Let’s Take a Closer Look At Optus’ iPhone Pricing: Post-paid ‘Yes’ Plans
This is the final part of our look at Optus’ iPhone plans. If you’re not into that whole “capped plans” deal, then this is your best and only option on Optus for the iPhone 3G.
Prices range from $19 per month to $149 per month, with the level of included calls just underneath the amount you pay. Data incluions here are the same as the capped plans, starting at 100MB and maxing out a 1GB for the $99 and $149 plans.
The iPhone itself will cost up to $59 per month (16GB iPhone, 12 month contract, $19 plan) but you can pick it up for free on the more expensive plans.
This is very similar to what you get with the capped plans, and so has the same level of disappointment at the lack of an appropriate data allowance for power users.
However one really cool feature that was overlooked in the previous two plans (although still applies to them) is the inclusion of free Wi-Fi at Optus Wi-Fi hotspots. I have no idea how prevalent these are around the country – I’m much more familiar with Telstra’s hotspots – but it’s still a great added bonus for users. Remember that the iPhone can automatically detect a wireless network and switch to it from mobile data.
So, now that you know what Optus is offering, how many of you are going to sign the contract with them next Friday? Or will you wait to hear what the other networks have to say first? Let us know in comments…
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Comments
Seriously Nick, how many people are going to need more than 700mb a month? So called “power users”? It’s a mobile phone not a computer, its for the odd time you need mobile internet.
You cease to remember that most users are not nerds and don’t care about gigabytes of data for a stupid mobile phone…
I have currently have my iPhone on 70mb a month and this more than suffices.
The data allocations for “yes” plans aren’t the same as the Cap plans, they’re slightly higher.
For example, the $49 Cap Plan includes 250mb of data, whereas the $49 “yes” plan and the $50 Turbo Cap include 500mb of data.
I’m currently locked into a plan with Optus anyway, so I’m thinking of signing my wife up (as her plan has finished) and then switching our numbers which Optus seemed to think was possible. So I prob will signup for one of the the mid-ranged ‘capped plans.’
I just spoke to telstra, the best I could get out of them at the moment on 1800iphone was on the $30 plan you would be looking at $250 for the 8gig and $350 for the 16gig, on an $80 plan the 8gig is free
and on a $100 plan the 16gig is free.
no news on any cap plans.
i’m with prepay all the way. I don’t like the idea of not owning my handset. and the prices are the same with all carriers so it doesn’t really make that much difference if you think about it. but hey. AM GETTING AN IPHONE!!!!!
I think these plans are better than I hoped, particularly since I have Optus home phone and Internet.
I can move from a $49 Vodaphone cap with $12 mobile repayment (concluding last month) and no data allowance to pretty much the same thing + 250MB AND an ipod + iphone goodness.
However the $39 plan with 500MB looks tempting as I don’t really make as many calls as I used to, and most of them are to the same number (Wife).
I’m more likely to play with the data and use MobileMe for SMS style chat with people.
Very pleased.
Not to rain on anyone’s parade here, but I strongly suggest trying this thing out before buying it (or even try out an iPod Touch, as it’s pretty much the same minus the phone feature).
My main gripe with the iPhone/iPod Touch is that these devices are two-handed devices. Meaning, you pretty much need to use two hands to do things easily (one hand holds the device, the other performs the actions).
For anyone that commutes to work and stands on a crowded tram/train you’ll understand how important it is to be able to use a device with only one hand.
Can you easily unlock an iPhone/iPod Touch using the slide action with one hand? No. Functions like this needlessly involve two hands – they could just have easily have made it so that you have to press on two different points on the middle of the screen or something so that it can be done easily with one hand (i.e., as opposed to sliding across the bottom of the screen, which is very hard with one hand).
What about business plans???
Optus wireless hotspots: https://rego.optusnet.com.au/wireless/locations.html
You would think they’d do a F$@$# map!
Macca: yes true for the two-hands operation, that is annoying, but then you gain so many features that it still a deal for me. The first one is that I don’t need to carry two devices (phone and ipod).
On another note, burried in the ‘yes’ iphone cap plan terms and condition is that VPN data usage is not part of the cap plan and to be charged ‘at prevailing rates’. Too bad for enterprise users out there! (like me)
Also -and this maybe already the case on optus or any cap plan?- ‘you are not able to view your monthly usage prior to receiving your bill’. so basically you take a guess and if you go over your quota you pay premium price, but finds out when it’s too late.
oh well, with so much anticipated demand, I guess we’ll have to live with that for a while…
I have to say Macca, although I’m not a current iPhone owner, from the few times I have used the iPhone and iPod Touch, I thought it was quite usable with only one hand. Sure you can’t use it anywhere near as quickly, and probably not as well as you could a standard phone, but I still think it’s does the job.
