Vodafone to Deliver iPhone in Australia, Italy and Other Countries

[joeshell383]

May 6 2008

Vodafone today announced it has signed an agreement with Apple to sell the iPhone in ten of its markets around the globe. Later this year, Vodafone customers in Australia, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Greece, Italy, India, Portugal, New Zealand, South Africa and Turkey will be able to purchase the iPhone for use on the Vodafone network.

http://www.vodafone.com/start/media_...to_offer0.html

[dsward]

Vodafone press release -

http://www.vodafone.com/start/media_...to_offer0.html

Vodafone to Offer Apple’s iPhone in Ten Markets

06 May 2008

Vodafone today announced it has signed an agreement with Apple to sell the iPhone in ten of its markets around the globe. Later this year, Vodafone customers in Australia, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Greece, Italy, India, Portugal, New Zealand, South Africa and Turkey will be able to purchase the iPhone for use on the Vodafone network.

[sammich]

Is this is seriously the case....then Oh....my....God!

Finally, some closure on the matter. I can rest easy knowing that Telstra won't be the one (or the only one) selling the iPhone at massively inflated prices.

[Justinerator]

beat me to the punch:

also here on engadget

[retroneo]

It doesn't say exclusive...

i.e. It may not be locked to Vodafone!

Woo hoo!!

[yoyo5280]

Poor Japan. we are so deprived.

[grigio60]

Originally Posted by retroneo

It doesn't say exclusive...

i.e. It may not be locked to Vodafone!

Woo hoo!!

In Italy Apple signed an agreement with TWO operators, Vodafone and its main competitor, Telecom Italia Mobile.

The terms of usage are likely to be:
- Flat rates for bundled voice and data.
- iPhone sold at a "favourable price" with the SIM locked to the choosen operator for the first nine months.
- The user can switch after nine months to whatever else operator, having to pay a fee for the unlock operation.
- If the user decides to switch to another operator after 18 months, the unlock operation will be for free.

[nathanbookpro]

Originally Posted by sammich

Is this is seriously the case....then Oh....my....God!

Finally, some closure on the matter. I can rest easy knowing that Telstra won't be the one (or the only one) selling the iPhone at massively inflated prices.

I know! I was fairly sure once these rumours started to get around that the iPhone wouldn't have been exclusively with telstra, but its good hearing official information that Vodafone will be releasing it, as well as optus.

Personally, i'd really like optus to have it, and obv. with a reasonable deal, as I think they are the best mobile carrier in aus atm when all factors are considered, and I really want to go back with them.

[richthomas]

so first Telstra, then Optus and then Vodafone? i wont believe it until it actually comes out of Stevey's mouth.

if Vodafone gets it i wont be surprised. the amount of people ive seen in Australia with unlocked phones with Vodafone.

Vodafone's got a great prepaied capped plan http://whirlpool.net.au/wiki/?tag=Vodafone

[richthomas]

haha just on The Simpsons:

Mr Burns and Smithers go to "Crazy ET's phones" and over the loud speaker you hear

"Attention Shoppers! iPhones now 20 cents…"

[Ivan P]

Well no doubt you downloaded it, as tonight was the official start of the new season in Australia (yeah, that's a "new" episode, sucks how far behind we are compared to the US).

Originally Posted by richthomas

so first Telstra, then Optus and then Vodafone? i wont believe it until it actually comes out of Stevey's mouth.

Vodafone posted it on their website, I think that's official enough.

If I get one I'll be unlocking it, as much as I want an iPhone there's no way I'm leaving Telstra.

[jimN]

Damn you, I was just about to post this. Well, yet more fuel for the 3G fire it seems. Plus this should keep little Emir happy (see his plans to travel to the UK to buy a discounted iPhone).

[joeshell383]

Originally Posted by joeshell383

May 6 2008

Vodafone today announced it has signed an agreement with Apple to sell the iPhone in ten of its markets around the globe. Later this year, Vodafone customers in Australia, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Greece, Italy, India, Portugal, New Zealand, South Africa and Turkey will be able to purchase the iPhone for use on the Vodafone network.

http://www.vodafone.com/start/media_...to_offer0.html

US... check
Canada... check
Austria... check
Germany... check
UK... check
Ireland... check
France... check
Australia... check
Czech Republic... check
Egypt... check
Greece... check
Italy... check
India... check
Portugal... check
New Zealand... check
South Africa... check
Turkey... check

Waiting on: Brazil, China, Mexico, Japan, South Korea, Spain, et al.

