iPhone 4S plans smorgasbord: pick a carrier, any carrier

Peter Dockrill
12 October 2011, 5:04 PM


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Despite a muted response at its launch a week ago, interest in the iPhone 4S is white hot. And with Telstra today finally unveiling its plans, you've got a range of 4S options.


A week ago the iPhone 4S was launched upon a circumspect, iPhone-5-expecting world -- and was deemed wanting. Then, sadly, Apple co-founder Steve Jobs passed away the very next day, provoking a remarkable global outpouring of grief and virtually bringing the tech industry (plus the world outside it) to a standstill.

In the wake of Jobs' untimely death, interest in the iPhone 4S -- effectively the last major Apple launch overseen by the company's iconic warden -- has been overwhelming, effectually unimagining the muted response the product initially received. This week Apple announced that pre-orders for the 4S, which is available on Friday, had exceeded one million units within 24 hours. (Day one reactions aside, we always expected gangbusters-level demand -- it's an iPhone -- but even so...)   



Outright, the iPhone 4S is available from Apple in two colours (black or white) and three capacities: 16GB ($799), 32GB ($899) and 64GB ($999). The iPhone 4 and 3GS are also still on sale at reduced prices (presumably until the next iPhone update, expected to take place in 2012).  

For those interested in the iPhone 4S but not in purchasing it, Optus, Vodafone and Telstra have come on board with pre-order registrations and a range of plans designed to sate the rampant demand. As yet Virgin has confirmed it will offer the iPhone but hasn't announced any contracts.

It seems not all these carriers are currently listing these prices and plans on their sites, so -- at risk of making APC resemble some kind of contract-obsessed scrapbooking project -- we've cobbled together each vendor's pricing below. Happy hunting.

Optus Caps



Vodafone Caps



Vodafone Infinite



Telstra Consumer



Telstra Business






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Pauly (New user):

Pretty ridiculous, Telstra costs only $4 more than Optus and gets unlimited sms as well

12 October 2011, 7:39 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Tin (User):

You're not reading it right if you're comparing it that way...

Optus $59 cap + 16GB 4S has a $6/month handset fee. Telstra has $4 ($2 less) for same, but while Telstra has unlimited SMS, Optus has 500MB more data (2GB instead of 1.5GB).

But at the $99 cap level you'll get far more from Optus - 5GB data and unlimited national calls and messages. Telstra only gives you 2.5GB data and $1200 worth of calls/MMS. You have to go to $129 a month with Telstra to get similar.

12 October 2011, 7:50 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Pauly (New user):

Comparing the optus $49 plan to the Telstra $59 plan as they both have the same amount of calls and data

12 October 2011, 7:52 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Tin (User):

Assuming the call rates are the same... I've just noticed none of the tables say how much per minute is charged on those included values.

12 October 2011, 11:20 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

petert (Advanced Forumologist):

Quite right, Tin. A genuine comparison requires the call rates.

13 October 2011, 8:57 AM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Tin (User):

Interesting... The handset fee for the 4S on the Optus $59 cap (24 month) is $1 less than the 4 was last week, if I remember correctly.

12 October 2011, 7:43 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Pauly (New user):

all call rates are the same 90c minute

13 October 2011, 8:09 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

srhardy (New user):

optus has made the iphone 4s 16gb free on the $59 cap now. the 32gb is free on the $79 & the 64gb is free on the $99 timeless cap

14 October 2011, 11:23 AM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

ss-rotel (User):

what ridiculas is that Telstra shops, (and i can't say the same for telstra fanchises, because they aren't telstra), have been shipped 1 of each SKU per shop.

which means, thou it's probably too late now, unless you want to go to an Apple store and buy one out right, you;re gunna wait a few weeks for more to filter throu to your telco.

meh, i dont care, my boss pull strings and managed to get a 4S for him and his wife, which means, i get a slightly used 4 :)

14 October 2011, 3:55 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Tin (User):

Quoting ss-rotel:
what ridiculas is that Telstra shops, have been shipped 1 of each SKU per shop.


That does sound stupid. Or maybe they got more and the staff lied to you and kept the rest for themselves :p

We're supposed to be getting 2x16GB and 1x32GB at work, and we're only a tiny Optus dealer. They were meant to come today, but being rural, we tend to expect overnight to mean over 2 nights.

14 October 2011, 6:32 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

petert (Advanced Forumologist):

Wow, that is next to nothing in terms of devices. And from what I am reading it seems that most people want 64G devices. I live in a rural city of about 20,000 and our Telstra dealer received a much bigger order. I know, because I was first in the door and I got 2 x 64G devices and a few other people followed me. In saying that, I've no idea exactly how many that dealer received, but it was a lot more than 3. The Optus dealer next door must also have received some devices because they were also open about 8am this morning. Hope you get a chance to have a play because they're very good :-)

14 October 2011, 6:46 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Tin (User):

Given no one even asked about them, I'd say we ordered the right level. People around here seem more interested in Android phones.

15 October 2011, 12:34 AM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

ss-rotel (User):

Quoting Tin:
Given no one even asked about them, I'd say we ordered the right level.


REALLY? i was @ carindale friday @ 5pm, and the line was out the door, easily 20 ppl deap out of the optus store there... all after their 4s... OR the was lemmings, and just lining up cos other ppls was

15 October 2011, 9:20 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

ss-rotel (User):

MAYBE they was just talking about the 64gb, 1 for each colour.

AND no-one outside of an apple store will sell you one outright.

15 October 2011, 8:46 AM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

andrew corb (New user):

Theres a better summary here:
http://www.bestiphoneplans.com.au/bestiphoneplanscompare.html

14 October 2011, 7:05 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Nato (New user):

Im on optus atm and the 3g reception has made me want to throw my phone many many times. My mate is on vodaphone and has the same problem, onther mate is on telstra and his phone just works and its quick to load even on low bars. we commonly go out and everyone has a dig at how bad the service is from optus and vodaphone with everyone saying 'as soon as my contract is up im swapping to telstra so my phone actually works' and every single person i speak to has the same issue bar telstra people who are loving there phone. My advise, DO NOT USE optus or Vodaphone even if the deal is ok, the end use of the device sucks so so bad.

15 October 2011, 5:36 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

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