Yesterday ZDnet broke the story that Virgin would be launching the iPhone 3G within two weeks, but without any official confirmation, it was stuck into the “rumour” basket.
Today, Giz can happily confirm that Virgin will be launching the iPhone, hopefully as soon as Friday this week (although that’s not confirmed yet). So if you’re planning on getting yourself an iPhone in the next few days, you probably want to wait, especially if you’re a data fiend.
And if, like me, you just bought an iPhone, what you read below the fold is probably going to hurt a little bit…
From our source:
For $70 per month for 24 months, all Virgin iPhone 3G customers will get:· An 8GB Apple iPhone 3G for $0
· $520 WORTH OF CALLS & TEXTS
· 1GB OF DATA each and every month
· FREE CALLS & TEXT TO VIRGIN MOBILES!
· FREE VOICEMAIL to receive and retrieve in Oz!
· 40¢ Call Rate per 30 seconds w/ 40¢ call connection
· 25¢ Text to others in Australia, 35¢ overseas
For $100 per month, you can get the same plan but increase your data allowance up to 5GB. Yep, 5 Gigs.
Want the 16 Gig version? Then that’ll be $4 extra a month on the Cap 70 plan, but no extra on the Cap 100 plan.
As we mentioned yesterday, Virgin runs on the Optus network, so you get the same coverage as the current best deal, but with a lot more data.
Stocks will be limited, of course, and the phones will be available through Virgin stores and online.
This is the kind of deal I was expecting Vodafone to have. And now that Virgin has the iPhone, how long before 3 gets it, I wonder?
Matt
July 29, 2008 at 6:54 PM
My understanding is that Virgin Mobile is owned by Optus, so their getting the iPhone doesn’t really say anything about any other network getting it.
(Unfortunately.)
Still, that’s a pretty good deal, and if I weren’t already on a 3 contract I’d be grabbing that.
Report Permalinkcraig
July 29, 2008 at 7:16 PM
ARGH! And you just KNOW Vodafone is going to change their plans soon too, once the rush has died down.
Damn.
Report Permalinkkjd
July 29, 2008 at 7:26 PM
YOU BEAUTY!! That is a deal and a half!!! Now I hope they will let me upgrade my current phone!!!
Report PermalinkRon
July 29, 2008 at 7:35 PM
zomg!
Now if only the others see this and go “hmmm, maybe we can be honest and admit that data doesn’t cost as much as we make out!”, we’ll be all set for iPhone sales here in Oz. I see that Telstra are already advertising the HTC Touch.
Report Permalinkhh
July 29, 2008 at 8:25 PM
Virgin. iPhone, Heaps of calls, heaps of data and the worst customer service known to man.
Report PermalinkDM
July 29, 2008 at 8:28 PM
FIVE GIG!? *faints*
Report Permalinktristan
July 29, 2008 at 8:36 PM
Wow! That’s what an iPhone plan SHOULD look like!
Report PermalinkIan
July 29, 2008 at 9:44 PM
latest comments on Whirlpool (www.whirlpool.net.au) indicate that Optus are now stating a mid September iphone delivery date. Rumours are also that they are charging customers who “rain checked” even though they haven’t delivered the phone. Maybe its time to cancel my “rain check” and check out Virgin.
If Telstra or Vodafone came to the party with some decent plans I would move on over…I can but hope..
Report Permalinkdan
July 29, 2008 at 9:56 PM
looks like a good deal, a bit annoyed i just bought a new e51 because i was so depressed about the iphone deals all sucking!!
any idea what the monthly cost of the phone will be if you pull out of the contract?? there is a technical term for this but i cant remember it.
Report Permalinkpoiter
July 29, 2008 at 11:17 PM
also the phone is locked to the virgin/optus network and will cost u $80 to get it unlocked if u want to unlocked the phone within the first 12mths
Report Permalinkchylld
July 30, 2008 at 7:21 AM
The excess data rate for Virgin is currently $15/MB, which might sting a bit, but then again 1GB is a LOT of data already. And if it isn’t enough somehow, then you have the 5GB option… this is very well thought out.
As for 3, it is extremely unlikely that they will get the iPhone due to their exorbitant roaming charge of $1.65/MB. Walk behind a wall *just* a bit too thick and your bill will double in a matter of minutes!! Apple is obviously aware of this and wants to prevent users from having such a bad mobile browsing experience.
Report PermalinkGreg
July 30, 2008 at 2:35 PM
The iPhone has an option to not use data when roaming. If that works correctly, you could easily stop the iPhone from using expensive data.
However – I’ve seen posts saying that’s not working correctly at present. Wait for a firmward update.
Report Permalinkshafiiub
July 30, 2008 at 2:35 PM
If Virgin Mobile 1GB included data is not enough (If you need more GiG)
Report PermalinkYou can add an extra 1GB for 15$
http://www.virginmobile.com.au/services/3g_services.html#4
Speter
July 30, 2008 at 3:21 PM
Virgin have been good to me except for lousy customer service, which doesn’t matter if you are tech savy – EXCEPT for the fact i cant get a data plan on prepaid. I have been a loyal customer for 5 years now on prepaid and dont want sign up for a monthly bill, Prepaid rates are great 10 cent text etc, cheap calls, bad reception allowing you to end unwanted calls easily, but why cant i have some data for my HTC touch,. YOU ARE BECOMING EVIL BASTARDOS – WHY MUST YOU TEASE ME SO!!!!!!
Report Permalinkntheboy
July 31, 2008 at 3:50 PM
Thankyou Virgin for proving how much the other three networks are ripping us off. For me Telstra and Optus are the evil empire, abusing their high profiles to sell us overpriced megabytes (look at their broadband costs). Vodafone are worse for following suit, especially when they already sell 5gigs of 3g data for $39, compared to $169 for 1 gig for the iPhone. STOP CHARGING FOR DATA IT’S COSTS NOTHING TO MAKE!
Report PermalinkBoris Jr
August 1, 2008 at 10:04 AM
So, $2400 gets you a mobile phone and phone calls for two years and that’s a ‘good’ thing?
Report PermalinkJason
August 19, 2008 at 5:21 PM
“So, $2400 gets you a mobile phone and phone calls for two years and that’s a ‘good’ thing? “
YES! Thats $12,480 in calls, an unlocked 16gb iPhone and 120GB of data!
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