THAT IS TOTALLY AWFUL! What a complete rip off. Once again Aussies get totally raped to death on shit house pricing, with shit data, OMFG that is the worst plan I have ever seen! Totally wont be getting a phone at that price! Aussies must be out of their tree paying so much for so little!

Why can't they have data plans that can be added to lower call plans? I'm on the $30 Virgin plan at the moment and I'd gladly move to Optus for similar and pay $20 extra for 1GB of data, but even still that's only $50.

$79 is a bit rich for me seeing I won't personally go close to 300mins of calls per month.

Shane.

I know this is early, but I wait to see the catch - how much per MB when you go over the 1GB or 3GB limit?
US plans are unlimited data and email.
Flagfall of 30c per call doesn't seem right. A quick check of other optus plans show their usual rate as 35c.

What? 1GB of data?
What a rip off. Vodafone better bring some competition is this market.
Couldn't they just do what the US does, and have a plan and then pay $20-$30 on top for unlimited data?
$29 dollar cap and $20 for unlimited data? Yes please!

the fact i cant buy this outright from optus will minus 1 sale from their numbers.

i want to be able to buy this thing outright and use it on my existing network, which i am locked down to. dont they relise a large number of people wanting this phone are already locked into contracts and may need to wait a year until they can either change plans or buy one off ebay?

just give us a option to buy one!

Bah, I thought this might happen.
'Hey that iphone will sell shitloads, why don't we only release it on expensive caps and charge massively overpriced amounts for data?'
'good idea bob, those idiots will buy it'
'Yeah i mean afterall, its only $220, thats cheap right?'

Goddamn phone carriers. Offer it on ever cap for shits sake. It's not that hard.

If this is true, it's not surprising at all. Americans are paying US$200 (around $220) plus US$70 per month for AT&T. Granted, that gets them unlimited data, but 1GB is still pretty good. This is a phone, not a desktop computer after all!

HMMM not happy Jan

Nice work!

$79 is acceptable. It costs enough that everyone won't buy one and at the same time it is reasonable.

I smell a rat. The objective of Apple is to sell as many of these units as they can. By introducing a pricing plan this expensive, it will totally limit the adoption.

If this is indicitave of what the carriers are going to offer, numerous people will simply buy a phone OS and use them here.

I am currently on a $20 optus plan and enjoy my free talk time. I was hoping just to upgrade my handset. I have already placed a $50 deposit on my optus iPhone. I hope I dont have to ask for a refund.

What the??! Is this a joke?!? This deal is the worst deal in the world so far! Optus must have their hands on it to expect such a deal for the masses, 1GB of DATA, what an total joke! at this price I would expect 10GB of DATA! Australia is such a backwater with worse deals than South Africa, even they have unlimited data! OMG this is so bad!

Wow...
What a rort.
I may still end up importing an iPhone from the US yet...

Thank goodness Vodafone will be doing them pre-paid (i.e. outright) - As long as it's no more than say ~$600 I'd rather buy one outright.

79cap for 1GB?!!!! WT*? that is the biggest ripoff ever.....and no outright? what happen to prepaid plan? I thought they say you can buy it with prepaid? they charge 79 and we still have to pay 220 for the phone...thts BS

Yup, that's me out of the game. No way am I ever being locked into another 24 month plan, just doesn't make sense.

And 1GB of data will be smoked considering all the push mail calls, web browser is not optimised for mobile (it pulls regular pages, full image, javascript, ads etc, these can be 100k+ per page easy), gMaps is not really tiny either.

I'll be waiting for it to be unlocked or the Android platform.

even telstra can offer a unlimited data plan for 30 bux via hiptop...i would rather pay a 29 cap and then a $30 data plan which would make it only $59. wht exactly is optus thinking? this is the biggest rippoff

This is fake. Visual voicemail wont be available at launch.

1gb?!

EPIC FAIL.

Ouch! That is sooo expensive! Seriously, I don't think they will sell as much as they can if the prices are that high.

Where the frack is MMS.

How am I mean to Picture message flirt now?

Lame.

I agree we always get ripped off

I have a iphone 1.0 and use it on Telstra. I pay $49.00 for $200.00 standard voice calls and $29.95 for 80mb data. Anything is better than that. Telstra can not even work out when you use wifi, they charge for everything.

Also why make ipod touch users pay again. ex apple fanboy

Come oooonnn Vodafone! we need info!! i think vodafone will put it on the $79 cap...which is ok...id pay that

My word.
If anyone signs up to this i will be shocked.

This is why apple should have never let the iPhone be subsidised!

If the rumors are true, and Vodafone offer prepaid, Optus won't sell a single Iphone.
This is a rip off... good on ya Oppy, trying to give it up the @$$ to the lil ozzie battler.

Lol. 80 bucks for 1 GB/month (AU) vs. 70 bucks for _unlimited_ data (US) ? There is no justification for this. Not even the exchange rate which is close to 1:1 these days anyways. Why does Oz still have to life in the dark ages of digital data transfer ? I wanted to get an iPhone 2.0, but not under these conditions. I don't get it, they offer all these cool technologies (mobile streaming TV for example) and then they cap you at 1 GB ??? Shame on you Oz data providers. I think its time for the government to step in and bring Oz to 2008.

i cant pay more than $50 a months i like the 1GB a month i recon that about all ill use and the internation txt is cool but the total cost of that is $2226 thats a lot i think the n26 will be better value.
but i dont think it that the iphone is as good as it could be though i want more wirelessness. wireless sync and stereo bluetooth music steaming and more space

This is ridiculous! At least they could've put it on the $49 cap for free and then put a $10 option for around 1Gb of data per month.

Optarse is screwing around with us once again, now...are they going to count uploads with the included data?

Let's see what Vodafone has, hopefully they will have a prepaid version.

