iPhone 3G & Vodafone
Apple August 18th, 2008
When it was announced the iPhone 3G would be released in New Zealand a couple of months back, I was extremely excited having lived under over a year of rumors of the phone coming into the country.
Three days before its arrival in New Zealand, Vodafone NZ released a statement saying the iPhone would retail for just $199. Two days before release, my initial plan of picking up an iPhone on the morning of release was darkened with the phone plans revealed by Vodafone. Sure, you could get the phone for $199, but only on the high end $250 per month contract - on the cheapest plan, the 16GB phone was $699.
Five weeks later & I decided it wasn’t just lust that made me first want the iPhone, I was still wanting the phone even though I had decided to stay well away from the phone/Vodafone after they way they treated their potential iPhone customers when revealing pricing and plans. I placed an order for the phone against my initial plan.
Yesterday, my 16GB white iPhone 3G arrived on my doorstep. The base plan of 120 minutes, 600 text messages, and 250MB of data transfer for $80 is ridiculously overpriced in comparison to AT&T in America, but completely worth it now I have the phone in hand and friends are all fighting for their chance to play with it.
August 19th, 2008 at 12:42 am
Well, in Norway, you get 100 minutes, 100 text messages and 100MB data transfer for $80.
Anywho, congrats with the new iPhone! It’s really nice!
August 19th, 2008 at 1:00 am
Welcome to the club. I personally opted not to upgrade to 3G because it failed to have go enough features at the moment. For first time owners, then I would highly recommend but not so much for the people that own first generation iPhone. Cheers!
August 19th, 2008 at 1:03 am
Congrats. The iPhone most definitely lives up to the hype after waiting a year for it in Canada.
You’ll find that it’s harder to use up all the data then you think. Just keep your eyes on the Usage stats, and make sure you don’t go over. Something like NetShare won’t really be an option for you, but you should still be able to get a decent amount of use of 250MB.
Oh and as for the “friends fighting for a chance to play with it”, you’ll find it’s cool at first, but gets very annoying when you simply want to check the time, and are greeted with several outstretched hands. :P
August 19th, 2008 at 1:03 am
Good to hear you finally got an iPhone, since you’re such an Apple fanboy :P Vodafone prices are kind of ridiculous in Australia as well, though we have three telcos offering plans for the iPhone. I went with Optus, on $29 a month (handset costs came to $408) but I only get 24 minutes of calls and 100 free text messages. Suits me fine, though. The 250mb data per month was what I was after.
Did you go for a white one for any particular reason?
August 19th, 2008 at 1:12 am
I didn’t think you’d go long without purchasing one!
The iPhone sure is a fantastic device, I held out on the iPhone EDGE in England as I simply couldn’t afford it. I have been very happy with the data plans offered by 02, all of which (starting from £30 - US$60) are unlimited. Though I have been less than satisfied with the 3G coverage.
I’d be interested in hearing your thoughts on some of the apps.
Jonathan
August 19th, 2008 at 1:37 am
Oh please no Glenn. Why get the white one? White computers i can handle but the white iPhone? There is no other phone more girly. Even the ones with the mirrors on the back and mine - LG Shine.
Oh and as a side note I work in an apple store and we sell the Vodafone iPhone. What a coincidence! We have sold no white ones yet. The most common is the black 16 GB.
I don’t want to be mean but i am horrified for you.
August 19th, 2008 at 1:54 am
Oh and another thing. Almost Completely Unrelated to the iPhone. iTunes Movies and Movie Rentals were released today on the Australian and New Zealand Store.
Just allow me to rant here. Another classic aussie ripoff. The movies are the same in New Zealand Dollars as ours yet your dollar only buys 80 of our cents. Why do we get an f*ing 20% ripoff?!
August 19th, 2008 at 1:59 am
I don’t get it. 250MB of data transfer sounds like a total ripoff. That’s like a day of surfing the web. I’m not sure about the exchange rates on $NZ, but 80$ a month does sound like a lot.
Having checked T-Mobile’s plans for the iPhone in Germany, the minutes/free sms costs seem to be okay, but I don’t think I’d get an iPhone at all if I had to pay that much money without getting a flatrate.
Another thing: It would benefit your reputation if you didn’t mention getting a white iPhone.
August 19th, 2008 at 2:12 am
I would die for and iPhone on Vodafone in the UK but because it is on O2 I will not be getting one.
August 19th, 2008 at 5:27 am
And I thought AT&T was a ripoff! To be honest, I still do. Vodafone is really ripping New Zealanders off big time. This just shows how evil it is for phones to be locked to one carrier. There’s no competition so they can charge pretty much whatever they want for service.
August 19th, 2008 at 8:27 am
I would love to get the iPhone, but the plans are killers here in Canada. Its just pointless costing almost $1600 a year to use the iphone. AT&T is great compared to anything here. Congrats and hope you have fun with it.
August 19th, 2008 at 11:32 pm
Here in New Jersey with AT&T my plan is around $97 each month.
In my plan I have:
• Unlimited data
• 450 minutes & 3500+ rollover minutes which I never use :P
• Unlimited text messaging
It’s such a shame to see how those companies over seas are ripping people off. I’ve gotten the white iPhone too, welcome to the club ;)
August 20th, 2008 at 4:48 am
Yeah, I’ve seen a lot of carries killing customers on the data plan. Here in the USA, with AT&T:
- Unlimited Data Plan
- Unlimited Text Messaging
- 450 Anytime Minutes (I have over 2000 from rollover)
- 5000 Night & Weekend (I rarely even use the phone.. usually just text messaging unless it’s my parents)
Price: $90 p/month
Seeing this, I’m feeling pretty lucky. Sucks, but maybe they’ll change it as for the customer demand and disagreement.
August 20th, 2008 at 4:54 am
Congratulations on the purchase, Glenn. And nice choice going with the 16GB White. The white version looks stunning in the photos I’ve seen. I’m sure I speak for everyone when I say we hope to hear your thoughts and opinions on the device soon.. :]
August 20th, 2008 at 5:26 am
Congrats! I had the first gen iPhone since it came out in Germany in November and upgraded to 3G now — the experience of having access to anything while you’re out and about is great.
August 21st, 2008 at 1:08 am
It’s the same thing in Canada. Compared the the rate plans in the states we’re all getting the iPhone shaft. It’s no a pretty sight. The worse part is people will pay the outrageous price not matter what.
August 21st, 2008 at 9:51 pm
Hey Glenn
It’s about the same in Switzerland, costs are split differently though. For 45 NZD we get:
- 250 MB data transfer
But we pay around .60/hour for calls and do not have any free minutes or text messaging included. So at the end of month, invoice will be about the same. 3G network is quite good and widespread in Switzerland, so I can’t complain.
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:07 am
Its not so bad for plans in the UK, however Apple had to go and choose the worst network in the country for coverage to sell the best mobile phone. Hopefully the rumours are true that Orange may be becoming the second carrier in the UK.
August 23rd, 2008 at 3:07 am
Check these new plans from Vodafone
http://www.vodafone.co.nz/iphone/plans.jsp#expander3
Start at 40 a month at least
August 24th, 2008 at 11:08 pm
Congrats Glenn. I ordered mine two weeks ago. Still waiting :s Anyway, enjoy your new gadget!
August 26th, 2008 at 4:08 am
Glenn,
Congrats! I loved your picture of your new hair cut and you with your iPhone. Enjoy it!
-Christina
October 13th, 2008 at 5:12 am
I got my money back on my iPhone. Waited all that time and it dropped calls, kept resetting and mail sync was rubbish.
JT