was only launched a little over 12 hours ago.
>>>
>>> Are you suggesting that Apple might somehow prevent Australian
>>> retailers stocking and selling the 3G iPhone other than bundled
>>> with a mandatory 24-month network connection?
>>
>> Thats what they did with the first one.
>
> Well, they tried to... without much success.

Lot of success actually world wide.

> http://www.smoothmobiles.com.au/Apple-iPhone-s/21.htm

Pity about what happens if you have a warranty problem.

> Even worst case scenario, it should be possible to buy it
> on contract then pay out the network's early termination fee.

Nope, you're fucked if you want to make a warranty claim too.

> Or import one from o/seas or a place like the site linked to above (at $199
> warranties aren't a huge concern -- other than replacement for DOA units).

I still want a warranty at that price.

[Ext User(Rod Speed)]

Horry <horacewachope@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Tue, 10 Jun 2008 18:41:46 +0900, Horry wrote:
>
>> On Tue, 10 Jun 2008 19:30:40 +1000, Rod Speed wrote:
>>
>>> Horry <horacewachope@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> On Tue, 10 Jun 2008 18:26:44 +1000, Oscar wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> On Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:00:42 +0900, Horry
>>>>> <horacewachope@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> On Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:45:54 +1000, Snapper wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/index.php?id=1070361067&fp=4&fpid=762455&eid=150
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> According to the article the iPhone won't support Optus' new
>>>>>>> 900 Mhz 3G network, which will be a blow to many travelling
>>>>>>> business people who may roam outside of the metro areas where
>>>>>>> the 2100 Mhz system currently dominates.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> It said too that it will support Telstra's NextG network. It
>>>>>>> will be interesting to see if Telstra will eventually market
>>>>>>> the iPhone and at what price range.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Why not just buy it outright and put your Next G SIM in it? At
>>>>>> USD199, it's not worth signing up for a 24 month contract.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> (And it'll almost certainly be cheaper than AUD299 outright in
>>>>>> Australia for the "Australian stock" 8GB model -- given our
>>>>>> current exchange rate).
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I could fit the whole family out with 8GB iPhones for less than
>>>>>> the current cost of a single Nokia N95 8GB.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> Where can you buy it outright ? From what I have read, you can
>>>>> only get it by going on a 24 month contract with Optus or
>>>>> Vodafone..... and you cannot buy it from the Apple store.
>>>>
>>>> You can't buy it anywhere, on contract or off contract, until July
>>>> 11. It was only launched a little over 12 hours ago.
>>>>
>>>> Are you suggesting that Apple might somehow prevent Australian
>>>> retailers stocking and selling the 3G iPhone other than bundled
>>>> with a mandatory 24-month network connection?
>>>
>>> Thats what they did with the first one.
>>
>> Well, they tried to... without much success.
>>
>> http://www.smoothmobiles.com.au/Apple-iPhone-s/21.htm
>>
>> Even worst case scenario, it should be possible to buy it on
>> contract then pay out the network's early termination fee. Or import
>> one from o/seas or a place like the site linked to above (at $199
>> warranties aren't a huge concern -- other than replacement for DOA
>> units).

> Or buy it on a prepaid plan.

Only povs, drug runners and children use prepaid.

> "THOUSANDS of Australians have already paid deposits on Apple's
> new 3G iPhone- which will also be available on prepay plans.

> "Both Optus and Vodafone today confirmed they would offer the
> next-gen iPhone on a prepay plan when it goes on sale on July 11."

> http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23839731-661,00.html

[Ext User(Snapper)]

Horry wrote...

> Why not just buy it outright and put your Next G SIM in it? At USD199,
> it's not worth signing up for a 24 month contract.

Won't it be locked to a particular network, though? If it won't be then that's
what I'll do.

My wife has a 3G SIM card in her Nokia 6233. It works on GSM out here in the
stix and goes onto Telstra's 3G network when we get closer to Melbourne. I
wonder what network the iPhone would connect to if her 3G SIM was put in it.
Would it connect to NextG or would it only connect to 3G when in range?

ie. what differences are there between 3G and NextG SIM cards?

[Ext User(Paul Day)]

On Wed, 11 Jun 2008 11:00:40 Snapper may have written:
> ie. what differences are there between 3G and NextG SIM cards?

