What could be worse than not being able to get that iPhone 3G you have been waiting for? This story just about answers that question.

OPTUS customers who agreed to a raincheck purchase of Apple’s iPhone 3G are complaining of being billed even though they are yet to receive the popular handheld device.

Since the iPhone 3G’s Australian launch on July 11, customers have been scrambling to get their hands on the device, but many have gone home empty handed because of a stock shortage.

In response, Optus introduced a raincheck system to ensure customers could get priority access to the iPhone. The raincheck system guarantees Optus customers an iPhone when they sign up to a contract at one of the telco’s Optus World retail stores.

Now, several weeks after customers signed up to the raincheck system, it appears they are still without the iPhone and are being billed for it.

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Source: Australian IT

Tags: Apple, iPhone, Optus

Virgin Mobile has officially commenced sale of the iPhone 3G in Australia effective today Friday 1 August 2008. The iPhone 3G went on sale at Virgin stores around Australia offering the best data plan currently available in the country at a huge 5GB.

Now this is more like it, its still not unlimited but we are now starting to see plans with realistic data allowances.

Virgin will sell the 8GB iPhone 3G for $0 upfront on a $70 monthly plan, which includes $520 worth of calls and 1GB of data. If you are willing to cough up an extra $30 per month, you will receive an extra 4GB of data and get the 16GB iPhone 3G for $0 up front. All Virgin iPhone plans are based on 24 month contracts.

Virgin is also offering the option to unlock the iPhone from its network for $80, plus an additional $250 “early evacuation” fee if users opt out within six months.

Now note that Virgin is a wholly owned subsidiary of Optus.  What will this mean for all those customers who have already signed up with Optus and recieved much less data?

In less than 3 weeks we have seen many plans in Australia for the iPhone 3G, from the bad through to plans that are now more in the ball park. I think this is only the start and i expect things to heat up as carriers push for customers.

My decision to hold of being an early adopter has been difficult, but I’m relieved not to have signed a plan weeks ago and be waiting for a phone with this latest news.

View full details of the Virgin plans

Tags: Apple, iPhone, Virgin

One of my friends Kim called me last night with the news he had just got his iPhone 3G and wanted to share the news. A couple of hours later he called by to show off his new gadget. Its a white 16GB model and i must say the white is a classic Mac looking product. A couple more friends have contacted me after waiting for weeks and weeks for their providers to get stock, including Jane who got her black 16gb iPhone just before a trip away. So lets look in the box.

Tags: Apple, iPhone

Optus has launched new mobile plans that include unlimited calls (including video calls) and SMS/MMS plus large data usage allowances.

This applies to iPhone users too!

The plans are called ‘yes’ Timeless plans and Optus says they have “unlimited value”.

The plan with the 2Gb of data is the ‘yes’ Timeless $129 plan Cap which will be available on the 28th of July 2008.

Minimum monthly spend - $129

What this ‘yes’ Timeless Plan includes

• Unlimited Standard voice calls to any network within Australia - local, national and GSM mobiles
• Unlimited National Video Calls
• Unlimited Standard National text to any networks
• Unlimited National MMS
• Unlimited deposits and retrieval of Voicemail
• Mobile Internet Browsing: 2GB Included

“This plan includes 2GB of data to access services on Optus Zoo, as well as browsing the Internet from your mobile. If you exceed the included monthly data allowance, excess usage charges will be charged at $0.35 per MB or part thereof.”

View full details of the new plans on the Optus website

Tags: Apple, iPhone, Optus

The iPhone release here in Perth has been dismal at best, very poorly launched and i wish i could say over hyped and under delivered but that would give undue credit where it is not due.

I have been amazed at the lack of advertising here for the iPhone and today i walked into the city center from my office to check first hand what was happening.

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Tags: Apple, iPhone, Optus, telstra, Vodafone

THE 3G version of Apple’s touchy-feely iPhone, the first official version of the gadget to work on Australian phone networks, finally went on sale here today after hype worthy of the second coming.

Media and consumer attention over the past months have won it the nickname “Jesus phone”.

But is the 3G iPhone, which combines phone calls and speedy mobile data connections with an advanced touch-screen interface and iPod-like multimedia handling, really a religious experience?

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Tags: Apple, iPhone

I have just received a huge amount of email and texts in regards to what Telstra’s data plans will be for the iPhone release here in Australia tomorrow. I had to read the article a few times and honestly still can’t believe it to be true. Are you sitting down?

According to a preliminary report from financial analyst outfit Citi Smith Barney, the telco’s pricing will mirror its existing mobile phone plans (click on table below).

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Tags: Apple, iph, telstra

Now that the 3 carriers here in Australia have released details of their iPhone plans we can at least make a decision on whether to sign up or not.

For me after waiting for over 1 year for the iPhone, I’m totally disappointed but not surprised by the plans for the iPhone. The plans are simply not good enough and the words “rip off” just about covers it. For some reason the telecommunications industry seems to think Australians are complete morons and completely unaware of what the rest of the world is doing in regards to mobile data.

How can the phone companies justify these charges?

The plans are just a complete joke and clearly treat all of Australians with contempt.

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Tags: Apple, iPhone

Today Optus finally announced pricing and plans for the iPhone. Below are the details as per the email.

Get ready to be happy! The info you’ve been waiting for on the new iPhone 3G is here, and we’re excited to share it with you!

Pricing and plans
Optus is making the iPhone 3G affordable for everyone. We’re introducing a great new range of iPhone specific plans that are loaded with BONUS mobile data value for Mobile Internet Browsing.

And the great news is you’ll be able to get an 8G iPhone 3G from Optus for $0 on a $79 Cap plan over 24 months which provides $550 of calls, text and more, plus a whopping 700MB of included mobile data for Mobile Internet Browsing. And to help you fully explore your new iPhone 3G, we’ll be providing unlimited mobile data for the first month free on all Optus contracted iPhone plans when you connect for 24 months.

Prefer no contract? We’ll be beefing up our pre-paid Turbo plans with big data allowances and great new start-up bonus of $400 on all iPhones purchases.

All iPhone handsets are fully subsidised for customers who chose a pricing plans based on a 24 month contract that require a minimum monthly spend in excess of $89.

The basic $79 plan included $550 worth of calls and 700MB worth of mobile data usage, Optus said.

Optus is offering a $179 plan aimed at high-usage customers which includes $1500 worth of calls and texts, and 1GB of data.

Under both plans, calls are charged at 35 cents per 30 seconds and text messages are 25 cents each.

Optus will sell Apple’s 8GB 3G iPhone for the outright price of AU$729 and AU$849 for the 16GB model, when purchased with Optus prepaid SIM cards.

Click here for full pricing and plan information

Tags: Apple, iPhone, Optus

The Next G iPhone 3G plans start at AU$30 per month with an upfront cost of AU$279 for the 8GB model and AU$399 for the 16GB model, although the 8GB model is free on AU$80 plans and the 16GB model is free on AU$100 plans. All plans require a 24-month contract.

Tags: Apple, iPhone, telstra