Vodafone's iPhone rate plans

Forums › One New Zealand (including Vodafone, WxC, Farmside) › Vodafone's iPhone rate plans

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#144685 8-Jul-2008 15:16

From what I've heard, they are using a different APN for the iPhone, so that's how the data will get differentiated from normal phones with data plans.

So I guess you might be able to use another phone with the iPhone's SIM card, provided you put in its APN.

I might be completely off of it, of course.

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dan

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#144690 8-Jul-2008 15:22

Unimpressed, but not suprised. Wont be getting one from VFNZ

Aaroona

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#144694 8-Jul-2008 15:27

dan: Unimpressed, but not suprised. Wont be getting one from VFNZ

Anyone who does to be is a silverspoon :P

freitasm

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#144703 8-Jul-2008 15:33

Someone contacted me through my blog and made an interesting comment:

Someone is happy and contacted me to make his thoughts known - a bit rude I have to say, but here we go. He thinks this is a great deal... A You Choose 600 plan ($224.95) plus mobile broadband 1 GB plan ($49.95) plus 600 SMS ($12.9). All this for $250 instead of $287.85... So he sees it as a great deal.

I see it as Vodafone not giving their customers options. Why shall customer A get a Choose 600 plan if 600 voice minutes a month is to much? Why not allow mix of voice and data plans? Your money, your choices.

My technology disclosure

KellyP

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#144705 8-Jul-2008 15:35

So if I buy a no contract iPhone from VFNZ, get my current On Account SIM, throw it in, will it work out of the box?

freitasm

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#144709 8-Jul-2008 15:36

It should...

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Aaroona

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#144712 8-Jul-2008 15:37

freitasm: It should...

As long as you have a broadband plan according to the Vodafoner website.
How they will police this though is beyond me. I guess they will look at the account before you buy the phone.

JoeBloggs

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#144713 8-Jul-2008 15:38

To the aformentioned: from the documentation I've read you're able to buy and use the 3G Iphone under any Vodafone account structure, you just won't receive the large subsidy. You shouldn't have to buy a data plan on top of that (unless of course if you'd like to use data).

I'm generally happy with the negative press. This whole affair sheds a very much needed light on our telco prices vs other major international suppliers. Let's me honest here, did anyone really expect BETTER value with an Iphone plan? We should have expected to pay a premium and that's what Vodafone has done. Thankfully this time Apple has done such a wonderful job of advertising their $199 price worldwide, we see definitively just how far up that stick has been placed

I'd also be very surprised if Vodafone locked the IPhone, despite the commerce commissions warnings of doing so - there could be repercussions.

To whomever claimed that there are only 4 Iphones in the entire country: You need to recheck your source. That would be ridiculous.

The 3G Iphone has a GPS module built into it (just like the N95) and uses AGPS (just like the N95). At current data rates AGPS was unusable without a data plan until the $1 daily cap was implemented. The original Iphone simply used clever cell-site positioning techniques to give a rough location.

kinetic

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#144716 8-Jul-2008 15:41

I learnt two things today.

1. VF - what a rip off.

2. Geekzone, - talk about having it's finger on the pulse, best source of Tech info on web in NZ, period.

Well done Mauricio Freitas, and other mods/admins for running an incredible site/forum.

Top STUFF!

Aaroona

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#144717 8-Jul-2008 15:44

kinetic: I learnt two things today.

1. VF - what a rip off.
2. Geekzone, - talk about having it's finger on the pulse, best source of Tech info on web in NZ, period.

Well done Mauricio Freitas, and other mods/admins for running an incredible site/forum.

Top STUFF!

That means I learnt nothing today.
I knew both of those anyways :P

Check out my post from last night;

Aaroona:
1. get up at 9.55
2. rub your eyes at 9.55
3. walk to your computer (without running into anything9.57
4. sit down and turn it on, so another 2 minutes.
5. load the vodafone website.
6. wait for 30minutes while vodafones servers untangle themselves.
7. wait even longer for vodafone to actually post the information.. by this time it'll be about 10.40-10.50

bcourtney

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#144718 8-Jul-2008 15:44

Possibly the reason for such limited choices are due to limited initial stock levels? Initial orders/purchases will possibly be taken up by business users that can easily justify the plan charges.