The logo on the front.

PD

--
Paul Day

[Ext User(Horry)]

On Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:45:54 +1000, Snapper wrote:

> http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/index.php?id=1070361067&fp=4&fpid=762455&eid=150
>
> According to the article the iPhone won't support Optus' new 900 Mhz 3G
> network, which will be a blow to many travelling business people who may
> roam outside of the metro areas where the 2100 Mhz system currently
> dominates.
>
> It said too that it will support Telstra's NextG network. It will be
> interesting to see if Telstra will eventually market the iPhone and at
> what price range.
>
> Hopefully Telstra will make an announcement on this soon. It may be the
> replacement that my wife wants when her contract expires. If it does
> everything that the iTouch or iPod Classic does it will be the perfect
> replacement phone.

Here's some more (mis)information to add to what we currently know
(courtesy of an Optus "leak" to Gizmodo).

It's must be at least partially inaccurate, because there's no mention of
prepaid (which Optus has already stated it will be available on). Then
again, the Optus CEO said the 3G iPhone sold by Optus would provide 3G
service to 96% of the Australian population by the end of the year... yet
the 3G iPhone doesn't operate on the 900Mhz frequency, which is what much
of Optus' rural and regional network will be...

Anyway:

http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2008/06/exclusive_optus_iphone_pricing_details.html

"So, if you're an Optus customer, here's what you can expect:

* The iPhone is only available on a 24 month contract - you can't purchase
it outright
* The 8GB model will cost $220, the 16GB $330 * Only the 16GB is available
in white * Optus won't be selling accessories - they will be sold through
the Apple store * There will be two plans available:
a $79 cap with 1GB data and $300 worth of calls; and a $99 cap with 3GB
of data and $400 worth of calls
* Both plans include Visual Voicemail * 30c flagfall; 35c per 30 seconds
talk, 25c SMS messages"

[Ext User(Snapper)]

Horry wrote...

> "So, if you're an Optus customer, here's what you can expect:
>
> * The iPhone is only available on a 24 month contract - you can't purchase
> it outright
> * There will be two plans available:
> a $79 cap with 1GB data and $300 worth of calls; and a $99 cap with 3GB
> of data and $400 worth of calls

Wow. They really do expect to gouge the technophiles, huh?

So, does this mean then, that in addition to paying for the cost of the phone,
say, $299, that you also have to go onto an $80/month plan at a minimum?

I wonder what telcos in the US will be "offering" their customers?

Looks like we'll be sticking with what we have for the foreseeable future, if
indeed, the above turns out to be true.

I wonder, though, if it's not true, if you pay the $50 pre-ordering deposit if
the plans that they do eventually release are the above, and they're not to your
liking, will they refund the $50? I know that it's refunded after you sign up
when you receive the product. But before that?

[Ext User(Horry)]

On Thu, 12 Jun 2008 11:15:46 +1000, Snapper wrote:

> Horry wrote...
>
>> "So, if you're an Optus customer, here's what you can expect:
>>
>> * The iPhone is only available on a 24 month contract - you can't
>> purchase it outright
>> * There will be two plans available:
>> a $79 cap with 1GB data and $300 worth of calls; and a $99 cap with 3GB
>> of data and $400 worth of calls
>
> Wow. They really do expect to gouge the technophiles, huh?
>
> So, does this mean then, that in addition to paying for the cost of the
> phone, say, $299, that you also have to go onto an $80/month plan at a
> minimum?

It's $220 for the 8GB phone (which matches Jobs' "pricing parity" claim)
and $330 for the 16GB version -- according to the Gizmodo "leak".

But yeah, at least at the time of launch, it seems you have to go onto a
$80/month plan (which includes a small amount of data).


> I wonder what telcos in the US will be "offering" their customers?

AT&T is offering "unlimited data" which it defines as "no more than 5GB
per month". If you google, you'll find details of AT&T's offering.

I posted some info on O2's deal in the UK.


> Looks like we'll be sticking with what we have for the foreseeable
> future, if indeed, the above turns out to be true.

It may just be an attempt by Optus to mislead Vodafone into introducing
uncompetitive plans (though we don't see too much of that kind of
corporate game-playing in Australia).

