Until July 11th, the official release date for the iPhone worldwide (including Australia), all iPhone related news for Aussies will be posted up frequently at iPhone in Australia [ RSS Feed ].
This site will continue to run as archive for those interested in unlocking their 1st generation iPhone. All unlocking services will continue. If you need your first generation iPhone unlocked, please request a service.
Our iPhone Accessories Store will not be affected. All accessories purchased will be shipped within two days via Australia Post.
We have received information from an Optus World employee [via e-mail] that the iPhone will be sold by Optus outright (without any contract) for $350. The tipster has not told us whether this is the 8GB or 16GB model, however, we believe it would not be a surprise if the 8GB sold for this price (looking at the current price differences between the iPod Touch in the US and over here).
In one month, we'll just know if this is all true. Thank you to the tipster.
Yes - the WWDC started 17 hours and a lot has happened. We're sure you've read many many stories about it, and have been excited by what is to come. iPhone in Australia has reached thousands of pageviews in the last 24 hours, and we're very aware (thanks to those who have e-mailed us) that the site has a lot to cover. So let's get into it.
The 2008 WWDC Keynote
Watch Apple CEO Steve Jobs unveil iPhone 3G, the App Store, MobileMe, and more in his Worldwide Developers Conference keynote address from San Francisco's Moscone West here.
The 3G iPhone
The phone features a black plastic back, solid metal buttons, the same 3.5-inch LCD display, and a headphone jack mounted flush with the enclosure (which should make third-party headphone vendors happy).
With GPS, the iPhone can be tracked across a Google map as a pulsating blue dot. The iPhone can still derive location data from cell phone towers and WiFi networks.
In terms of battery life, the iPhone 3G offers five hours of 3G talk time, 5 - 6 hours of browsing time, seven hours of video time, or 300 hours of standby time.
- 3G-capable. 2.8 times faster than EDGE.
- Simultaneous voice and data conections
- Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync
- GPS built-in [ TomTom already in business. ]
- Better battery life - 300 hours of standby, Talk-time 10 hours (as opposed to 5) on 2G networks, 5 hours of 3G talk-time (competition is 3 hour 3G talk time), 5 to 6 hours of high-speed browsing, 7 hours of video, 24 hours of audio
- Flush headphone jack
Where to buy?
Read about where to buy an iPhone in Australia here. Also, there will be no in-home activation for iPhone 3G - it will have to be activated in store (at Optus/Vodafone or Apple Store), which takes 10-12 minutes, meaning that first day line is going to be very very long. And you will have to camp out, since there won't be any online ordering at launch.
Cost?
The iPhone 3G will start USD$199 for an 8GB model. The 16GB model will sell for USD$299, and is available also in white backing. It will be available in all countries starting July 11. We've received from an anonymous source that Vodafone will be selling the iPhone outright for $699AUD.
MobileMe
As rumored, Apple has announced MobileMe, described by Apple Vice President for product marketing Phil Schiller as "Exchange for the rest of us."
Features
- Push Email, calendar, and contacts
- Synchronization between iPhone, Mac and PC (Outlook for Windows integration)
- "Desktop-like" Web Applications for Mail, Contacts, Calendar, photo gallery, and iDisk online storage available via me.com.
MobileMe replaces .Mac and will be available in early July for AUD$119/year, with a 60 day free trial available.
Please shoot us a reply to our e-mail about which prize you prefer (list us three favourites) and your postage address! Congrats again and thanks to all who entered!
Apple Australia insiders have confirmed that the new Apple 3G iPhone will be sold on plan by carriers in Australia with Optus and Vodaphone confirming with Apple that the plans will range between $39 and $95 per month.
We have also been able to confirm that the new Apple store which is set to opened on the 19th of June 2008 by Apple CEO Steve Jobs will sell the new Apple 3G iPhone however they will not be offering a communications plan, instead consumers will have to pay in full for a new iPhone which will be configured to deliver one of three new 3G services from Telstra, Optus or Vodafone. Consumers not on these networks will have to switch to one of these carriers to get the full 3G benefits the networks are delivering.
On Monday, Tuesday morning in Australia, Apple CEO Steve Jobs is expected to reveal the new iPhone with shipments already supplied to phone carriers in the USA it is also expected that the iPhone will go on sale in the US on the same day and on the 19th if not earlier in Australia.
