Last week, the iPhone 3G was announced and I’m sure you already knew that, unless you have been living under a rock. No offence.
What isn’t known about this device is how much and what plans will be available for Australia. Shortly after the announcement, Optus came to the party with http://www.optusiphone.com.au, allowing people to put a $100 deposit down.
Vodafone quickly followed suit, with its own iPhone web page. Noticably absent were two major telco companies, Telstra and 3. So where are they?
Telstra has long ties to Microsoft and their Windows Mobile platform. This is a relatively minor point, compared to a much larger one: Telstra charges a huge amount of money for data transfer at the moment. Carrying the iPhone would require them to offer a very low-cost, high-usage data plan. This would cause Telstra to lower their data prices across the board and drastically affect their bottom lines. Optus and Vodafone have long been promoting their cheap data plans, so the iPhone fits quite naturally into their current mobile plans and would not negatively affect their bottom line.
3, also, has relatively cheap data plans. But it hasn’t come to the iPhone party because of it’s X-Series mobile offering. It has spent many, many years developing relationships with Microsoft (by offering MSN/Live Messenger), eBay and Orb. None of these relationships could exist with the iPhone, as these applications are not available for the iPhone. Also, the Apple iTunes Wi-Fi Store and Apps Store is in direct competition to 3’s current offerings (it makes a sizeable chunk of money from charging for games). All of these things would cut into 3’s bottom line.
It is difficult for me to list these reasons against 3, as I’m currently with them and won’t be able to get an iPhone if I stay with them.
So there are two questions that remain - will I be able to buy an iPhone outright with no contractual obligation. If not, how much is it going to cost me to cancel my 3 contract?
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It is an interesting point to note that Australia in general has a very advanced mobile phone network, with a majority of users now switching to the variety of operators 3G or similar offerings.
It is also interesting to note that Australia is ranked in the worlds top ten most expensive internet services. This, I believe is mainly due to Telstra and its impact on the industry. Telstra charge too much, for bad service and unreliable connections. They will always make money because they have so much of the share of the industry. Which brings me to comment on the phone carriers that will offer the iphone.
WARNING: GENERALIZATIONS AHOY!
You are very correct in your comments on Telstra aligning with Microsoft, they are very business orientated and will not change for what they will see as a FAD. Vodafone are very hip and groovy but they are expensive. Optus are not very user friendly, are not very hip and groovy and only really exist for prepaid users and to maintain the market share that they stole of Telstra being one of the first competition.
I WANT 3 TO GET THE IPHONE TOO…
OH WAIT THEY HAVE!