CONFIRMED: Vodafone AU releases full iPhone plan pricing

Danny Gorog
10 July 2008, 4:00 PM


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UPDATED | Vodafone has finally confirmed its iPhone plans, and the news isn't great -- Optus has vastly better pricing and value.


The cheapest iPhone plan is the $69 Cap which gives you a $310 talk and text credit and 250MB of data per month, with the option to either pay a one-off fee for the phone ($189 for an 8GB iPhone or $309 for a 16GB iPhone) or pay it off over the life of the contract.

It's quite clear that Vodafone's pricing is inferior to Optus', which offers obviously better value plans -- for example, Optus' $49 plan gives you $300 worth of talk/text and 250MB data. 

Getting back to Vodafone's pricing, a $99 Cap gets you $600 of credit but you'll still need to pony $99 upfront for an 8GB iPhone, or $219 for the 16GB version, but you'll get 500MB of data per month included in the plan. (Again, Optus is better -- the $89 cap gives you $600 of credit and 850MB data.)

The Vodafone plans listed all specify a 24 month contract, with no word on the availability of shorter 12 month contracts. Per-minute call costs are in line with Optus however Optus offers more generous caps. Call rates on Vodafone's plans are 35 - 40c per 30 seconds depending on the plan, with a 30c connection fee for personal plans or a 25c connection fee for business plans.

Vodafone didn't announce any pre-paid plans, or other 'pre-release' information. However, it has now posted full terms and conditions which detail, amongst other things, excess data usage rates on Jumbo Cap contracts at 12c per MB (substantially less expensive than the 35c per MB that Optus charges -- the one area where it is better than Optus, but not exactly one that's going to win shoppers over).

Vodafone hasn't released an outright price for the iPhone, however, spending $339 upfront on a 8GB model (on a $29 Jumbo Cap plan) and then spending an additional $350 fee to cancel the contract means you can have your iPhone for $689 outright, less than the $729 that Optus charges. Whether that $350 "handset recovery fee" covers network-unlocking the phone remains to be seen.

Vodafone Australia iPhone plans



Call rates are 35 - 40c per 30 seconds depending on the plan, with a 30c connection fee for personal plans or a 25c connection fee for business plans.

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Wazza (New user):

I'd advise against using Vodafone at all costs. Their service coverage is pretty awful. I can't wait until my contract is up next year so that I can switch to a better carrier.

09 July 2008, 10:46 AM (4 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Jeff (New user):

I've been using vodafone for a few years now, and I'm getting signal everywhere I used to on my old Telstra cdma phone and it costs me a lot less as well.

09 July 2008, 6:20 PM (4 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

EMS (New user):

Looks like the choice is Optus for a cheaper plan and Telstra for better coverage!


09 July 2008, 11:01 AM (4 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Jeff (New user):

If you want to go with Telstra you better look at this first:
http://apcmag.com/breaking_telstra_iphone_plans_leaked__and_theyll_break_the_bank.htm

Be prepared to be shocked...

10 July 2008, 5:21 PM (4 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

William151515 (New user):

So, Danny Gorog are you going to Legally Purchase a iPhone in Australia, or keep to your cracked copy from the USA?

09 July 2008, 11:24 AM (4 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Danny Gorog (APC staff):

I'll be in line 7am Friday morning. Can't wait.

09 July 2008, 11:41 AM (4 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Raindog (New user):

Quoting Danny Gorog:
I'll be in line 7am Friday morning. Can't wait.


Danny that is sad in so many ways! (and by the looks of it you wont be alone.)
This is all reminiscent of the fanfare release that was Windows 95 and looking back I'm sure more than few have embarrassing memories of that one.

The only thing sensible folks would require of any mobile handset at it 7:00am on a winters morning is for it to remain very very silent.

3G iPhone release and a papal visit all in one week, Sydney must surely be blessed, I think :(

09 July 2008, 12:07 PM (4 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Hemma (New user):

Quoting Raindog:
This is all reminiscent of the fanfare release that was Windows 95 and looking back I'm sure more than few have embarrassing memories of that one.

I can sort of relate to that.... trying to be one of the first to um... download Hardy Heron?

Anyway, I'll consider the iPhone (and a set of black etymotic earbuds so i don't look like the rest of the 'i have an iPod' douschebags at the gym) later down the track as an outright phone unlocked, when this buzz and the price goes down a touch.... in the meantime, i'm happy with my company issued 3G Nokia.... haven't paid a cent for my phone bills, and not intending to for a long time to come...

But no, queueing for a phone at 7:00am in the cold wet winter is a personal choice. Especially for those with normal (some generalize as boring) 9:00-5:00 day jobs.

09 July 2008, 7:02 PM (4 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Tin (User):

As if he needs to answer that. I think we all know he'll be getting a 3G one. How could such a dedicated Apple fan stop himself from buying a slightly updated version of something?