Great! first Telstra doesn't get it, the only provider with metro AND rural 3G (yes i know you would pay tru the nose with the big T) and then Optus turn around and to exactly what every1 say Telstra would do, RIP EVERY1 OFF!
im moving to the US
Buy

Sounds pretty reasonable. Not sure how long 1GB would last though...

I'm waiting for the Vodafone plans. I noticed they have a 5GB mobile broadband plan for $39 a month, so maybe they'll offer more data for a cheaper rate for the iPhone?

I wouldn't spend $79 a month for 1GB. I guess I'll re-assess my plans once the fine print has been released, and the Vodafone plans come out too.

It may be that'll I'll just stick with my iPod Touch for the time being, and wait to see what happens with the plans

You were expecting such a rip off? What about a 30 dollar cap and 20 dollars for 3 GB of data? that would be a GOOD deal. This deal, if true, is ludicrously overpriced, and truly for elitists!

I am so so pissed @ this! What a rip off... this means I will not be buying an Iphone... :(

I wasn't going to post anything, but I feel I need to come in and balance out the negativity and say this is exactly what I was expecting, and what I would've spent.

I'd sign up for this, but I'm waiting on Vodafone's plans.

The American "unlimited" is about 5 Gigs and you can't use it for anything but browsing (no streaming videos either) or email.

Hmm. I know I won't use 50GB every month on a phone like I do at the home PC, but 3GB seems like a puny amount for that price.

And if any Apple people are reading this - I would have gladly paid $500 for a 32GB iPhone.

Yeah, I was excited about the iPhone until I read about the lock-in contracts, I'm with Optus atm and have been for the last three years. Seriously if someone can offer it on a cheaper or pre-paid no contract plan, they will have me as a customer.

concidering my current phone bill... ~$155/month - 45$ ph repayment $79 cap $30 data (80 fucking mb)

(yes its telstra)

99 for 400 of cap and 4gb of data is brilliant....but, comparatively, we are getting screwed

A rip off, i will not get an iPhone with either of those plans.
maybe if it was $79 for unlimited data, or $79 and the phone was free. but not at these prices.
Hopefully vodafone will provide good competition, i think their mobile plans are anyway better then optu's

How about no, Optus. If you're going to charge that goddamn much then the damn phone should be free

it is far too expensive for 1GB data @$79. I rather pay more for the phone and less for plan, and i think some people don't talk much on their phone and do a lot of e-mail, web browsing, IM, youtubes like I do, and this plan is not fit and unfair

Expect them to drop prices after the first rush.

They want to milk everyone for what they've got first.

looks very similar to the blackberry plan they have
http://smb.optus.com.au/web/ocaportal.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=smallbusiness_mobile_producttypeMOB_marketSegmentbus&productpath=/smallbusiness/mobile&FP=/smallbusiness/mobile/plansandratesmobile/blackberryplans&site=smallbusiness

Mmm ... I suspect Optus are using their friends at Gizmodo to guage consumer reaction to these unofficial/leaked plans!

So given Optus will be reading this and wants to know what we think, I'll tell them:

These plans are fine, in fact good value, but only for for high-end users. I think you will be alienating the majority of the iPhone demographic (mid and low-end users) who simply cannot afford or won't be willing to pay $79/month.

So may i suggest:
$49/month including $150 credit + 500MB data
$29/month including $50 credit + 50MB data

If these plans require a slighly higher upfront cost than so be it. Such users would rather cop this that high monthly fees for two years.

I realise this may be pushing the realms of profitability but you need to offer at least a mid-range of some form.

Total cost of ownership looks to be $1896 for the $79 plan and $2376 for the $99.

US total cost of ownership is AUS$1982. Really, that's very similar.

Personally I use less than 10MB per month on my phone as it stands, using it every day commuting. I can't see myself using 100 times that a month even with a better phone.

I can recall when Anderson ran Optus and they were actually good value. If they want to slug us $80 for the plan (Please, were not that silly to think this is closer to $70 than it is to $80 Mr Marketing) I would be expecting more bang for my buck!

For that price the included cap should be substantially more calls or like the US unlimited data. It looks more that a little predatory when they are offering wireless BB for $39.99 (Thats $40 isn't it Mr Marketing) for 5GB of data with a *Free USB modem on a 24 month contract. It uses the same G3/HSDPA infrastructure so why 'screw over' your iPhone base?

I'd like to see the Voda offer I know if it's good I'll move all my Optus services over, paying out the contracts isn't that big of an issue. It just really leaves a bad taste in the mouth when a company knows they are on a winner and just milks there installer base dry cause they can.

I personally value the $79 plan at $49. Since I'm with vodafone I'm hopping for something a little more competitive..

Heard Vodafone WILL sell it outright, but for $699... so looks like imported one from the US for me.

Come on Vodafone, bring iPhone out on a $49 cap, and you have me sold.

Everyone should sign up to that $100 deposit and then the moment they "officially" release the prices everyone get a refund! that would give them a hint...

too high for me - if they are wanting huge market penetration (which seems to be the goal) then this wont work in Oz. They need a $50 to $60 plan.

Low call inclusions and hi data (1gb would be fine) would be my ideal for $49

I am assuming there will also be business plans separate to this...

thats bull.
i want one and i am on optus, but i just signed up to a contract, so i wont be able to get it for atleast another 18 months.
:@
JACOB

The font is wrong for Optus

No pricing or plan details have been released internally at Optus

People in training for the iPhone release have been told there is no pricing model finalised as yet

Yes, and other sites (can;t rember where) have said a 3 tier system...somaybe those are the two higher plans...

I hope so because as much as I want an iPhone...79/m + 330 is way to much...

Hahaha, see you not there. I'll wait for Android thank you :)

Come on OPTUS! it should be 10 GB of data for 79 bucks....

people will use lots of data on an iPhone, Optus clearly dont get it, what about 30 dollar cap with 20 dollar add on for 5 GB? that would be ok. But what you want, your jerking us off!

