Australian iPhone Release Info Given to Resellers by Apple Australia
Rumours have been rampant for months since the launch of the iPhone in the USA back mid-2007 regarding Australia's chance to taste the iPhone. There have been many dates and leaks of false info, so much so that some people even think Australia is never going to get it. Today however, Apple have been informing resellers of their iPhone strategy for Australia.
Resellers have been informed of the following things:
- Last week of June release
- More than 1 carrier
- No contract lock in
- Current resellers will be able to sell iPhones
That's a lot of juicy info there and might not make sense off hand. Let me break down the significance of this.
Last week of June release
This ties in perfectly with the Sydney Apple store opening, any WWDC announcements, iPhone 2.0 software and time for stock to filter in to the country.
WWDC is in the first week of June this year, which could be the announcement of the 3G iPhone we're all waiting for. A 3G iPhone lends credence to the fact resellers have been told the iPhone will be on multiple carriers, as every telco in Australia has a 3G network. The current iPhone will only give high speed data on Telstra.
iPhone 2.0 software will be released then, and a late June release gives it time to be rolled out on new factory models for shipping to Australia, so the iPhone can be sold on the new features v2.0 brings.
A late June release also ties in well with the Sydney and Melbourne Apple stores currently under construction. It's well reported that at the progress of the Apple stores, a June opening is likely. What better grandstanding event to launch the store with than a new 3G iPhone? Would be be worthy of a visit to Australia from Steve Jobs - I'm sure he'd like to have a nice holiday in Sydney too.
Resellers have been told specific dates, but they have all been told different dates within the same week. If a specific date is said in the media, then Apple knows who leaks it and can slap them around. As the sources of my info are also my friends, I haven't included the dates. However, it is fairly certain Apple will not pre-announce the iPhone very far in advance, or at all, with a simple "iPhone is available now, come and buy it!" approach, compared to the dates given overseas to let people prepare.
More than 1 carrier
Having multiple carriers is a shock, but not unbelievable. Our telcos have been notoriously stubborn dealing with Apple, not seeing the potential benefits of having exclusivity of the device. It is highly likely Apple simply said
"Seeing as you won't play with us, we'll give the iPhone to anyone who wants it, meaning you all lose out on exclusivity for your network".
More than 1 carrier also leads to the rumours of a 3G iPhone. In Australia, the only high speed network the current iPhone works on is Telstra's EDGE network. If Apple was to release the current model here in Australia, they would need to be exclusive to Telstra, or persuade another telco to upgrade their GSM network to EDGE to support it (like what O2 is doing in the UK). However, if a 3G iPhone is released, it won't matter, as all telcos have a 3G HSDPA network (either running on the 2100mhz or 850mhz frequency, both of which are supported by multiple 3G chipsets in mobile devices).
No contract lock in
No contract lock-in ties into the idea of multiple carriers, as there's no need to hold anyone in to a certain provider to use the iPhone, unlike in the USA and other countries. Perhaps Apple have learned that there's no point holding the iPhone back to a certain provider, as we're all unlocking them anyway and are using Australia as a test-bed for rolling it out elsewhere due to Australia's high adoption rate of mobile phones and new technology, but our small market that won't hurt them if it fails.
Current resellers will be able to sell iPhones
In the USA and other countries, you can only purchase iPhones from Apple, or from branded stores for the provider (AT&T stores for example). In Australia however, Apple are planning on letting resellers stock and sell iPhones, just like any other product, as the range of telco stores and official Apple stores is low, but resellers are wide-spread - together with driving people into stores where Macs are, so they'll look at what else Apple does. Also, it's the reason Apple is telling resellers in the first place, because they'll be selling them - otherwise Apple would do what they need to do without them.
So that's what we know about the iPhone so far. No doubt more info will be released over the coming weeks. Australia finally gets the iPhone - now let us all speculate on the plans and whether it will be 3G or not!
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