Optus announced today its pricing plans for the highly-anticipated Apple iPhone 3G.
iPhone 3G combines all the revolutionary features of iPhone with 3G networking that is twice as fast as the first generation iPhone, with built-in GPS for expanded location based mobile services, and iPhone 2.0 software which includes support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync and runs the hundreds of third party applications already built with the recently released iPhone SDK.
“Optus’ iPhone 3G pricing makes the hottest device on the planet affordable for everyone – with a range of exclusive Pre-Paid and Post-Paid options to suit every budget and lifestyle,” Michael Smith, Optus Consumer Group Marketing Director, said in the press release. “We have replicated our popular Cap and ‘yes’ mobile plans for iPhone 3G, and included fantastic mobile data allowances so customers can experience what iPhone 3G has to offer. These new Optus plans truly unleash the potential of iPhone 3G and will change the way customers use their mobiles. We have also boosted the value of our popular Pre-Paid Turbo Caps adding extra data to recharges from $40, so Pre-Paid customers can get their hands on this premium product, and enjoy using it, at a price they can afford.”
Optus iPhone 3G pricing plans include:
Post-Paid Customers
• Optus Post-Paid customers can get the 8GB iPhone 3G for $0 upfront on a $79 ‘yes’ iPhone 3G Cap*
– Attractive handset payment options across all new plans
– To celebrate the launch of iPhone 3G, FREE web browsing (unlimited data) on iPhone 3G plans for the first month, for customers who connect before 31 August 2008.**
Pre-Paid customers
• Pre-Paid customers can purchase the 8GB iPhone 3G for $729 then choose any current Pre-Paid calling offer.
– To celebrate the launch of iPhone 3G, FREE web browsing (unlimited data) until 31 August 2008.
– iPhone 3G Customers on Optus Pre-Paid will also receive a start up bonus of $400 credit + 1GB internet browsing (30 days expiry).
“Optus iPhone 3G pricing plans focus on giving our customers free data. Post-Paid customers receive free data for the first month from connection if they connect before 31 August 2008, and Pre-Paid customers receive free data until the end of August – allowing them to completely immerse themselves in the features and functionality of the device. After the first month customers will have access to a generous data allowance on most plans to continue exploring. With these sensational offers, flexible contract options, manageable handset repayments and mobile data packs with the most value we’ve ever offered, we’re confident Australian iPhone 3G users will be more than happy with Optus,” Mr Smith said.
Optus customers will also experience the new specially designed Optus iZoo portal containing premium content for Optus customers. Optus iZoo will feature iPhone 3G optimised content, as well as popular sites like Google, Facebook and MySpace. Optus also provides extensive sports coverage from Fox Sports, and location based services True Local and Carsguide with Petrol Price Finder, all designed to make life easier for Optus customers.
Optus has always rewarded its customers with innovative mobile benefits and exclusive offers such as ‘yes’ Time, and ‘Recharge and Win’ which will continue to be offered with these new plans.
The iPhone 3G will also be available on a range of plans (including 12 and 24 month contracts) with affordable monthly handset payments.
The Apple iPhone 3G will be available from Optus on 11 July 2008.
Full range of plans and offers, as well as detailed terms and conditions, here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Macbuzz” for the heads up.]
At last! – and not to shabby either.
Still, I’m waiting on the other two carriers to announce their plans – even tho’ I am with Optus (SingTel) Mobile, Landline and Broadband.
It always pays keep ones options open.
Hello, I’m the missing “to” from above, please insert as demonstrated below.
– It always pays “to” keep ones options open.
Thank you for participating, please continue.
Some smarty pants one’s might have noticed that I was AWOL in the previous posts.
– Well, excuse me!! But I never got a memo saying we were going in early tonight !!!
Whatever happened to the ‘one price for everyone’? As usual Australian customers are getting ready to be ripped off.
$729???!!!!
@ Hercule Eelbait AND Damien
AT&T;has the iPhone for US$199 and US$299, and you are STILL locked into a 2 year contract to get this price!
If you don’t want a contract, AT&T;has indicated that in future they MAY offer the iPhone for US$599 and US$699!!! (http://macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/17721/)
So AU$729 for a no contract option in Australia is fairly comparable (AU$729 = US$700.70 at current exchange rates) and the AU$729 INCLUDES our 10% GST sales tax, so it is actually CHEAPER than what AT&T;are offering in the US!
If you then look at the plans, for a 2 year contract with Optus, even @AU$39 per month, you will only pay AU$7 per month for your phone, which equates to AU$168 for the whole contract period.