I'd rather get a Nokia N95 for free on the $49 cap plan from Vodafone or wait for the new Samsung iPhone copy to come out. Unless the iPhone is on a $49 plan (with a smaller data component) then the hype is lost on me. Both local carriers know people are going ga-ga for the iPhone, I have a feeling we will be ripped in AU with these plans.

So Optus do a takeover on the day the iPhone launches because Giz will be getting the most traffic then, and even though no one anywhere else is able to get any sort of idea of pricing, low and behold, Giz gets Optus plans from a "tipster".

Way to undermine your audience.

Do i smell fishes or do i hear a boycott?
NO its just me, re-mortgaging my house just to afford this contract.

Offer us something reasonable for an oz battler or we may as well just have to source it somewhere else.

This is crap optus ,outright or nothing with me!

I'm currently on the Optus 5GB/$49/month mobile broadband plan. I can already use that SIM in a phone to access data, but won't get calls.

How can they then seriously offer 1GB/$79/month for the iPhone? That's an f***ing >500% mark up for the same SIM card (albeit with calls included.)

If that's the case then I'm going to get a 3G iphone, unlock it, put my mobile broadband SIM in it and use Skype or other VOIP applications (they'll be plenty soon) for calls!

After reading the above information on the pricing for this product. I am backing Normandy here, it is preposterous that some people think it is justifiable to be charged such profuse fees for 1gb of mobile data, $30? I have not a doubt in the world that regardless of the staggering fees, the majority of users living in major cities will inevitably exceed their data caps and be subjected either to dollars/megabyte or in the unlikely case throttled speed.

Ironically Steve Jobs along with the Apple Marketing team are selling the iphone at WWDC08 with the notion of AFFORDABILITY and catering to the general consumer rather than just the typical smart phone user. What the Optus marketing director said about the iPhone being in the same ballpark as the smart phones completely contradicts Apple's "affordable" positioning. It's even the attribute they emphasise in their ads! "Twice as fast Half the price" $50 cap + $30/month for 1GB of data is hardly affordable. AT&T are selling it for $30 Unlimited data for gods sake, and the Australian and US dollar are almost at parity! (well maybe not today... but close enough)

Even though they're selling the iphone around the world boasting that it is reaching the corners of the globe, Australia is still lagging far behind many other countries when it comes to data costs. Ok, so it might be available here now, but without data at attainable prices, it largely defeats the purpose of owning a 3G device or iPhone.

Smart phones or any phones with internet browsing aren't common in Australia at the moment, the reason being that apart from the lack of devices which support it, data is just not economically viable. Blackberrys are mostly used only by corporate highflyers, but I'm guessing Steve Jobs is looking to reach a much larger market than that with the iPhone, probably from high school/university students onwards. Teenagers in the US have been using the internet on smart devices such as the HipTop Slide or SideKick for a long time now since 2005, the reason being the affordability of data. The same thing in countries like Japan, where it's completely normal to be downloading video data on your phone at any time of the day. However in Australia, it is clearly still not viable for most people, as can be seen even from the posts in this thread and comments on the gizmodo.com website.

The iPhone wants to change the way people use mobile devices, and introduce a revolutionary new mobile experience. But in order to do this, to take mobile devices to the next level, they have got to make it accessible.

We shall see in the coming weeks with Vodafone's response to this price plan whether or not they will choose to be competitive or collude and as many users have previously most eloquently put: "rape us up the bum."

Cross post from mactalk.au forums

This is *(&%$%&***Shite!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
These better be fake or else optus will lose thousands of customers.!!!!!!!!!!
It is a complete insult to all australians on a standard income. It was so exciting to see the release of the new iphone a few days ago and this, this is a complete let down. If vodafone are doing prepaid, then say bye bye to all your customers OPTUS!!!!!!

That is BOLLOCKS!

I have to say that i use pre paid so i don't really know the going rate, but the guy above has a point .... Why no cheaper rates? Even if it's not really good value for money on the calls/data side of things ... we just want the iPhone!! Not your "great value" service.

I already have internet, mobile and home phone with Optus ... so where's my deal?

lets hope they sell it outright at the apple store in sydney or melbourne.....illl def be getting one from the apple store then this crap

keynote address from jobsie:

"... and in *almost* every one of these countries [incl. australia], the iphone will cost a maximum of $199...".

almost.

This is pretty much what I expected for the high end.
Although they really need to release a $49 plan to get my vote. 1gb on a phone with 3.5" screen seems reasonable to me.
When you think about the upfront cost $220 or $330 its only $10-15 a month over 24 months and is dwarfed by the $80 per month minimum so you'd think they could offer it for free.

Pretty much exactly what i was thinking it would be too.

The way i see it the monthly breakup is more or less $20 for handset repayment, $49 for a standard cap plan and then $10 for a 1GB data plan or a bit more for the bigger plan.

Its $20 or so a week... TWENTY!! Get over it. Of course they're trying to make as much profit as possible. If you're not happy, just wait till xmas and you'll get it cheaper or just get a different phone.

even at these prices,

i GAURANTEE there will still be massess upon massess of people signing up on July 11.

i'll be watching the news

and LOL-ing @ said people.

BG Optus. seriously bg.
Just lemme buy the stoopid iphone without all of your crap, okay? please? ffs.

or do i order one from US and go commando on the sim?

hmmm, I would pay $79 per month for an iPhone. However, 1Gb of data? I mean, i guess we have to look at it from the perspective that we will not be downloading movies etc to it, you do that on you home computer. I personally think 3GB on the $79 would be ideal. I use Wi-Fi at home, so it's fine there, and I most likely will only be getting email and surfing when I'm out and about. So I can't see myself using more than 3GB in a month. I just wish I could find someone who could tell me what they use in the US per month. That way we could better judge it.

I paid the $100 deposit after i stayed up all night for the keynote. I would sleep infornt of whatever store to get it the iphone. but 80 bucks a month i simply can't do it. THANKS OPTUS AND APPLE.....

