Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Thursday, 02 July 2009 15:14
Opinion and Analysis
Page 1 of 2
Anticipation over an iPhone 3GS launch is still not over for 3 Mobile
customers who have to wait just over two weeks before they can buy one,
with exact pricing still to come!
Although Apple itself now sells unlocked iPhone 3GS models in Australia, which can be connected to any network, the wait for 3 Mobile customers continues.
3 Mobile says the iPhone 3GS will launch July 17 through all of its regular stores, dealers, and it’s phone and online channels, with the standard "www.three.com.au/iphone" address offered up for anyone wanting to pre-register their interest – although I doubt if iPhones are going to truly run out of stock anytime soon!
The CEO of Vodafone Hutchison Australia, Nigel Dews, said in a statement that: “Since we announced that 3 mobile would be selling the iPhone 3G S we have been inundated with customers who have pre-registered their interest in this device. Our commitment is to give our loyal customers the great value and benefits they deserve and have come to expect from the 3 brand.”
So, the question of what 3 Mobile will charge is unresolved, and the challenge is for 3 Mobile to really come up with some great pricing and benefits as they suggest they will.
When it comes to buying a phone in Australia, you can always buy it outright, but many consumers choose to go on a post-paid contract to be able to buy a phone at a zero cost up front, with payments split over 24 months and call, text, data and other charges on top.
This is now changing with Vodafone offering a better unlimited deal (its $114 with 2GB monthly plan) than Optus on a better network at a set price, doing the most to eliminate bill shock for consumers.
Although frequent use of “ask us anything” 123 services, premium SMS competition entries, 1900 numbers and more will not be covered by the “unlimited” deal, things like local and national landline calls, mobile calls to any network, calls to 13, 1800, 1300 numbers, SMS and MMS are included.
Vodafone hasn’t yet massively oversold its network as Optus has done through a range of resellers and its own massive marketing efforts over the past year, and Optus charges 75 cents per MMS message where Vodafone includes it in the price.
Tethering isn’t charged for by Vodafone, as it is with Optus, and while its coverage and speed will never be as fast as Telstra’s, it will be a long, long time before Telstra ever offers a $114 unlimited voice deal.
With 3 Mobile being positioned as a value brand, letting Vodafone be the headline brand, will 3 Mobile’s pricing of the iPhone 3GS really be much different to what 3 Mobile sold the HTC Magic for?
Please read on to page 2!
