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Vodafone to Deliver iPhone in Australia, Italy and Other Countries

samab said:
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.
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You could argue that the SIM locking laws were effective.

If you take a look at the lackluster sales it suggests that consumers have grown accustomed to not being locked to a carrier to use a phone. Selling the phone unlocked at a premium allowed the ultimate sale of the product, but that's as far as it went. therefore, in order for apple to prosper in those markets they have to reconsider their strategy. I would characterize that a win for the consumer.
 
seedster2 said:
You could argue that the SIM locking laws were effective.

If you take a look at the lackluster sales it suggests that consumers have grown accustomed to not being locked to a carrier to use a phone. Selling the phone unlocked at a premium allowed the ultimate sale of the product, but that's as far as it went. therefore, in order for apple to prosper in those markets they have to reconsider their strategy. I would characterize that a win for the consumer.
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I disagree with that.

The absence of simlocking laws in the US --- doesn't not affect consumers chances of getting unlocking codes. AT&T and T-Mobile USA offers FREE unlocking codes after 90 days.

The absence of simlocking laws in the US --- doesn't affect handset prices. The US iphone has the lowest price when compared to the other European countries (except the recent iphone sale price in O2 in the last couple of weeks).

The absense of simlocking laws in the US --- doesn't affect mobile plan prices. Look at the iphone plans --- the US iphone plans has the most minutes and is the cheapest.

If the market is competitive, then it's competitive --- nothing to do with simlocking laws. Out of the 4 iphones countries (US, France, UK and Germany) -- France has the most amount of simlocking laws (i.e. must offer unlocked iphone for sale). The problem is that France has only 3 national carriers (with the largest carrier, Orange, controlling nearly 1/2 the French mobile market).

No amount of simlocking laws is going to protect consumers when there is only 3 national carriers with the largest one controlling 1/2 the market.
 
dextertangocci said:
Ya probably, but it's illegal to sell locked phones here, so we'll be able to pay a cancellation fee for the contract and port to Virgin or MTN or whoever:)
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is there actually such a law here -- well, there's actually something useful in this country.

Probably it's gonna be like the italian iphones, with vodafone/com bringing out the phone, but not locked, although it's gonna be heavily priced I suppose.

or... if they sell the phones in apple stores like overseas now there's even no need to go to 082 for a contract. Dunno about the activation part though.

I guess it'll come out sometimes in Q3/H2. it wouldn't arrive here so early.
 
samab said:
I disagree with that.

The absence of simlocking laws in the US --- doesn't not affect consumers chances of getting unlocking codes. AT&T and T-Mobile USA offers FREE unlocking codes after 90 days.

The absence of simlocking laws in the US --- doesn't affect handset prices. The US iphone has the lowest price when compared to the other European countries (except the recent iphone sale price in O2 in the last couple of weeks).

The absense of simlocking laws in the US --- doesn't affect mobile plan prices. Look at the iphone plans --- the US iphone plans has the most minutes and is the cheapest.

If the market is competitive, then it's competitive --- nothing to do with simlocking laws. Out of the 4 iphones countries (US, France, UK and Germany) -- France has the most amount of simlocking laws (i.e. must offer unlocked iphone for sale). The problem is that France has only 3 national carriers (with the largest carrier, Orange, controlling nearly 1/2 the French mobile market).

No amount of simlocking laws is going to protect consumers when there is only 3 national carriers with the largest one controlling 1/2 the market.
Click to expand...

1.Unlike every other phone, Simlocking codes were not offered with the iphone

2.Domestic iphone pricing has more to do with Apple pricing policy than american telco's stance on simlocking. Apple products are always more expensive aborad than domestically. Take a look at the cost of a mac mini, AIR or powermac way more expensive outside the US

3.Iphone plans cost the same as other US phone plans. The US market determined the device's success. We have no way to determine if Apple requested a bigger profit share from European telcos. At that point they had leverage and unlocking methods hadnt matured. it is approximated that a 1/3 of total US sales go to european customers

Now that all the competing telcos will have the device, they will be forced to have competitive plans to sway potential customers otherwise they will opt for the cheaper servce, better CS and subsidized prices.
 
seedster2 said:
1.Unlike every other phone, Simlocking codes were not offered with the iphone

2.Domestic iphone pricing has more to do with Apple pricing policy than american telco's stance on simlocking. Apple products are always more expensive aborad than domestically. Take a look at the cost of a mac mini, AIR or powermac way more expensive outside the US

3.Iphone plans cost the same as other US phone plans. The US market determined the device's success. We have no way to determine if Apple requested a bigger profit share from European telcos. At that point they had leverage and unlocking methods hadnt matured. it is approximated that a 1/3 of total US sales go to european customers

Now that all the competing telcos will have the device, they will be forced to have competitive plans to sway potential customers otherwise they will opt for the cheaper servce, better CS and subsidized prices.
Click to expand...

Absent any simlocking laws in the US, AT&T promised to provide unlocking codes for the iphone after your iphone contract is over. No such promise was made in the UK by O2 --- they went as far as saying that your iphone is useless after your contract is over if you leave O2. T-Mobile Germany only promise unlocking codes when Vodafone obtained a temporary injunction --- which the injunction itself was overturned later on.

No, iphone price in the US --- is going to be determined by how the other carriers are doing with their handset prices. Samething with the iphone monthly plans in the US.

What we have here is that Verizon Wireless was smart enough to say no to Apple --- and still beat AT&T in postpaid net adds. By this alone --- AT&T can't charge too much in handset price and monthly plan prices.
 
iTunes czech - finally??

I am curious about one more thing.

There is still no iTunes Store in czech republic. I wonder if apple/vodafone will sell the phones without the store, which is maybe possible, but I am not sure about activation etc..., or apple will finally start the music/movie store here...
 
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