Sorry to add to that, I just found this site.

http://forums.ilounge.com/archive/index.php/t-201887.html

Most people using under 1GB per month. The thing about this they are on the EDGE network, so it's slower and therefor you would use less. But 1GB might not be that bad. You know, another thing. Mobile data has always been expensive in Australia right? So it's uptake has been slow. With this phone and going by whats happened overseas. I think the mobile industry in Australia will wake up to it self. To all the mobile phone manufactures out there. If you had bothered to put a descent browser in you phones in the first place, we might have cheaper data already. WAP is not the internet. I think we will see the networks change their plans once they see how much we will all use.

For those of you planning to import one from the states it isn't going to work because you would have to buy the phone on an AT&T plan. You can't buy it at the Apple store anymore without a 24 mo plan - bummer. I am with Patsy Stone and Rob V. Optus if you are reading this please offer more tiers of plans! And some sort of way to work it fairly with an existing Optus plan

Zero chance i'd be getting that. the upfront costs are ok, but monthly, not a chance.
heres what i would LIKE to see:
$49/month
100 Minutes talk time
100 SMS's
1GB Data

$79/month
300 Minutes talk time
300 SMS's
3GB Data

$99/month
500 Minutes talk time
500 SMS's
5GB Data

i'd be willing to sacrifice talk and texts for more data, and im sure a lot of other want-to-be iphone users would agree with me

if it has unlimited data i will download large 8 gig torrent files all the time and sync it back to home pc!!! I will achieve truckloads of data!!!! and set up unlimited voip when jailbroken!!!!

I am incredibly dissapointed at these leaked optus plans.

Its too much, i simply cannot afford it, and i believe that thousands of other poor uni students out there would be in the same situation as myself. Surely they would like to appeal to the younger generations as well, and not only this whole "Business" direction apple seem to have taken. I know the plan is from optus, and they are separate from apple, but I tell you what, I really hope those plans were fake.

Seems like my final hope now is that vodafone stay true to their word and release it on prepaid.

And if they do, then I think its a safe bet to say that optus will lose a lot of their loyal customers (myself included) to vodafone.

Thanks

Ashley.C

I see where people are coming from in retrospect but take some things into consideration:
1. These are 2 plans that are only for the iPhone and it doesn't necessarily mean that YOU HAVE TO GET IT so you may still be able to get it on a $49 cap which will get you as many calls as the iPhone cap
2. If you were to get it on the $49 cap and wanted to use one of Optus' current data plans you can expect to pay at best $14.95 for 200mb of data and 35c for every mb thereafter so 1gb would be $295.95!!!
So for essentially the same deal you're talking a drop in price of $264.95.
I understand this is a different way of approaching things considering prices of mobile broadband and whatnot but what people need to realise is just because a new mobile is released doesn't mean Optus (or Vodafone) are going to turn around and go "OOOH let's make everything cheaper!"
In reality $30 for 1gb is expensive but when u consider it next to what they are currently offering it's a steal.
I personally will get the $99 cap if these plans aren't bogus because 3gb should be more than enough for anyone. It's not like I'm going to download music and videos on the phone, just browsing and 100mb a day should be reasonable for regular browsing for anyone. 1gb would be fine if you are just going to use it for emails and light browsing.
/endrant

I really, really want an iPhone. But Optus must think that I criminally stupid as well as desperate. I won't even need $50 worth of calls. But 1BG of data? Madness. Do they even understand what the iPhone is? I hope Vodafone has a more usable offering. Otherwise no iPhone for me.

If you all haven't realised our 3G network is alot faster then the AT&T's 3G in US. So it is easier for them to offer unlimited data plan as user won't be even able to use up their fair use limit (It is not actually unlimited if you read the fine print). Personally I think Optus has done their research and probably concluded not alot of users are using their mobile for the net. Thus they don't see the point of a big data allowance.

But I do hope they have a lower package then the $79 price point. I believe most Australian are on the $49 caps/plans for 3/Optus/Virgin/Vodafone/Telstra (I think they have a 45 or 55 cap)??. I reckon if you can sell the iPhone at the $49 cap + $5 for 100mb of data iPhone is going to sell like hot cakes. 100mb would be more then enough people to use the A-GPS on a daily basis. Regardless of how much each person are actually spending on their phone bill, $49 is pretty much our physological price point barrier when signing up (sell your soul to) a 24 month contract. Both Optus and Vodafone needs to understand iPhone is a mainstram consumer focused product, it should and can not be priced at the business user levels. Before only a handful of carriers had iPhone, but now 22 Countries are going to get their lands on iPhone 3g at the same time with options through multiple carriers.

Right now I feel like I am paying $30 for just 1 gig of data. I think this will be fairly hard for the general public to swallow, cosidering with 3's X-series you are paying 30 extra for 2Gig (or was it 3 Gig) of data PLUS whole heaps of extras (Skype Minutes, orbs, MSN... etc). But then again optus needs to make back all those money they have to pay Apple. Apple may have give up its revenue sharing model AT&T but I still think they are demanding a hefty kickback for each iPhone sold, and a smaller (compared to before) percentage of monthly fee.

I get a tinkle feeling that Vodafone may be willing to price their plans at a lower price point to capture a better percenage of the Australian market share. Maybe this could be their saviour product.

Looking into the crystal ball - I predict 3 quickly release Diamond and Raphael to fight the onslaught of the iPhone. People who brought iPhone because of the hype quickly realise they brought a product that is quickly becoming inferior compare to some of the flagship models from the the traditional manufactures.

Optus Marketing Analyst and Researchers no need to thank me. Just send me a iPhone 3G when it comes out would be enough.

Uhm...if this is real...

I will buy 3G iphone somewhere else, maybe eBay or somethin.

Not paying $79 for 24 months contract!

no no no no no no NO! guess i'm going with vodafone. (mum's only paying $30 a month)

Are you lot all 16 year olds living at home with Mum and paying for this with your McDonald's pay packet?

