3G iPhone launch Perth 11-07-08

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.

[Show as slideshow]

Australia’s biggest telephone company, Telstra, on Wednesday said it would sell Apple’s iPhone 3G in just 15 stores nationwide from Friday morning, including only one store in Sydney. That was evident by the scene outside the major store in the city as shown in the picture gallery. The lack of any product information, or advertising is poor, poor, poor after waiting all this time. Really its a joke and that’s being complimentary.

Next off to the Hay St Mall where the main Optus world store is located. There was approx 30 people lined up in the wind and cold braving the elements to get inside what was a locked off store from 8am to Midday for deposit customers only. They did have some advertising up for the iPhone at least. Friends contacted me saying that some resellers and Optus world stores out of the city had little info or no stock and they were pretty upset after paying deposits.

Next stop the Vodafone store opposite Optus world. There were no lines so I stepped inside to investigate. There were multiple employees inside sitting with people activating the phones and one single display unit on a stand. Lets take a look and hold the new 3G iPhone. My first impressions were that the finish on phone was underwhelming, with rough edges around the headphone jack and the metal band that surrounds the facia detracting from the unit’s sleek feel. This unit had a black plastic back and i must say i think the 1st generation model i played with at the German launch in Munich last year felt more like a quality piece of kit which had a metal back plate.

I asked one of the staff and he said they had activated and sold about 120 phones up until what was 10.40am. I picked up some advertising stuff and asked for a price list for the plans, but they had none to give out, which i found strange. The one pleasing part was seeing a few excited people getting the iPhone.

I also wandered past our major city reseller and they have no advertising for the iPhone anywhere to be seen, not even to tell you where to go to get one. I wish we had an Apple store like so many other people.

As Ive said before its very disappointing the launch here, but rumour is Optus will release business plans later in the month about the 28th so we will wait and see what happens. I guess this is what happens when you put the launch of your product in the hands of third parties who really don’t have the same passion.

Just to touch on the pre-registration, Optus did send emails and information as did Vodafone but Telstra never contacted me at all for our business mobiles and our contract which was with previous reseller Crazy Johns expired yesterday.

Some of the texts and tweets I received today [I'll update this as more come in]

“according to customer in Apple Reseller (DigiLife) the Optus store has sold out of iPhone”

“Apple reseller in Perth, they were supposed to be selling Vodafone iPhones, but Vodafone didn’t supply any for today, so they not happy”

“so many people calling the reseller store to ask about the iPhone and being told we dont sell it”

“I called up Optus World In Carousel at 7:50am this morning, the guy at the store does not appear to know how many iphones they are going to get, or if they are going to get any”

“Felt sorry for staff at DigiLife (Apple Reseller) in Perth with not one iPhone to sell but lots of people asking for it. they weren’t happy”

“what crap that the best trained and passionate Apple people at DigiLife cant sell the iPhone”

Posted by Mark Griffin July 2008

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