Petition to Vodafone NZ

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PhilipRoy

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Topic # 23176 20-Jun-2008 21:30

Hi all,

Hope this is OK to post here. Vodafone NZ have said that the iPhone 3G will *not* be available on prepay but "on account" plans only. A few of us aren't happy about that, so we've started a petition. Feel free to sign it...

http://www.PetitionOnline.com/nzmac/petition.html

Cheers,

Phil

scottjpalmer

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Reply # 139487 20-Jun-2008 21:43

Has Vodafone actually said no prepay?

PhilipRoy

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Reply # 139489 20-Jun-2008 21:52

Yes. The press release that came out on July 11 and covered NZ featured 4 countries for Vodafone...

http://www.apple.com/nz/pr/library/2008/06/09vodafone.html

The Press Release appeared there, on Vodafone.com and also Vodafone.co.nz verbatim.

Then it was noted by a user of my site that "on both prepay and contract" got edited over the course of the afternoon of July 11 to say "on contract"

Their Head of Company Communications then confirmed to me that the iPhone will only be available on account in NZ.

Phil

sbiddle

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Reply # 139490 20-Jun-2008 21:52

As it stands right now there is nothing stopping you from using a 3G iPhone on a prepay account.

There are already retailers who have promised unlocked 3G iPhones at quite reasonable pricepoints and these will obviously work with an existing Prepay SIM.

The issue here seems to be Apple who have dictated to the carriers than US$199 (or thereabouts in local currency) is the price people will pay for these handsets and this will be with a 2yr contract. A quick search indicates that several other networks planning on having the 3G iPhone on "prepay" account will all offer these with 2 year contracts as it seems to be the way Apple want things.

Vodafone Italy have released their pricing with the iPhone being available on a regular non contract Prepay account for €499 for the 8GB or 6GB model for €569.

PhilipRoy

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Reply # 139492 20-Jun-2008 21:56

If by retailers you mean parallel importers, then sure....but the intention of the petition is to encourage the teleco that has 'won' the rights to release the iPhone officially into the NZ market to change its stance.

Phil

sbiddle

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Reply # 139496 20-Jun-2008 22:00

The reality is however that the iPhone has been an On Account mobile in the USA for the past year. The business model was designed around offering an On Account contract that gave Apple a monetary return from the carrier.

While this has in part changed with the release of the 3G model Apple are still expecting this handset to be sold at a subsidised price by the carrier and sold in tandem with a data offering that lets the end user take advantage of the capabilities of the handset.

In many respects you should also be questioning Apple's business model - not just directing the issue at Vodafone.

PhilipRoy

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Reply # 139498 20-Jun-2008 22:06

Why? The iPhone will be available as prepay in Australia...how is that an Apple thing?

Phil

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Reply # 139499 20-Jun-2008 22:07

PhilipRoy: Why? The iPhone will be available as prepay in Australia...how is that an Apple thing?

Phil

Vodafone AU's Prepaid offering is on a 24 month contract.

PhilipRoy

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Reply # 139500 20-Jun-2008 22:14

That's purely speculation at the moment and my understanding also, having read a few OZ site, is there is some variation in what prepay means there?

I go by this site and their FAQs....

http://forums.mactalk.com.au/47/51213-great-big-constantly-updated-australian-iphone-faq-v2-0-a.html

To date, nothing definitive has been released to suggest anyone will be bound by a contract

Phil