2 years ago I paid $79 a month on Vodafone + $9 p/m phone repayment for a Motorola V3x, this included no data.

I currently pay $39 p/m for 1GB data thru 3 and another $49 p/m for calls on Vodaphone.

This offer is close to my threshold, I'd prefer a better deal and I'll be looking closely at Vodafone (who don't have 3G yet in my area).

1GB data is more than enough, I use m 3G modem constantly with my laptop and in 12 months have gone over that amount once - I just don't do software downloads or software update over the link (and of course, no movies/music) just email and web surfing. Which about all you can do on an iPhone (its not like you can download warez is it?)

If you can't purchase it outright then why would they be taking deposits from optus & non-optus customers on their website?

Im currently an optus customer on a 24month contract and when I rang optus a week ago and asked them how much it would be to upgrade to an iphone on my plan they told me $400.

I think one thing is missing in most comments:

The fact that 1GB may be plenty on currently available phones, watching youtube, facebook and Flickr galleries etc. may cause you to exceed that cap before the 10th of the month.

If the phone is used in its intended ways, and all your email is pushed out to you, you watch Internet Videos while waiting somewhere in line etc., 1GB is nothing and 3GB may still be on the low end.

Just my 2c.

I thought activation had to be done in-store which means that buying from OS will not be possible.

Simply too expensive - both Optus and Vodafone need to provide a prepay option for those of us not getting paid Sydney wages - or they just won't get the uptake everyone wants.

So much for Steve Job's comment, "This is the affordable phone for eveyone!!!" Only Optus could rip people off like this, should have know better. I have waited a long time for this, knock back upgrade offers from Optus for the last 2 years...So I could get an Iphone upgrade, if they will not allow me to do this, Bye Bye Optus, I will take all my telecommunictions else where...Keep up the good work OPTUS!!!

ok my second post.. let me put it this way optus.

Three mobile's deal (my current contract)

2gb of data
1000 minutes of included skype-to-skype
free data usage to their intranet, and ebay.
$350 worth of calls, sms, mms,video messaging, video conferencing.
cheaper rates than that plan shown in the original post.
total: $79

my plan im already on is ahead of this plan by a few plan generations at optus, quite obviously.

if the iphone is available as a prepaid or outright at vodaphone, they will get my cash. simple as that. if optus do it as a prepaid or outright as well, then ill see which of the 2 has them in stock.

Ahh the ignornace of some people boggles the mind!

Let me school you on how things work.

*This plan is very similar to the blackberry plans that optus offer. I was expecting this, though I was hoping for a bit more data. 1 GB is more than enough for a handheld device though.

*To all those comparing the plan pricing to the US. You are idiots! America has a massive population that can support such pricing. Australia doesn't. Unless we all start mating like rabbits, its going to remain like that.

*To the people who are complaining that the Iphone is not available on a $20 plan..get ya hand off it! This is a high end device and no company will release it on a $20 plan. Stick to your nokia 6300, or bite the bullet and pay more.

You are all expecting way too much.

They're not going to offer it on the lower plans because they won't be making any money! They have to make their money back on the handset somehow, you're not going to get a $200~ 8GB iPhone without paying for a higher plan.

Either that, or expect handset fees!

Maybe Gizmodo would consider removing Optus as a Sponsor with all the ridicule and persecution offered by every commenter under this post. I gotta say that yellow home page did nothing for me. Mind you Optus has done nothing for me in the past except get my billing wrong everytime and offer a paltry service.

You guys are a bunch of idiots.

What did you expect? If the iPhone is cheap then they've got to make their money somehow.

As nice as it would be to be have a cheap iPhone on a cheap plan with huge download limits and unlimited calls, it's just not the world we live in.

Quit whining like a bunch of school girls... if you were Optus and Apple were making you sell iPhones at a loss (I'm sure Apple is charging the carriers more than the rrp to sell the iPhones) then Optus has to recoup the money somehow.

1. Data is expensive in Australia - We dont have the number of people using it here, so the cost to recoup the network is higher.

2. How can you use more than 3gb in a month on a mobile phone unless you are tethering? is that even possible with a iphone?

3. I have a Touch. yes it is good for browsing the net, but it isnt that good... it can be really hard to navigate non "iphone' websites... i cant really see myself using it all the time.

4. it has wifi, i'm pretty sure that there is a switch that allows you to use wifi first if available. hands up who has wifi in the office.... I do. thats 8 hours a day i wont have to worry... oh i have wifi at home too.... no data charges there either....

5. It is $300 dollars worth of calls, sms etc.... no one sells minutes in australia...

6. Did you honestly expect anything else... mobile carriers in australia are expensive.

7. be glad that it is not telstra... where they believe 200mb is a suitable allowance.

I get why these are so expensive. Your paying back a lot of money that has been subsidised from the upfront cost. Thats fine. But where's my option to pay this cost upfront and have no contract. no way in hell am i commiting to 24 months on plans like that when that are so expensive. if it was $30 per month for the same data, but less voice, then sure i'd probably live with it for 24 months, but not @ $79.

On Optus pre-paid at the moment you get unlimited (they say, 500mb I think) data if you charge up with $50 per month on the turbocharge cap.

So this will basically cost me $30 for the same thing - if I sell my N95 for say $200 it'll cost me $30 a month more for an iPhone. mmmm....

PS Don't whinge so much - have a look what it costs in the UK...

http://www.o2.co.uk/iphone/paymonthly

(Assume AU$2 to the GBP)
"iPhone is now free on selected Pay Monthly tariffs*

There's only one thing better than an iPhone. The new iPhone 3G.

*Best of all, the new 8GB iPhone won't cost you a penny on our £45 and £75 tariffs. And it's just £99 on our £35 tariff and new £30 tariff.

If you'd prefer the 16GB version, it's free on our £75 tariff. Then you'll just pay £59 with the £45 tariff and £159 on our £30 and £35 tariffs.