[nlivo]

Good news I guess. But the iPhone has been here in Australia since the US launch. I reckon Australia has the most unlocked iPhones than any other country in the world. I live in a rural city and I know 3 other people who have iPhones (I also have one). I hope mine will somehow be able to get unlimited data.

[Justinerator]

beat me to it too

Also here on engadget

[Peterkro]

Originally Posted by nlivo

Good news I guess. But the iPhone has been here in Australia since the US launch. I reckon Australia has the most unlocked iPhones than any other country in the world. I live in a rural city and I know 3 other people who have iPhones (I also have one). I hope mine will somehow be able to get unlimited data.

Rural city?

[emir]

Hurray! This keeps me really happy. I was going to post this, i saw it 5 minutes ago on Turkish newspaper's 1st page(it was not a really big thing, but it was in page 10 ) Well, the date is not certain yet as well as the price, i think date will be after WWDC and i am little bit unhappy because it can be expensive. Apple Turkey (Bilkom) gets their products from France Apple, and France Apple is expensive, when Bilkom tries to get profit, it becomes very very expensive. For ex: 16gb iPod Touch is 615$ If they get the iPhone from France too it will be like a thousand dollars or something Well, we'll see the price...

BTW: My plans for UK failed, they've found a credit card but O2 tried to sign a contract in the store, contract was saying: You cannot take this phone out of England. So my friend got scared and didn't buy it. This is great news for me, no unlocking etc...

Another note: I don't want to use Vodafone actually. Turkcell(another operator) is way more better than it. Here comes the unlocking again...

[tbohlsennswssrg]

They (Apple Inc.) will probably have to sell it unlocked in Australia because of a clause in the Trade Practices Act of 1974.

P.S That's what "Media" websites are saying. I could look it up, but such act is in 3 Volumes & the first one is 554 pages long .

[Chundles]

Originally Posted by Peterkro

Rural city?

Yeah, a city in the bush or away from the usual places - like Albury, Alice Springs, those sort of spots.

Big enough population to be called a city but small enough to not be a metropolis like Sydney or Melbourne.

[samab]

The iphone's European launch has proven that simlocking laws are crap --- they can price it anyway they want in order to satisfy giving you the unlocking codes at a certain time.

[joeshell383]

Originally Posted by joeshell383

US... check
Canada... check
Austria... check
Germany... check
UK... check
Ireland... check
France... check
Australia... check
Czech Republic... check
Egypt... check
Greece... check
Italy... check
India... check
Portugal... check
New Zealand... check
South Africa... check
Turkey... check

Waiting on: Brazil, China, Mexico, Japan, South Korea, Spain, et al.

Add to that Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, The Netherlands, Switzerland, and Luxembourg

[joeshell383]

I imagine June is going to be a HUGE month for Apple (and AAPL)

[tringo]

It is interesting to see all these countries agreeing now that the 3G is coming out.

Despite the brilliance of the first iPhone I think from a business perspective Apple missed out on a LOT of money by going with EDGE.

In fact; O2 had to build an entirely new network for the EDGE to work, so it appears that Vodafone must have told Apple to go shove their EDGE iPhone where the sun don't shine.

Originally Posted by joeshell383

I imagine June is going to be a HUGE month for Apple (and AAPL)

You are absolutely right. If they release the new phone to all these countries on the same day AAPL is going to sell waaaayyyy more than 10m iPhones this year. We could easily see this stock $250 by the end of year.

[joeshell383]

Originally Posted by tringo

new phone to all these countries on the same day AAPL is going to sell waaaayyyy more than 10m iPhones this year. We could easily see this stock $250 by the end of year.

Knowing the Street, however, there could certainly be a few dips on the way.
Another interesting thing to remember is that a large portion of the revenue for iPhones purchased in Q2 won't be recognized until the 2.0 firmware update (Q3)...

[macattackamac]

coool! so, how does 'later this year' translate??