Maybe I just have big hands?
@Macca – get bigger hands man! It’s easy to slide to unlock with one hand.
Cmon Telstra please have better call rates, etc.
Interested to see what Vodafone have got, but thinking these might do the trick. I’d like more data, but can survive with clever management (I’m at a home office most of the time anyway, so bandwidth is unlikely to be an issue).
The most important question is..
Will I actually be able to walk out of a store with an IPHONE on July the 11th?
My sources at Voda, Optus and Telstra have all told me that there will be NO stock and that Apple will be shipping them out after you sign up!!
Does anyone else have information like this?
We need more generous data plans and here’s why.
In every country the iPhone landed, mobile data usage by iPhone owners went through the roof. The iPhone obviously just makes it too damn easy to get on the internet (unlike my crappy mobile at the moment).
It may not matter to us as adults to have the ‘internet in our pocket’ but to Gen Y and Z the level of connectivity and new ways of talking to your mates will change their lives just as the internet and first gen mobiles did 10 years ago.
They need more data…but more importantly, so do I.
i am not gonna buy yet
will wait for reasonable data plans, like V’s $39/5Gb or more
want to make it main communication (emails, IMs, twitter, voice – skype/gtalk); multimedia (online radio, online video, youtube, etc); PA (calendar); news, blogs, social nets, maps, photo blogging and many more.
1G is not enough.. not even sure about 5..
@MACCA – I have owned an iPod Touch as soon as they became available in Australia and have not had any trouble at all using it one handed.
This is somethign I have had to frequently do due being a commuter in Melbourne and usually having one hand reserved for a laptop bag.
I will admit it is not quite as precise to hold the device in your palm and use your thumb but it more than suffices. In many ways I find it better than my Nokia N90 phone to use even though the N90 has very large buttons.
Anyway, whilst you should probably try a demo phone before you buy one or at least weigh up whether or not you will make use of most of the iPhone’s features I do not think there is anyone I would not reccomend the iPhone to and I cannot wait to see it released next Friday.
The biggest question is will we see it Friday morning, thus along with New Zealand being among the first in the world (by a few hours) to get our hands on the iPhone and most importantly before the US!
I’ll be waiting a couple of days and comparing the plans. I have pretty high call usage as basically use my mobile for everything. Im looking forward to me.com as it looks like a cool alternative for exchange, which has always been a rip off. I have no plan at the moment so free to switch…btw new looks is sweet!
A word of warning.
I have been a (very happy) iPhone user in Australia for the past 4 months. One great attribute is that when you are in the vicinity of any accessible Wi-Fi network, you do not use 3G (or Edge at present), but the iPhone automatically switches you to the Wi-Fi.
Thus, you can use Skype (check out fring.com) on your home WiFi from your iPhone WITHOUT using the iPhone data plan.
I can’t wait for the 3G version
Regards
Paddy132A
One hand use is very possible. It’s not as easy, but definitely do-able.
Although I haven’t found using two hands that bad with it myself I would strongly suggest trying before buying. It’s very expensive and Ive found most people don’t realise it lacks a lot of basic features (bluetooth, video recording, MMS, etc.)
Someone said that WIFI is limited to prepaid, don’t agree: Below a sample from the terms and conditions
Optus WiFi: Customers whom connect their Apple iPhone to an Optus iPhone rate plan will receive free WiFi from any Optus WiFi hotspot. The service provide you with access, via a fixed wireless IP network extension to the Optus IP Network, to the Internet and related services, such as email and the world wide web on an on-demand basis. Optus may immediately suspend, downgrade or cancel the Service in a variety of circumstances, including: if, before the service start date, Optus determines it is not viable to supply the Service to you; you misuse the Service; non- compliant Equipment is used; there is an unusually high use of the Service; you fail to pay any charges to Optus; or you become insolvent. Not all content is located on Optus iZoo will be available when using the Apple iPhone over the Optus WiFi connection. Availability and performance Optus hot-spots can vary.
Why don’t they release a Pre-Paid plan for the iPhone 3g. Also, I wonder if Macquarie Telecom (uses vodafone towers) will work on iPhone 3g.