All tariffs include unlimited browsing on your iPhone, unlimited Wi-Fi access, visual voicemail and reduced roaming rates with our International Traveller Service and are subject to a minimum term contract of 18 months."

This is true of all data plans and mobiles, on the same network you can get decent looking data plans for "mobile broadband" but you can't merge that with your voice plan.

For me a plan that cost around $50/month, gave me $150 in calls and 1gb of data would basically be great. If the service providors like optus actually reduced their data rates people would use them more and they would actually get ROI on their towers faster, that and people would just end up using more data anyhow and want bigger plans ie get more out of an existing contract

"By Gav: On Optus pre-paid at the moment you get unlimited (they say, 500mb I think) data if you charge up with $50 per month on the turbocharge cap."

You get 100MB of MyData when you recharge $50 on turbocap prepaid. The excess data charges after the 100MB are... excessive..

What a RIP!!!!!

I thought I would have a hard time convincing my wife of th eneed to upgrade. Now, I'm having a hard time convincing myself. The plan is the equivaqlent of the current $49 call cap so you're effectively paying $30 for 1GB data which is criminal!!!

reply to the update: i hope for their sake it is misinfomation.

perhaps this way optus' way of testing the waters so to speak, and they got scolded for such a bad deal.

hopefully the deal is a decent one, and you can buy the iphone on prepaid or outright from them.

Nick. No, the phone call you got might be wrong. Did you identify the caller? Does "angry phonecall" mean the guy on the other end was angry?

I know for a fact that Optus will be offering the phone on prepaid plans, I don't know who your source was for this, but even the newspapers reported on Tuesday that it would be available in prepaid.

Go optus! G9 all the way!

I didn't vote but kev your doing a great job with our communication infrastructure, wooo, one day we will top a 3rd world country!

If it is anything like that (when it comes to Data and included allowances for the cap) then I will be going with Vodafone or waiting until a hack is made public!

well..lets hope that the
" Update: About half an hour ago I received an angry phonecall from Optus about this story. I was told, in no uncertain terms, that the pricing tip I received was "wrong". No more information was given, other than the fact that the story was incorrect.

looks like we still have a little wait before we know what we'll be paying for the iPhone..."

means the prices being leaked are far too high!
So surely Optus is reading this and saying..."gosh they didntlike those prices..we better lower them"

I hope thats the sentiment that Optus is giving..

1Gb is tooo small..but again I have an ipod touch and even at wifi you tube is bit slowish..so 3G would be even slower..
though wouldnt mind using Maps while am at the roads ..

Question...GPS would that be Free?????

I'm with Optus (in Australia) and was on a plan that had a Blackberry data component that was ~$50/month with UNLIMITED email/browsing.

I could surf to my hearts content, including using web based applications as well (like google maps, google talk).

My point is that Optus COULD offer a similar plan for non-Blackberries, but they don't, and I honestly can't see that they will for a very long time. They can get away charging exorbitant prices for VERY limited data caps because that is what our market will bear.

Having a device that is so seamlessly "connected" (like the iPhone) you are going to blow through your data caps in no time at all, and without even noticing! Those MB's sure do add up.

Mark my words, give it a couple of months, and there will be stories in the media about people stug by mobile bills that are in the $hundreds/thousands$ due to excess data usage charges that they didn't realise were accruing.

I can just hear the interviews now...

Interviewer: So you didn't realise that by using the in-built GPS (and google maps) that it was eating away at your allocated data allowance?

Hapless individual: Nah, 'course not, I thought it was just like using my , which I've already thrown away. Hey, have you seen how cool the gps looks on the iPhone...

Interviewer: Sigh, yes I have, but there you go again, that is using up your data allowance again..

Hapless individual: Dang, I forgot about that, but it really does look cool hey!

Interviewer: Surely you must have realised that watching all of those videos was using your data allowance?

Hapless individual: What do you mean, the videos just play on my iPhone, it's great... here look at how cool it looks...

Interviewer: .

I'm just spit-balling, but that link is possibly a brilliant Vodafone marketing campaign. ;-)

Vodafone HQ ...
Exec: "Yup, 1GB for $79 ought to get them fired up."
Pleb: "Uh-huh." [taps on keyboard]
Exec: "Tell you what, why don't you rotate it slightly ..."
Pleb: "Done."
Exec: "Beautiful! Optus is gonna love this! Now, send it to Gizmodo."

If its not outright, Optus definately don't have a sale from me. Those prices are ridiculous, and +1 to Dave there, for their sake those prices are wrong.

I think if you cant buy it on prepaid or unlocked they will lose alot of customers!! I would expect PrePaid & Locked to be a 100-250 more, and then unlock around 800-950. most people who buy prepay will hack it anyway i would think!

there is no visual voicemail.
Iphone doesnt have MMS.
16gb available in black or white.
I doubt highly that international calling would be included seens it isnt available in other plans.
its also going to be locked to optus.

There is no actual pricing yet.

hahahaha the information is 'now' incorrect after Optus read the burning comments in this thread. Now they are back to the drawing board on building their new iPhone plans. I don't see what is taking them so long to release pricing details. My premium Voda dealer friends are still waiting for any info from Vodafone.

If I can't get this phone somehow on a all inclusive $70 bucks a month including the phone its not going to happen...

Another loser that has made up his own lil word document and scanned it to send through just to cause a stir. So well done to the moron that posted it, and to the morons that seem to think a blank piece of paper with some data typed onto it would be Optus official documentation. Nice one 'L'

Actually i was on a $59 voice plan with $19.95 data of 20meg for the last 4 months.
If true this new plan seems fine. I'm paying the same and now with 1Gig at 3g speeds. I know i'll browse more on 3G but still, it's not that bad.
I sold my iphone on ebay last week and got my money back, even after buying the new one i should have cash left over.
All good news here.

