Ozzy to get Prepay iPhones ??

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wellygary

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#22897 11-Jun-2008 17:16

From http://www.news.com.au/technology/story/0,25642,23839650-5016091,00.html

The next-generation 3G Apple iPhone will be available in Australia on prepay plans without a contract when it is released here next month.

Both Optus and Vodafone – the first carriers to announce an iPhone offering – today confirmed they would offer the handset on a prepay plan, a key concern among the phone's target demographic.

Vodafone spokesman Greg Spears said customers would be able to buy an iPhone outright and purchase credit without being locked into a contract.

Features such as applications downloads, online synchronisation and email would be available on certain prepay plans, he said.

So it appears that pre-pay is possible, if Vfone here don't offer it , I am sure the parallel importers will do a roaring trade mueling them in from Sydney's new apple store :)

ahmad

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#137490 11-Jun-2008 21:28

Excuse my ignorance, as I've largely ignored the iPhone due to a price point way beyond what I'm prepared to consider paying for such a device. Now with the new "achievable" price point, I'm pumped.

So if I'm not mistaken, these phones initially were only available from Apple in the US directly, and were only supposed to be activated by AT&T there. And yet Apple *knew* that they were selling loads more than were actually officially activated?

One must presume they didn't care about this? Or else they could have distributed these directly via AT&T right?

Anyway back to our situation, if Voda NZ doesn't sell them here for pre-paid/outright, then would we have to "jailbreak" an Aussie iPhone for it to work with a prepaid SIM here?

With all this fuss I'm wondering if I won't actually be able to get a dirt cheap 1st Gen that I was hoping for as a 2nd option.

paradoxsm

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#137502 11-Jun-2008 22:46

Apple did care as they had an agreement with AT&T but my guess is that they kind of passed a blind eye as it was just increasing the popularity immensely and worldwide appetite for the device. Now so many people worldwide have experienced the older device first hand, we are all chomping to get a new one.

sproyd

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#137514 11-Jun-2008 23:14

This is great news! Finally people will have the freedom to own this great device officially without being locked into the not so golden handcuffs.

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wellygary

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#137747 13-Jun-2008 08:25

First prepaid prices start to drip out round the world

Vodafone Italy have said the 3G iphone is available on prepaid for 500 euro ($1000 NZD)

8 GB 3G iphone = 499 euro ($1000 NZD)
16 GB 3G iphone = 569 euro ($1100 NZD)

http://iphone.vodafone.it/

sbiddle

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#137751 13-Jun-2008 08:46

You do have to remember that in Australia the concept of prepaid is slightly different to New Zealand. You can be on a "Prepay" plan in Australia (such as the $49 maxi cap), receive a free phone and also have a 2yr term contract. Here in NZ while term contracts are mandatory if you want an on account plan but don't exist for Prepay.

mobygeek

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#137764 13-Jun-2008 09:55

If one buys an apple iPhone outright here, or elsewhere, will they be able to use all the features with their pre-paid account? I know there's probably nothing to stop you putting in your prepaid sim card, but is it worth it? It's possible that the Aussies will/could charge double the normal unlocking fee for the iPhone...

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ahmad

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#137792 13-Jun-2008 11:48

They will be changing the purchasing model for the new iPhone right?

If I understand it correctly, you previously bought your iPhone from the Apple store for $x and could only use that with a certain provider.

Now that the phone price appears to be heavily subsidised taking into account a 2 year contract, will we still be buying the cheaper phone from Apple store?

If we buy from the Apple store for $299 (say) and this is "only to be used with Vodafone on a 2 year contract", then can't you just jailbreak the phone as has been done previously? Or is "phone locking" a separate issue to the firmware issue?

I'm guessing that with the subsidised price these phones will no longer be supplied directly from Apple but instead be supplied via the contract providers??

Benjip

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#137800 13-Jun-2008 12:27

ahmad: They will be changing the purchasing model for the new iPhone right?

If I understand it correctly, you previously bought your iPhone from the Apple store for $x and could only use that with a certain provider.