It'll be interesting to see the price of the prepaid handset. I think the
most expensive prepaid handset is currently $399 (the Nokia E65 on 3
prepaid), and that's about $100 more expensive than the next most
expensive.


> I wonder, though, if it's not true, if you pay the $50 pre-ordering
> deposit if the plans that they do eventually release are the above, and
> they're not to your liking, will they refund the $50? I know that it's
> refunded after you sign up when you receive the product. But before that?

According to that Optus website, it's without obligation. It gets
refunded to your credit card whether or not you buy the iPhone. (In
other words, even if you do buy the iPhone, you pay the full price, and
get your $50 back a few days later.)

[Ext User(Snapper)]

Horry wrote...

> > I wonder, though, if it's not true, if you pay the $50 pre-ordering
> > deposit if the plans that they do eventually release are the above, and
> > they're not to your liking, will they refund the $50? I know that it's
> > refunded after you sign up when you receive the product. But before that?
>
> According to that Optus website, it's without obligation. It gets
> refunded to your credit card whether or not you buy the iPhone. (In
> other words, even if you do buy the iPhone, you pay the full price, and
> get your $50 back a few days later.)

Turns out that it's a $100 deposit. Missus put one down this morning before I
had a chance to discuss this with her.

We also realised that if it's locked to Optus then it will be useless overseas
if she wants to buy a pre-paid SIM card for it whilst over there. International
roaming, no matter which carrier it's with is simply too expensive, particularly
if you start using it to connect to the 'net.

If the phone can be unlocked cheaply enough, then fine, we'll get one. If not,
we'll look at something else. The N95 is available on a $49 cap plan through
Optus. But the 8 gig version, called the N95i is on the same plan but also on a
$20/mth repayment plan, so all up, $69/mth.

We also asked why would they lock the iPhone to the network. It's not as if
you're gonna go running off to another network when you're committed to say, a
24mth plan, is it?

Anyway the guy said that they had very little info on the product and hopefully
in the next week or two that the pricing/plans info will be released. We're in
no rush, really. Missus doesn't jet out til late July, so we have plenty of time
to decide what to do in this respect. Worst comes to worst, we'll stay with
Telstra and when she's O/S she'll get a pre-paid SIM (they call them "chips" in
the US - never heard of the term "SIM" apparently).

And who knows - Telstra may counter this product release with some deals of its
own. But I'm not holding my breath waiting...

[Ext User(Snapper)]

Will Kemp wrote...

> That's why only prepaid phones are locked. I can't imagine any company
> locks contract phones.

Well, hopefully the Optus dude was incorrect. But who knows with an Apple
product?

In any case if it can't be unlocked then we won't get one. It will be useless to
us overseas. The idea is to buy pre-paid SIMs while in the US and Europe.
International roaming is gouging at its worst, whether it's from the companies
here or in the host country.

Last time we did that we were getting bills 3 months after we got home, and they
weren't cheap, either.

[Ext User(Rod Speed)]

Horry <horacewachope@gmail.com> wrote
> Snapper wrote

>> http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/index.php?id=1070361067&fp=4&fpid=762455&eid=150

>> According to the article the iPhone won't support Optus' new 900 Mhz 3G
>> network, which will be a blow to many travelling business people who may roam
>> outside of the metro areas where the 2100 Mhz system currently dominates.

>> It said too that it will support Telstra's NextG network. It will be interesting
>> to see if Telstra will eventually market the iPhone and at what price range.

> Why not just buy it outright and put your Next G SIM in it?
> At USD199, it's not worth signing up for a 24 month contract.

It remains to be seen if its available at USD199 without a 24 month contract tho.

Bet it isnt myself.

> (And it'll almost certainly be cheaper than AUD299 outright in Australia
> for the "Australian stock" 8GB model -- given our current exchange rate).

I doubt it.

> I could fit the whole family out with 8GB iPhones for
> less than the current cost of a single Nokia N95 8GB.

Its significantly more limited than the N95 tho.

It isnt even clear what they plan to do about network locking.

Doubt we will see the lowest prices for the unlocked and not on contract versions
and it remains to be seen how easy it will be to unlock it regardless too.