Ok - now that we know it's a fake, could you maybe hide/delete all the pre-fake-announcement comments that got so indignant about it?! :-P

Not happy I have put the $100 deposit down for Optus on the hopes it would be outright. I have a new optus contract which I am locked into so was hoping to run my new iphone off that. Really sad I can't afford both :(

1stly, LAWL on the stolen info.
Apart from there, I don't quite bother about the pricing. It is SURE a rip-off but seeing that personally I don't see a point in having an iTouch and then purchasing the iPhone. Waste of dollars on my end.

This is the one thing that really really annoys me. In australia we get ripped off for everything, any device (eg brought a set of headphone from David Jone for $450, found them on Amazon for AUD$120). Data is the next thing, apart from TPG Internet all internet in Australia is a rip off.

I would love an iphone but i will have to get the hip-top with the unlimited data plan if some seriously seriously seriously better plans don't come out. Its pretty crap!

George Bush got it wrong with Irak. Steve Apple has got his foreign policy so wrong with Australia. We want to choose our own phone company and our own phone plans.it is so expensive to down load already we dont need some newby on the block telling us we have to use the most expensive and least covering companies to use. never mind that the owners of Optus kill our Citizens.

Telstra's current data rates will get you 500MB for $79 - on top of your mobile plan. (1 Gig is $99)

The iphone is definately going to shake them up a bit. Especially since they'll be releasing a Samsung competitor to the iPhone instead.

Pity I'm stuck with T for another 20 months.....

These prices dont seem too bad to me. Unlimited data would be good - but not even Broadband in Australia is unlimited? We always get the rough end of the stick.

its a fuckin ripoff. I hope optus gets their heads examined if its true. No way is this going to be affordable, contrary to what Jobs may have said. Id get one from the States if this is real or maybe get one from Vodafone who may still have actually thought about this. needless to say the 50$ will b going thru refund process if they confirm these plans. BTW, why arent they giving us the plan details as yet? its high time.

Lol, looks like Optus dropped their sponsorship of Giz-Oz.

For all of those complaining about 1GB of data, that is a lot more than you might think.

Adam Christianson of the MacCast sent out a survey on his website asking how much data you use on your iPhone. The most anyone had was just over 250MB of data. Christianson, who described himself as a heavy user of the iPhone's MobileSafari found that he only used 60-70MB a month.

Stop whingeing and research (at&t allow 250MB max) how much people actually use on their iPhone.

The good thing is that the competition will fall over itself to beat off the iPhone threat and with that comes the cost savings! :)

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=579245

Looks like it might not end up being compatible.

Plan seems reasonable. What did people really expect, $1 outright on $9.99 plan with unlimited data ?

I've been following the iphone release with interest, am very keen to buy- but not at this price. I don't usually get involved in this type of commentary- but if correct- those plans suck the big one! Voda prepaid for me if the price is right- & where's 3 in all this anyway- they (Hutchison) have got the rights to sell the iphone in Hong Kong???

Looks like about 125 negative comments when I read this post. That's great. Hopefully 125 less Apple fanboys in line when I go to get one. I want to be an elitist pig with my iphone, I dont care how much it costs. I'd be happy if they doubled it so even less people can buy it.

I thought you fuckmuppets loved that your stuff was overpriced?

And LOL @ Adam Schilling above, fantastic!

can't get it outright? that's not right. my home and workplace is practically WiFi enabled so i just need the calls in it.

i guess, i just have to purchase it at apple US online.

How long are Australian buyers prepared to wait?

We should hold out on purchasing an Iphone until the call and data rates come down in line to US pricing. If enough people hold out long enough, the iphone price will come down or data plans will also come down.

At the moment I'm only using my phones data capabilities in wi-fi areas because telstra charges too much, they are loosing money due to their high charges, simple statistics show that if they(mobile telcos) charge less, they will have more users paying more money as a whole.

Unfortunately, that sounds all too beleivable.... Optus may claim it's wrong, and I hope it is, but it fits quite well with their normal pricing...

I know if they try to put that sructure in place, I'll be buying an unlocked phone elsewhere and (if I elect to stay with Optus) using it separately to any contracted or uncontracted plan...

It MUST be unlimited or nothing with the iPhone 3G. Steve Jobs himself said iPhone users are the biggest mobile surfers. Add to that the capabilities and possibilities in the iPhone 3G, what with new Web 2.0 apps and the like, your mobile data usage will go through the roof.

Anyone who thinks they'll stay under under 1GB/month is delusional.

The carrier that will win will be the one that goes for volume of customers, rather than selling at a premium, to recoup their costs. Caveat emptor people!

Iphone's are not been sold like they were in the states so they don't end up on ebay. They are been sold in the AT&T stores and have to be signed onto a contract on the spot and paid for on the spot. This have been places to make sure the same thing that happened with the Iphone 1.0 dose not happen again with this model, hence it been released 20 or so countries at once. So its going to be a hard bet to get one shipped here to Aust. Hate to say it but we don't seem to have much to choose from really. Lets hope Vodafone is a little more smart about it and not just out to make money since the Iphone itself isn't a costly handset.

Thanks Gizmodo, I guarantee your source was correct, and some uppity tosspot manager just got pissed cos the "pre sales" hype has been compromised. Waaah, somebody spoiled the wank wagon.

I am so glad almost everyone here agrees that the plans are ludicrous (even if they are not real, it will give these marketing gurus something to consider).

If you pre-pay for one of these, on one of these plans, then you are a complete knob. Here's a thought, boycott the release, let em know we don't care for their stupid prices, when they don't meet their quotas, sales fall, and they have to do something to strengthen the market. That means sales and packages.

If you sign up immediately for these plans, I hope they give you free lube so you can take it comfortably. I'll wait until there's a decent plan or until I get a at least a free pack of jellybeans before I sell out....

I'm moving to Japan were they've got their telecommunications right =) Thanks Gizmodo!

well maybe when Australia owns these Telcos we may get a better price.I guess max profits has to go overseas.. what about the consumer? no milk them as much as you can.

