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Telstra + 2G + Three Months = iPhone in Australia

Here at iPhone Unlock Australia, we believe that within three months (Sometime in June with the 2.0 firmware update), the iPhone will be in Australia's shores as a 2G iPhone locked to Telstra. Yes - this is quite a big claim to make, but we've been following all the news since the Apple iPhone was released in USA and believe its release in Australia is imminent (and will be 2G and locked to Telstra). Now to our substantive evidence...

Firstly - why 2G? [Source 1] [Source 2] [Source 3]. At the recent SDK, Apple announced several new features for business enterprise users. They have realised the substantial future market this will play in the mobile phone business and have adjusted their business model to suit. The major order of "3G" iPhones seems to be unlikely with just a firmware 2.0 around the corner, however, this may be a move by Apple to gain market share. They are more likely to test the market with the Microsoft Enterprise/Exchange system before delving into the hardware mechanics of a 3G phone. Ultimately, this would be ideal for business-orientated people who will move out of the Blackberry market into the iPhone market.

Secondly - why Telstra? [Source 1] [Source 2] [Source 3]. Apple has chosen the major telecommunication company in each country to sell the iPhone for them. USA - AT&T Mobility, UK - O2, Germany - T-Mobile, France - Orange and Ireland - O2. It would be no surprise to see Telstra having the iPhone in Australia. Their large EDGE network (note Optus and Vodafone to not have this but rather GPRS) in addition to their quickly expanding 3G Next G network (in time for the 3G network) makes it an ideal choice for Apple. Don't forget that Apple has picked the largest telecommunication company in each country so Telstra is a no-brainer.

And lastly - why three months? [Source 1] [Source 2]. Simply because it is about time we got our hands on it. The major order of 10 million iPhones may be 3G but more likely 2G with Apple focusing on the firmware update rather than a hardware update. With rumours such as the 10 million iPhone order, it would not be surprising if this was an order for countries without the iPhone such as Australia and Canada. Don't forget that three new Apple stores are being built in Sydney and Melbourne and are expected to open quite soon. Wouldn't the release of the iPhone at the same time just be... perfect?

Yay? Nay? Maybe? Feel free to comment below...

Comments (3)

	1. Written by lefty22 on 30-03-2008 10:38 - Guest
	I'm skeptical. On the basis that lets say the rumours are true, and that there is a mass 3G iphone on order; it makes no sense to release it in Australia as 2G, then re-release it again with 3G just thereafter. I think Australia will see the 3G iphone on its initial release, makes sense to coincide it with the 2.0 firmware release, does it not? Also, that being said it's bloody expensive in Australia for any network, telstra on one of those member plans charge $10/20MB a month worth of Data. That's quite ridiculous when you tally up how many GB's you get from your home broadband plan. Not that that's a fair comparison, but the principal still stands. Just my $0.02.

	2. Written by This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it on 31-03-2008 08:59 - Guest
	I definitely agree with you about the likely carrier. Telstra is the obvious choice - the only EDGE network, the largest provider, and Vodafone have resisted revenue sharing elsewhere. There have been some murmurings of locking a phone (as opposed to a phone service as happens now) to a carrier as being anti-competitive and contrary to Australian legislation. Perhaps this is the reason for the delay, because I would have thought Apple would have been keen to open up a new market to help it pass the 10m target by June. I think the real reason between a difference between the 1.2 firmware beta and the 2.0 firmware to be released in June is that 2.0 will include reference to the new hardware of the 3G iPhone. My thoughts are that the announcement of the current generation iPhone is imminent here in Australia. I don't think they can leave it much longer when I am certain that a 3G phone will be released in June. If the timing was too close then there would be an uproar from the early adopters. An announcement any day now, and a 3G version timed with the opening of the first Apple Store in Sydney. I still think this is where we are heading. If we head into April with no announcement, then here is my thoughts, the 3G iPhone will be available here in late May to coincide with the early order rumours and it will be offered to Australia first with the note "Thanks for waiting, here is your reward" or words to that effect.

	3. Written by This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it on 01-04-2008 20:54 - Guest
	How unfortunate. Telstra is a terrible carrier and has the worst customer service I have ever come across in this country. They also tried to rip me off $692. I think I'll be sticking with my unlocked iPhone on Optus. I thought Apple would do more research than that. I'm disappointed.

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