So Where Is Telstra’s iPhone?
The long-awaited 3G iPhone will make it to Australia and soon. According to Apple Australia, the 3G iPhone will launch 11 July 2008.
If you have a look at the where to buy it link , Vodaphone and Optus are listed, but no Telstra. Very strange that Australia’s premier phone company isn’t stocking the most popular mobile phone of all time. Maybe Telstra wanted exclusivity?
There’s no pricing or terms yet, but if you click on the Optus link you can pay $50 and pre-register to ensure you can buy one through an Optus store.
Telstra just don’t get it do they? Telstra seem to think the iPhone is just another smart phone. I would love to know what discussions went on between Telstra and Apple, and why Telstra decided to ignore this very profitable and loyal market segment.
Remember when Sol said: “Google Smoogle”, in reference to online advertising and his Sensis product. This is yet another example of gross stupidity when it comes to Telstra shareholder value. I hope someone asks Sol why Telstra didn’t go with the iPhone at the next Telstra shareholder meeting.
If sales are what I suspect they will be, Freaking Huge, Telstra will either bad-mouth the product or make a last minute dash to try to catch up.
Of course their other option is to cut the guts out of the price on Blackberry bundles in a vain attempt to stem the churn of the profitable business segment to Vodafone and Optus.
The other big question is will Vodafone and Optus have pre-paid options?
Marketing theory dictates that because of demand, Vodafone and Optus will try to gouge the Apple true-believers with expensive-tricky plans and lock-in contracts. I guess time will tell. It’s going to be a very interesting case study.
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6 Comments on So Where Is Telstra’s iPhone?
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Zach on
Tue, 10th Jun 2008 3:03 pm
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Richard on
Tue, 10th Jun 2008 6:55 pm
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Dogfather on
Wed, 11th Jun 2008 12:08 am
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go4thetop on
Thu, 12th Jun 2008 6:50 pm
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Skipper Meggs on
Sun, 15th Jun 2008 11:37 am
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bauhws on
Thu, 10th Jul 2008 9:04 pm
If i remember correctly, When the first iPhone came out, Telstra made a statement that it’s overhyped.
Refer to:
http://www.theage.com.au/news/biztech/telstra-to-apple-stick-to-your-knitting/2007/02/15/1171405363291.html
I have a mobile account with Telstra but if they won’t sell me an iphone (I’d buy one from them if they stocked it, but if they won’t then I’ll take my business elsewhere), I’ll buy it from one of their competitors and put my Telstra SIM card in it. Hope it is that easy to do!
If you’re on a telstra plan buy a prepaid one from Vodafone or Optus - someone will crack the simlock by the end of the week.
It seems like a huge marketing / company stuff up if Telstra doesn’t make an announcement soon if they really do intend to offer the iphone. I’m currently with Telstra and have been searching for some sign that they intend to support the iphone 3g. If they don’t I’ll go back to Optus. I have been waiting for ages for the iphone to officially come here and now that it is Telstra is silent regarding their plans.
I guess it doesn’t come as that much of a surprise though from a company that can make statements like “google smoogle” or “stick to your knitting”!!!
Of course a phone is a phone and then there are coverage issues which clearly Telstra is ahead of the game. I remember the quality issues my son had with the first iPod and I hope that doesn’t happen to the iPhone. At present I use an N95 with sat nav, foxtel which I can tune my holiday house tv to and the standard camera/music/video/internet/blogging options. Still, it’s just a phone. I’m not an apple tragic so I don’t go in for the hype. It all reminds me of the tv/stereo/radio tuners of old. All too much on one device…
I will probably go with Optus iPhone some time after the hype settles. Today I got an advert email from Telstra with bigger than real life iPhone pic (I had registered for info about the iPhone). The URL it links to tells me that I can queue up for the 6am opening of their T-life store in Melbourne CBD. Yet @ 21:00 they still do not have pricing info anywhere near that URL. Are they for real? What a stuffup in customer care. Or are they thinking iPhone customers are suckers anyway? Either way behaviour of a company which does not deserve my business.
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