09 July 2008, 11:58 AM (4 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Tin (User):

Well that's lame. No data on the lower price plans.

Looks like I don't need to worry about comparing coverage upgrade schedules and maps. Optus is the only real option if you don't make butt-loads of calls but still want some data.

09 July 2008, 11:26 AM (4 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Rick (New user):

wow optus plans are heaps better, considering you can get the phone for free for $40 a month

09 July 2008, 11:30 AM (4 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

McBanjo (New user):

No, no, no, you're so wrong. Of course things are free when you're thick. This is what I hate, because consumers are stupid, Optus puts all it's fees in little writing and makes it all so complicated. The iPhone 8GB will cost $7 a month for 24 months ($168), or $444 for 12 months, on a $40 plan. That's called a hidden charge (well it's actually quite pronounced.)

09 July 2008, 12:48 PM (4 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Rick (New user):

Quoting McBanjo:
>No, no, no, you're so wrong. Of course things are free when you're >thick.

When i say $40 a month i mean on a $19 plan + $21 phone repayments. sorry, i should rephrase, "$40 a month" including the phone with nothing up front. It works out cheaper than paying $30 a month plus $339 upfront on vodafone's deal




09 July 2008, 1:31 PM (4 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

McBanjo (New user):

Haha, that makes sense. I'd take back you being thick, but you still are. The iPhone on a Vodafone $29 cap (as shown here) is $339 upfront as opposed to Optus' $504 over 24 months. What's cheaper?

Granted the $19 Optus has 100MB data and the Vodafone plan is $10 extra (but this buys you $80 more credit, probably with Vodafone's cheaper call rates). This is where consumer discrepancy is required to choose what plan suits them best, but I doubt $19 will get most consumers through the month.

09 July 2008, 5:50 PM (4 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

agami (New user):

The whole thing has officially become a debacle. In the words of Darren Hinch, shame shame shame.

09 July 2008, 11:59 AM (4 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

McBanjo (New user):

I remember Vodafone announced somewhere that they would have data allowances which you can attach to iPhone plans. Sort of like pay as you go, which makes a lot of sense. I hardly see the point of me upgrading my iPhone without data. And a $29 cap with data you buy separate sounds really good.

I've been with Vodafone for about a year and I've had no problems with coverage. Never had a dropped call, or terrible coverage. Of course it's not as good as Telstra, but if you live in a metro area, I can't see any reason why you wouldn't get full coverage.

I don't think it's fair to judge Vodafone's iPhone prices just yet, when they haven't even announced anything, for all we know these could be from when Optus hadn't released anything. It would be suicide to not offer any competitive pricing.

09 July 2008, 12:33 PM (4 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

McBanjo (New user):

Am I missing something? What's happened to the other Plans like the $29 Jumbo Cap? Did they suddenly disappear or are they just trying to promote their more expensive ones for the iPhone launch? Seems like the latter.

Vodafone doesn't charge for unlocking most of the time, they say they 'may' in the terms, so that doesn't really mean anything. You can just hack the damn thing anyway. I'd be like, do it for free, or I'll just hack it, ya basstards! Then give them some crap about how I just paid a shload of money for one. If they can't do it for free, tell them to put someone on the phone who can. Actually, thinking about it, it's probably more worthwhile to just crack it.

I'm not seeing any excess usage fees in their terms and conditions. Where are you getting this from?

10 July 2008, 4:53 PM (4 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

McBanjo (New user):

Does anyone else think this is appallingly disgusting? It's 14 hours till crunch time and the telcos still haven't got their act together, with proper details (excluding Optus). Sure they're trying to rip off the consumer, but I also think some part of it is just really bad implementation, management and preparation. They're falling over themselves stupid.


10 July 2008, 4:58 PM (4 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Hemma (New user):

Quoting McBanjo:
They're falling over themselves stupid.


That is by far the most ignorant comment I have ever read. Obviously if one company offers a better deal, other companies with the same products would attempt to revise their plans to ensure that they remain as feasible to the potential customer as possible. It's called competition. Imagine try changing the plans AFTER the release... there would be a few angry customers, don't you think?

In other countries where only a single carrier would be offering the iPhone, this problem does not exist. Therefore, they can officially announce their plans without any danger.

Think before you write, as thoughts can turn into words.

10 July 2008, 9:23 PM (4 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Raindog (New user):

Quoting McBanjo:
Does anyone else think this is appallingly disgusting?


I doubt anyone else would use that term.

Quoting McBanjo:
It's 14 hours till crunch time and the telcos still haven't got their act together

It's a handset if anyone is that desperate in 14 hour they have a shopload of all manner of other dodgy handsets.


Quoting McBanjo:
but I also think some part of it is just really bad implementation, management and preparation

Or maybe the release of another handset is not the priority item of Telco business. If anything deserves criticism it is the frenzy over very little and bizzare wholesale practices of Apple themselves.

14 hours, really? is it that important?


10 July 2008, 10:09 PM (4 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

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