I'm currently on a You Choose 60 plan with Text 600 and the 200MB data plan which totals just over $80 per month. SO for me, the $80/month plan is pretty good. Double the minutes and a little bit more data. The $10 data insurance is missing though which is a bummer! When I initially signed on to this plan I also had to pay full price for an i-mate SP JAS ($1100-odd) so getting the iphone for $699 isn't too bad in my eyes.

I would imagine that VF will be using this initial period to gauge customer feedback (the constructive stuff a least!) and when more stock becomes available I imagine the options will expand with regards to plans and add-ons etc.

Perhaps those that can't afford one of these initial plans (and don't want to fork out to buy the phone at full price for use on their existing plans) should just sit tight for a wee while to see what comes when the dust settles?

Hey, the plans aren't ideal and certainly don't stack up with the rest of the world, but in comparison to the current market, are they really that bad? Surely we didn't all think that Apple releasing the iphone would cause Vodafone to revolutionise the mobile voice/data market did we??!! What would they have to gain?

shadou

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#144728 8-Jul-2008 15:56

bcourtney:
I'm currently on a You Choose 60 plan with Text 600 and the 200MB data plan which totals just over $80 per month. SO for me, the $80/month plan is pretty good. Double the minutes and a little bit more data. The $10 data insurance is missing though which is a bummer! When I initially signed on to this plan I also had to pay full price for an i-mate SP JAS ($1100-odd) so getting the iphone for $699 isn't too bad in my eyes.

I entirely agree.

I have YouChoose20, 1 BestMate, 200MB data which turns out to be approximately $80/month. I'm frequently on call and always end up blowing my 20 minute cap, leading to bills closer to $150/mo.

The phone I'll be replacing with an iPhone3G cost me $1399 retail at the beginning of last year - iMate JasJam (HTC TyTN, contact me offlist/pm if you'd like to purchase - after about $500). The iPhone3G is nearly 3 times cheaper than what I paid, and I get all of the same (and many more) features.

All of the riled up school kids need to face it - the iPhone3G was clearly targeted at business/corporate users who are quite used to paying upwards of $1k for a device. The plans are right in line with current plans, although you loose a bit of freedom :(

nxc

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#144735 8-Jul-2008 16:00

While I'm not in favour of those greedy offer from VFNZ, but tbh, I found these make some sense. What I got in my mind are:

1. VFNZ has to got something to get away with Job's promise $199 in most countries :) => they created a ridiculous plan that only benefits 1-2% of their customer. Those who need that much time to talk => don't have much time to browser the web on that tiny screen. So they created that ridiculous plan to satisfy APPL requirement and try to make the most out of us on the lowest plan that most ppl will go for.

2. The outright price isn't too bad if you know how Apple has its pricing plan here in NZ. What they do is US price x 1.6 = NZ Price. In
US, no contract phone is 599USD => 958.4 with 1.6 ratio.

3. The reason for missing addons is VFNZ can price them later depends on result of market sensing. If enough ppl ridicule the current pricing, they will throw out some add-ons at no cost or real cheap, for example, 1/2 price Family Link or something like that.

What I found funny is some ppl not realise they are paying too much already until iPhone coming out. I don't mean ppl here but some ppl that i talked to today. Anyway, I reckons these offers are inline with whatever currently on the market. The only thing missing is Flexibility.

Don't expect anything cheap just yet here in NZ :).

Marmion

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Master Geek

#144737 8-Jul-2008 16:03

I think that once supply stabilises we will be seeing cheaper plans based off You Choose 20/60.
Vodafone clearly states that there will be availablity of more add ons later, possibly giving those who wait a better choice, to build their plans around their needs (rather than Vodafone's needs). However, I'm sure Vodafone priced their plans based on current On Account users - ie these three plan combinations must be based on potential iPhone users from their own records.

whaka

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#144746 8-Jul-2008 16:16

Is anyone actually that surprised?

Unlike many overseas operators Vodafone NZ does not provide substantial subsidies on handsets so to offer the iPhone at the price announced by apple they had to do something silly around the monthly subs and lets face it, regardless how silly we think the prices are, there will be queues outside the 3 stores at midnight on Firday.

Scanning through all the posts about this, I am yet to see any sort of official response from any Vodafone spokesman. Paul is usually very quick to give Vodafone's side. Maybe he is so busy dealing with all the questions from the press aobut how they can justify the prices.

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