Vodafone iPhone pre-registration... what happened?

Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Tuesday, 20 May 2008 11:13

Your IT - Mobility

With all the news that iPhone deals are happening with telcos around the world, including Vodafone and Optus in Australia, an eagle eyed reader noticed that an iPhone pre-registration box on Vodafone Australia’s home page came – and went. Has Vodafone lost access to the world’s most desirable digital device, the (presumed 3G) iPhone?

A reader had me wondering just what was going on at the big V, down under at least, so I did what journalists do... asked the question to a Vodafone spokesperson in Australia.

Thankfully, Vodafone’s deal to sell the iPhone in Australia “later this year” is safe, just as the deal with Optus surely is – although as time keeps on slipping by, the question as to whether or not Telstra will join the iPhone parade won’t go away – because Telstra won’t provide any answers... yet.

The 3G iPhone, of course, truly is the most anticipated digital device of the year, and the funny thing is, we’re still not 100% certain that Steve Jobs will deliver a 3G device to the world, although the mounting evidence suggests it couldn’t be anything else.

Unless, of course, Steve Jobs’ “one more thing” isn’t a 3G iPhone, which he may well announce earlier in his now-confirmed WWDC June 9 keynote – but some kind of iPhone iTablet instead.

Still, the odds on that happening – at least this June 9 – are slim, with the “smart money” placing all their bets on Apple joining the third generation of mobile telephony and data at last.

So, what happened to Vodafone’s iPhone pre-registration box on their Vodafone Australia home page? There it was, last week, with an iPhone proudly on display, with a button so you could enter your name and email address for more information when Vodafone would get the green light from Apple to actually give out more information.

But as eagle eyed reader “Interesting” noted in the comments section of my “triple-band 3G iPhone treat” story noted: “vodafone.com.au no longer mentions the iphone. when they first announced it there was a box on the hompage and a botton (sic) to be kept informed.”

What did our friendly Vodafone spokesperson have to say in reply to this discovery? Please read on to page 2.