At last we've come to the end of the secrets and speculation. We know everything about the iPhone 3G and we know how much each of the Aussie telcos will be charging us for one. All that's left to do is sift through the seemingly endless plans to discover the best value iPhone deals.
For the sake of comparison, we're looking strictly at out of pocket expenses. It's important to note that the charts below don't take additional services into account. While Telstra may look like "Australia's most expensive iPhone" — especially in regards to its data charges — some would argue that its network, services and coverage make up the difference.
Prepaid
In line with their initial iPhone announcements both Vodafone and Optus will offer the iPhone out of contract with prepaid SIM cards. These handsets will be network locked but both companies offer unlocking for an additional fee.
Outright — 8GB Outright — 16GB Unlocking fee
Optus $729 $849 $80
Vodafone TBC TBC $75
Cheapest plan — 8GB model
This chart represents the cheapest iPhone on a post-paid contract over the life of a 24-month contract.
Monthly spend Handset payment Included calls Included data Minimum total cost
Optus $19 $21p/m* $50 100MB $960
Vodafone $69 $189 or $7.88 p/m* $310 250MB $1,845
Telstra $30 $279 $25 5MB $999
*p/m = per month
Cheapest $0 upfront — 8GB
Each of the carriers will offer the iPhone fully subsidised at a certain price point.
Monthly spend Included calls Included data Minimum total cost
Optus $79 $550 700MB $1,896
Vodafone $169 $1,200 1GB $4,056
Telstra $80 $70 10MB $1,920
Big Spender — 16GB
Have you got a pile of cash begging to be spent on mobile calls and data? This chart shows the opposite end of the the spectrum; the most costly plans with each of the carriers.
Monthly spend Included calls Included data Minimum total cost
Optus $179 $1,500 1GB $4,296
Vodafone $169 $1,200 1GB $4,056
Telstra $100 $90 10MB $2,400
In summary
Optus is subsidising the handset at a lower price point than Vodafone and will appeal to shoppers looking for the cheapest price over the life of their contract. However, Vodafone offers significantly increased data allowances and, while you'll pay a premium for the handset, will appeal to people who intend to use the internet heavily.
Alternatively
If you felt, as many have, that iPhone pricing is exorbitant, then one alternative would be to take your unlocked iPhone to Australia's forgotten carrier 3 Mobile. The table below assumes you sign up to 3's AU$29 cap plan plus the 500MB X-series plan for AU$20 per month. The handset cost is the cost of a prepaid Optus iPhone plus the unlocking fee.
However, a word of warning; 3 spokespeople were unsure if iPhones bought from other carriers and unlocked would function on its network. "We don't know," a spokesperson said. "We haven't seen one. We are not going to know until the phones have launched and people start trying."
Handset cost Monthly spend Included calls Included data Minimum total cost
8GB $809 $49 $150 500MB $1,985
16GB $929 $49 $150 500MB $2,105
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