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…
The biggest question on everyone’s lips now that the iPhone has been announced in Australia is how much it’s going to cost you. Well, a friendly tipster has stealthily procured those details and sent them through to Giz AU. Thanks Tipster!
So, if you’re an Optus customer, here’s what you can expect we were told:
Now, as with any tip, this isn’t 100 percent confirmed yet – I’ll be chasing up with Optus in the morning to get confirmation. But the source seems legit from my end, and the pricing all sounds about what I was expecting.
What do you guys think? Is $79 for 1GB worth of data good enough value for money for a portable internet device?
Ashley.C
June 12, 2008 at 1:08 AM
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
Report PermalinkRyan
June 12, 2008 at 1:27 AM
I see where people are coming from in retrospect but take some things into consideration:
Report Permalink1. 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
Angus
June 12, 2008 at 1:28 AM
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.
Report Permalinkaniki_x
June 12, 2008 at 3:26 AM
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.
Report PermalinkLarry
June 12, 2008 at 3:35 AM
Uhm…if this is real…
I will buy 3G iphone somewhere else, maybe eBay or somethin.
Not paying $79 for 24 months contract!
Report Permalinktominated
June 12, 2008 at 6:32 AM
no no no no no no NO! guess i’m going with vodafone. (mum’s only paying $30 a month)
Report PermalinkS.
June 12, 2008 at 8:20 AM
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?)
Report Permalinkirack
June 12, 2008 at 8:25 AM
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.
Report Permalinknznordi
June 12, 2008 at 8:30 AM
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.
Report PermalinkCarlos
June 12, 2008 at 8:38 AM
I thought activation had to be done in-store which means that buying from OS will not be possible.
Report PermalinkDisappointed
June 12, 2008 at 8:43 AM
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.
Report PermalinkJW
June 12, 2008 at 8:52 AM
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!!!
Report PermalinkDav[e]tech
June 12, 2008 at 9:12 AM
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.
Report PermalinkSimon
June 12, 2008 at 9:35 AM
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.
Report PermalinkPete
June 12, 2008 at 9:58 AM
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!
Report PermalinkJared
June 12, 2008 at 10:06 AM
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.
Report PermalinkFred
June 12, 2008 at 10:06 AM
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.
Report PermalinkDan
June 12, 2008 at 10:10 AM
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.
Report PermalinkCam
June 12, 2008 at 10:31 AM
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.
Report PermalinkGav
June 12, 2008 at 10:38 AM
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….
Report PermalinkGav
June 12, 2008 at 11:01 AM
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.”
Report PermalinkZen
June 12, 2008 at 11:18 AM
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
Report PermalinkLunchguy
June 12, 2008 at 11:25 AM
“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..
Report PermalinkRob
June 12, 2008 at 11:42 AM
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!!!
Report PermalinkDav[e]tech
June 12, 2008 at 12:19 PM
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.
Report Permalink