Hi, Iam with Telstra on a $40 Next G plan, rang Telstra told them i didn't want to go with Optus and asked will they sell the iphone put me on hold came back saying Telstra wont sell the iphone in their store's but Fone Zone iwill carry them offering then on a Telstra plan
Cherrs

I personally think the revealing of this 'fake' information is just to encourage optus to reveal their REAL plans sooner.

Ha yu guys have no idea, just wait for the release on the 11th.

Currently the cheapest 1G plan you can get is $19.99 for wireless, $49 caps give you $300 worth of calls on average and when your paying $15-20 bucks a month for a N95i on a $49 cap on average $10 for an iPhone isnt too bad. What are all you tight asses seriously expecting $49 cap $500 worth of calls, unlimited data all and free iPhone? Cmon seriously actually have a look at whats out there on the market and be realistic about your expectations. You cant compare our market to markets in other countries its totally irrelevant different size populations, different infrastructure, and correct me if im wrong but australia has possible one of the best mobile networks in the world!

Open your eyes up!

To clarify a few comments above, you cant compare a blackberry plan to a wireless plan because blackberry uses its own server/network you go to any provider and the blackberry plans/bolt on components will be the same. This is because it is a blackberry owned and operated service. Secondly from a business perspective why would they put the iPhone on prepaid? Like any business there looking to make profits so this would just be stupid, you cant get any good phones on prepaid now so why would that change? Thirdly for all you tight asses winging about downloads, iPhones come with wifi so when you need to do some serious downloads piggy back of someone elses wireless network or your own and it wont cost you anything. If your sitting on your iPhone using more than 3G then buy a laptop or get back to work! And lastly have a look at all providers and add together a mobile plan and a data plan that gives you 1GB and 300 bucks worth of calls and a decent handset and see whay it comes too. My only concern is that they have a higher plan for the higher end uses that arent worried about going over their $20 a month allowance there mother gives them. Something with 500+ of calls and 1GB for around a hundred bucks would be sweet.

guys, this is officially fake! just wait and see how much it is on july 11th.

and as a will be in america on the 11th can i buy one at the apple store and then just get a sim card from optus to put into it?

this is fake LOL
the rile info is on the
Optus Web sit LOL here
http://www.optus.com.au/home/index.html

Get a cracked US version.

Personally I feel most of you are just out of touch... but I have always thought the Australian general public is stupid... The industry standard is something like $79 for $600 credit.... how is $300 plus 1GB data muh different.... it really just goes to show why the government wont lower Fuel Excise(and if you dont know I will tell you) because If people save an extra 5c/L on petrol (the opposition proposal...which mind you is nothing anyway) will not stop people driving inflation by using their credit cards to buy new LCD's etc.... NO.... Why.... because people are stupid and they have 0 self control, they need to be controlled or they will do stupid things... Australian Society is doomed anyway... conclusion: people are stupid and don't seem to understand that this pricing is linked with the current Australian Market pricing (now whether the Iphone starts a Data price war much as the Ipod did with Mp3's thats another Question... we may very well see very cheap plans even withing 6-12 months) but If people truly believed that the Aussie market would just flip a switch and all of a sudden offer low cost Data Plans.... come and get your treat and I'll give you a bath you... your a good dog... yes you are!!!!

Ryan....I am not suprised Australian is doomed if we all have the gramatical and language skills you displayed in that write up. I am still scratching my......head.

I love apple, and can't wait to get a new iphone

BUT !

if the only way to get one, is with a LOCKED CONTRACT,
OPTUS can stick that iphone up their fing arse!

im so sick of lock-in contracts.

the majority of you people are ill informed and brainless.

the call rate is down on normal optus caps.

international calls are included.

1 gb for a PHONE is HUGE. current data plans for all aust networks on non blackberry plans max at 200 MB for $14.95 p/m with OPTUS

so essentially these plans are CHEAPER. its same as a 49cap with CHEAPER data.

1gb at that rate wound be $75 + so including international calls this is a BARGAIN.

and you are all idiots.

14000 have been presold already.

optus will reign supreme

So now Telstra have released there pricing, Free on an $80 plan, no cap no data whats everyone think after having a winge about the Optus plans, the optus plans look amazing now! Ha

Wow ... these prices don't look too bad now that the real prices are out!

http://203.122.238.138/optusiphone/optus-iphone-prepaid.pdf

http://203.122.238.138/optusiphone/optus-iphone-postpaid.pdf

Here is what Optus is putting out for the iphone....

What a ridiculous price. I'll stick with my Motorola and wait three months when Apple announces price cuts because it's bringing out another model, or something similar.

Telstra and Optus can get screwed. I'm sticking with Three for now cos they have the best plans and are actually human. they were the first people to give out free internet browsing from their homepage. I just hope they release an iPhone 3G plan anytime soon.

Well I just walked out of the Optus store empty handed. Sales rep told me the price to purchase the phone outright was as follows:

8gig - $729
16gig - $849

This obviously is a blatant rip off and goes against what Steve Job's said in his presentation speech about the iPhone. Why is it we Australians get ripped off ALL the time. The ACCC should do something about this blatant rip off!!

all of u need to stop whingeing at prices if u want the latest in any technology u pay for it either put up with it or shut up! 81 a month for the 16gb iphone with optus is a good deal....just think back 2 years ago i paid almost that much for a sony ericcson k800i which back then was top of the range fone(james bonds fone in casino royale) and it was 1100 prepaid but none whinged about any plans they were on this fone walks all over everything else so stop whining bout paying a medium level price for a top of the range 4 in 1 product i mean how many of u went and spent 400+ on an ipod...probably half.....then how many on a gps navman or similar..another 400 probably half again and then another minimum 200 on a crappy fone all of u...add it up is 1000 anyway and u pay less for the iphone upfreont.....so stop complaining its cheap whn u look at what it has got!!!