…I'm guessing that with the subsidised price these phones will no longer be supplied directly from Apple but instead be supplied via the contract providers??

Correct. My assumption is that you won't even be given the iPhone until after you've signed on the dotted line for a 2-year contract. Otherwise it's just as you say (and how it used to be) - you buy the physical product and then go home and activate it thru iTunes - or just unlock it and there goes the monthly income for Apple and Vodafone.

What I'm hoping is that you can buy unlocked iPhones from the US for something like $499 USD, which is still pretty cheap in NZD for what's arguably the best phone available (definitely so for an Apple fanatic like myself). Those prices for the Spanish unlocked ones (499 Euro?) are a bit up there for me, it worked out to $1100 NZD I think.

sproyd

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#138029 14-Jun-2008 17:47

The real catastrophe for Apple with people jailbreaking iPhones is that people were buying the iPhones at the contracted price rate but taking them home and jailbreaking. This meant Apple was missing out on a significant amount of income from those people. Hence now the option to either buy outright or have it unlocked 'in-store'. This way Apple never misses out as there are no contract-priced iphones floating around on prepay.

This is why the iPhone EDGE will not drop hugely in value.

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sbiddle

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#138036 14-Jun-2008 18:34

You have to remember that the concept of "prepaid" in Australia can be slightly different to NZ. You have prepaid plans over there that have term contracts applied to them and many receive free phones - N95 if you commit to a A$49 plan for 2 years on Vodafone at present.

ahmad

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#138041 14-Jun-2008 18:54

sbiddle: You have to remember that the concept of "prepaid" in Australia can be slightly different to NZ. You have prepaid plans over there that have term contracts applied to them and many receive free phones - N95 if you commit to a A$49 plan for 2 years on Vodafone at present.

I don't get it, and you're going to have to elebaorate when you make these posts. What happens if I stop topping up?

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sbiddle

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#138043 14-Jun-2008 19:18

ahmad:
sbiddle: You have to remember that the concept of "prepaid" in Australia can be slightly different to NZ. You have prepaid plans over there that have term contracts applied to them and many receive free phones - N95 if you commit to a A$49 plan for 2 years on Vodafone at present.

I don't get it, and you're going to have to elebaorate when you make these posts. What happens if I stop topping up?

There are prepay plans as we know it as well but there are also contract prepay plans. This is where I'm sure most people are getting caught up in the hype when they hear "prepaid" in Australia and feel that we are being ripped off in NZ.

In Australia Vodafone introduced the concept of capped plans where you commit to a fixed amount, ie $49, and get $300 worth of network value. These were introduced across both on account and prepaid plans but in many ways there are no differences between the two plan types which could obviously be confusing.

When you enter into a "prepaid" term contract it's no different to entering into an On Account contract - you commit to a certain usage and if you don't then VF send the debt collectors after you! :-)

The UK terms of Pay as you talk and Pay Monthly are a lot clearer.

sproyd

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#138044 14-Jun-2008 19:25

I'm based in Melbourne and ahve just recently researched different prepaid plans. Yes you can sign up on 24 month 'prepaid plans' which basically work like prepaid in NZ except you are locked in and it works on a cap basis.

i.e.

You pay $29 a month and get $130 of 'credit' to use which expires at month end.

Iam on a prepaid month-by-month basis where I pay $29 each month with no lock-in.

Why would you go on a 'prepaid' term then? Because you get free or cheap phones and its the same price as standard prepaid. Upside for the carriers is they get guaranteed income. Downside for consumers is they are locked in.

I'd anticipate iPhone will be released on both types of prepaid contracts in Aus - with iPhone cheaper on a locked in basis.

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ahmad

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#138048 14-Jun-2008 19:51

Semantics.

It's still essentially a post-paid plan with a contract. If you see it that way.

Edit: Ah, I see what you are saying. These are essentially post-paid contract plans, but are referred to as "prepaid". Thus the annoucement that prepaid options will be available doesn't mean that you'll be able to do as you would in NZ and top up $20 per year with no minimum spend otherwise. Unless you paid a premium for the "unlocked" privilege.