Based on this information, I have to say we are getting a pretty good pricing deal in Australia, and it is very much in line with the US$199 and US$299 price promised by Steve Jobs.
Better yet, Vodafone have yet to announce their pricing, so it could be even better.
Where Australians do get ripped off is our data pricing, but that is due to the fact that Telstra have used their previously tax payer funded network advantage to hobble internet and mobile internet access in Australia for their commercial gain, and so NO company in Australia can offer decent pricing for data.
I must say I have often railed against the price gouging by Apple Australia in the past, however recently the pricing of Apple products in Australia vs the US has been very comparable.
In this case I have a feeling that Optus and Vodafone are going to actually slightly subsidise the price of the iPhone for Australians, in order to gain market share from Telstra – good on them, and good luck to them I say!
If you want to use Telstra, you have to pay a FULL AU$729, before you even sign up to one of their overpriced voice and data plans!
Let the fun and games begin!
my 2 cents,
Luke
PS – I ma a Vodafone customer, so waiting for them to release their pricing details
@ Skylark
Hi! I’m the missing ‘o’ from the word ‘to’ in the first line. I should have read ‘too’ but bandwidth usage meant I had to minimise the amount of data I sent.
Seriously though… As an insider, privy to Vodafone’s proposed plans, it appears that Optus is going to be flavour of the month as far as value for money plans are concerned. Last check I did behind the scenes at Vodafone indicate poor data allowances on the plans. (100Mb data allowance and 2 cents per kb thereafter). But you didn’t hear that from me.
@ Todd
The fact that Vodafone are going to be last to detail their pricing, means that they have plenty of time to regig their plan pricing to be competitive.
All I can say is Aussies are much better off having a 3 way fight between Optus, Telstra and Vodafone… there is bound to be a battle for subscribers, and they know that the iPhone is the draw card, so with all having the same product, only price/value can differentiate!
I feel sorry for those markets with only one carrier, they really have no incentive to be agressive on pricing/value.
Now if only Telstra started taking a long term approach, and expanded mobile broadband, at competivive prices, so that instead of having a small user base paying obcene prices, you had a large user base paying reasonable prices, with the same profits (if not better due to economies of scale).
Cheers,
Luke
What are you folks missing??? Sure, the buy-in prices are fair, and the call charges are reasonable…for Australia (but still more expensive than AT&T;. But what’s gonna kill you are the DATA CHARGES! 700 megabytes??? Ya gotta be kidding!!!
The IPhone isn’t your run of the mill Nokia. It’s a very data intensive device…a data hog! And if you’re not gonna use the data services, then why buy an IPhone? That’s what an IPhone does! And it does it very well.
700 megs won’t last a week of serious use! There is gonna be some MAJOR sticker shock across Australia in August when all these new IPhone users get their first telco bill!!!
AT&T;, as well as most European carriers give IPhone users UNLIMITED data FOR A REASON!!! And, if the other Australia telcos are gonna be as greedy as Optus (as I expect they will), then I’ll just stick with my Palm Treo. I really want an IPhone, but not if it’s gonna cost me hundreds a month just to use it properly.
Ernie
In all seriousness how can we get the carriers to open up the data plans for australia. I agree with Ernie, I dont know of any technological reason why there is this ridiculous data cap of 100mb a month. It should be unlimited. Is the technology in Australia not up to scratch to handle it? Is it pure greed? Would an Australian wide petition do any good?
Razor, I’m not sure there’s anything we can do. Australian telcos have been screwing people for years, and it’s gonna be a hard habit for them to break!
Australia suffers from an obscene lack of competition! And major Australian businesses (not just telcos) have had it their way for years. If you don’t like their prices and services, you just do without, since there’s often no one else to go to. So they’ve been pretty smug for years knowing we’ll put up with their crap because there’s nowhere else to go. Things are slowly changing but not having to cater to customers is a hard habit for them to break.
Prolly the best thing we can do is boycott the businesses that are screwing us, and let them know why. I know I’m gonna write Optus an email asking for my $200 in IPhone deposits back, as their data plans are simply an insult! If enough of us do that, perhaps that might have an effect.
Unfortunately, there are too many people who want an IPhone, no matter how much they have to pay….or, at least until they get their first bill, when it’ll be too late, as they’ll be stuck on a long term contract.
And you’re right, the data should be unlimited. The only reason the telcos impose limits is because they know lots of people will unknowingly go over them and will be stuck with hefty charges.
And yes, you’re right, it’s strictly pure greed on the part of the telcos!
Ernie