News, Reviews and more from Australia's Macintosh Authority
News, Reviews and more from Australia's Macintosh Authority
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After a false start this morning, when some mobile phone plans from Vodafone were accidentally posted to a web site and then withdrawn — though not before being picked up by some sharp-eyed bloggers — Vodafone actually announced its iPhone payment plans this afternoon. There are fewer plans than Optus announced (no outright purchases or unlocking, for example) buit at least they do include information on data allowances — a subject upon which Telstra remains mum.
Ranging from $69 per month to $169 per month, the iPhone will be available from Vodafone for as little as nothing upfront (for an 8GB iPhone on a $169 per month plan). Vodafone is also offering a Mobile Payment Plan (MPP) which replaces the upfront payment with a small monthly payment spread over the course of the contract.
Information on Vodafone's per-minute rates and flagfalls on these plans was not immediately available but we'll update this storyu when that information is released.
Vodafone's spokesperson Greg Spears said that Vodafone was coming to market with "competitive" plans and would "watch what the market does" to determine of it needs to adjust the plans or add other plans in future. He also left open the possibility that Vodafone would at some point offer an outright purchase option, but confirmed that would not be available at launch.
The Australian prices are significantly more approachable than those offered by Vodafone in New Zealand, a fact that can possibly be attributed to the fact that there are three trelcos here offering the phone as opposed to one on the other side of the Tasman. Spears said that "Every Vodafone operation in each country is able to set its own prices according to its own business plans and market conditions".
wrote on July 9, 2008 10:31 PM
These plans are just appaling. The ACCC really needs to look into the telcos in this country. Because of the iPhone we have the oportunity to compare our plans with the rest of the world and we are truly being ripped off. $170 before you can get a gig of data. Pathetic!
wrote on July 11, 2008 3:04 PM
I agree with Bob, these plans from Vodafone are pathetic. Shame on you Vodafone. I think it's time to move all my services from them now. How anyone could line up at a Vodafone store with these plans has got me buggered.
As I type these words, I am waiting for Apple's Developer Connection web site to ease up sufficiently for me to download the long-awaited Software Developer Kit for the iPhone (and iPod touch, just by the by). In a way, I hate developer-oriented announcements — "here's a really cool thing we're working on, and it's available now, and hoi polloi can have it in about six months". Actually, it's the six months I hate.
Matthew JC. Powell | Mar 7, 2008
This morning Apple released a new version of its iPhone SDK for developers. iPhone SDK beta 2 includes Interface Builder, a component of Apple’s development tools that lets developers create the interface for their applications. That seems to be the only major change in the latest build, according to the SDK’s read me, which continues to list some known issues. Apple says “this second beta is known to be incompatible with installation folders other than the default /Developer.” Given the importance of UI on the Mac, Interface Builder is a pretty critical tool in the development process, and some developers had chosen to hold off on their efforts until the SDK was revised. Apple unveiled the iPhone SDK at a special event earlier this month, allowing developers to begin building applications for the iPhone and iPod touch. Several high-profile companies have already jumped onboard, demoing their applications at the event. Highlighting the demos was AOL with a native AIM client; other applications from Electronic Arts, Salesforce.com, and Apple were also shown.
jim dalrymple and Dan Moren | Mar 28, 2008
We don't normally run rumour stories in AMW, but this one's getting a bit too loud to be dismissed as rumbling. The Apple reseller "grapevine" has been abuzz this morning, with numerous sources now telling AMW that the iPhone will be released at the end of June or the beginning of July. While there has been no official public announcement from Apple yet, it is believed that the company has briefed its resellers on more detailed plans. Among the other tidbits: no network will have exclusivity and any Apple reseller — not just telecommunication resellers or Apple-owned stores -- will be able to sell it.
Matthew JC. Powell | Apr 9, 2008
Vodafone has made an iPhone announcement, telling Australia that it will be selling the iPhone in Australia, New Zealand and eight other countries. The release says nothing about 3G, exclusivity, timing or anything else, really — will Voda be the only carrier? And if so, what will it be carrying? And when?
Anthony Caruana | May 6, 2008
This morning Apple released a new version of its iPhone SDK for developers. iPhone SDK beta 2 includes Interface Builder, a component of Apple’s development tools that lets developers create the interface for their applications. That seems to be the only major change in the latest build, according to the SDK’s read me, which continues to list some known issues. Apple says “this second beta is known to be incompatible with installation folders other than the default /Developer.” Given the importance of UI on the Mac, Interface Builder is a pretty critical tool in the development process, and some developers had chosen to hold off on their efforts until the SDK was revised. Apple unveiled the iPhone SDK at a special event earlier this month, allowing developers to begin building applications for the iPhone and iPod touch. Several high-profile companies have already jumped onboard, demoing their applications at the event. Highlighting the demos was AOL with a native AIM client; other applications from Electronic Arts, Salesforce.com, and Apple were also shown.
