Last updated: 9:20AM, 21st May, 2008

1. <a href="#q16">I Heard that the iPhone is coming out here soon? Is this true?</a>
2. <a href="#q17">Will it be locked to a certain carrier like it is in the USA now?</a>
3. <a href="#q18">3G iPhone - come on, it's gotta happen. Will Australia be receiving a 3G iPhone?</a>
4. <a href="#q19">I already have an iPhone, what can do I with it once it's out locally?</a>
5. <a href="#q20">How much is an iPhone going to cost here in Australia?</a>
6. <a href="#q1">What can I do and what can't I do with an iPhone here in Australia? Am I getting a half-arsed barely usable device or what?</a>
7. <a href="#q2">Can my current mobile phone number & SIM from a current phone work in an iPhone?</a>
8. <a href="#q3">What is data speed like on the iPhone? What is GPRS & EDGE? How much will it set me back?</a>
9. <a href="#q4">Which mobile plans are good for iPhone? (updated)</a>
10. <a href="#q5">I want one - how do I smuggle one into the country?</a>
11. <a href="#q6">Guide me through the process of getting the damn thing working here in Australia.</a>
12. <a href="#q7">What happens if it's a dud? There's no warranty right?</a>
13. <a href="#q8">How do I put applications on it?</a>
14. <a href="#q9">Can I upgrade to the latest software versions or what?</a>
15. <a href="#q10">I heard about this SDK thing, what does it mean?</a>
16. <a href="#q11">Data is so expensive and I don't want to have to sacrifice my first born just to check email - how do I disable mobile data so it only goes via wi-fi when connected?</a>
17. <a href="#q12">Can I classify the iPhone as a PDA and hence, get it salary sacrificed?</a>
18. <a href="#q13">Where can I buy a case or protective cover for my iPhone in Australia?</a>
19. <a href="#q14">Will my current iPod accessories work with iPhone?</a>
20. <a href="#q15">I've got questions that aren't answered here! I think I'm going to faint if they aren't answered!</a>

If there's anything you think should be addressed, or even corrected in the FAQ, just let me know!

<a name="q16">I heard that the iPhone is coming out here soon? Is this true?</a>
Oh it's so on dude - the resellers have been told that it's coming out (link), Optus and Vodafone have confirmed it on their websites (link) and it just makes sense that the iPhone should be out here soon with the imminent opening of the Sydney and Chadstone Apple stores.

Latest news is that it will be out June 9th, perfect timing for a Steve Jobs keynote at Apple's developer conference (aka WWDC). Many resellers have also been told this date - so the evidence is stacking up that it will be a June 9th or in the case of Australia, shortly after June 9th release.

<a name="q17">Will it be locked to a certain carrier like it is in the USA now? I've heard that it will be unlocked now.</a>
It seems like the iPhone will be sold on more than one carrier at least here in Australia and many places worldwide. What we don't know is if this means it is unlocked (in the sense you can use it on any carrier) or simply Apple is locking it into a choice of carriers. In Australia, we know that Optus and Vodafone will have it. All this may mean is that when you first activate your iPhone at home, you can choose between Optus or Vodafone plans.

However, it wouldn't surprise anyone if Apple decides to also sell it unlocked for a higher price and then you can take your pick of any provider. You would be able to pay less for it if you go on a contract with Optus or Vodafone, as the carrier will be subsidising the phone. Of course, you can still always jailbreak a locally purchased iPhone and use it with whomever you wish.

That said, this is all assumptions and best guesses, we won't know anything until the iPhone's release.

<a name="q18">3G iPhone, it's gotta happen right?. Will Australia be receiving a 3G iPhone?</a>
If a 3G iPhone doesn't come out ASAP, Apple will have a big disaster on their hands as every man and his dog is expecting it, so it looks like a sure bet - Apple would be crazy not to release a 3G iPhone and all the wonderful 3G goodness it brings. There have been major hints in the beta version of the iPhone's firmware released to developers (link), so we'll be very surprised if the iPhone isn't a 3G device, supporting HSPA (i.e - the fast stuff) and UMTS on various frequencies, as well as ye olde GSM network.

<a name="q19">I already have an iPhone, what can do I with it once it's out locally?</a>
You can still keep using your current iPhone - nothing will stop it from working. In-fact, Apple will release v2.0 of the iPhone firmware for your phone. It's already been hacked, so when it's out, you can simply apply the update then run Ziphone again and unlock it. All that you will be lacking is 3G speed. So if you don't really care about faster web browsing, then there's not a lot in it for you to get a new one.

If you're in the market for an iPhone, wait until after the 3G model is out, as there will be a huge glut of early adopters (me included), that will be ditching their "old" 2G iPhones for 3G ones, so you will be able to pick one up quite easily for under $400.

If there are special "iPhone" plans, you may still be able to get those plans on your current 2G iPhones - but we'll need to wait and see when the iPhone comes out as to what the carriers and Apple have in mind.

<a name="q20">How much is an iPhone going to cost here in Australia?</a>
If the iPhone is sold unlocked here in Australia, it will likely be in the $800 - $1,000 range. Compared to other smart-phones of similar ilk and the fact a major part of Apple's plan for profit is a cut of the monthly service fee, it makes sense.

However, if you get your 3G iPhone on a contract with a carrier, the chances are that it will be similar to the USA price: around $500 up-front, with a monthly fee. What that monthly fee is depends on your usage habits, but the greater the monthly fee, the lower the up-front price.

What is interesting is that Apple plans to sell the iPhone via their current resellers (CompNow, NextByte, Mac1 etc.) as well as in their own stores and possibly via other retail outlets (DSE, Myer, DJ's, JB Hi-Fi). A big deal about the iPhone is that all that time sucked signing up to a plan in the shop, is off-loaded to the iTunes Music Store where it's all done online, in the comfort of your own home. How this works with multiple carriers and how it impacts the price, I don't know.

<a name="q1">What can I do and what can't I do with an iPhone here in Australia? Am I getting a half-arsed barely usable device or what?</a>
It works exactly as advertised in the USA - but there's no visual voicemail. Other than that, everything works. YouTube, emails, SMS, incoming and outgoing phone calls and Google Maps will even find where you are in Australia if you press the "Locate Me" button.

<a name="q2">Can my current mobile phone number & SIM from a current phone work in an iPhone?</a>
The iPhone is a GSM phone. That means it will work on any GSM network. By default, the iPhone is locked to AT&T in the USA, much like how many mobile phones here in Australia are locked to certain providers (pre-paid phones for example).

Once you've unlocked the iPhone, you can stick in any GSM SIM you want! Optus, Vodafone, Telstra, etc. all work fine. Except 3. 3 don't use GSM. 3's network is a UTMS network, a whole different technology to GSM. So they use a USIM, instead of a SIM. I won't get too technical on you, but rest assured, your 3 SIM, when placed in an iPhone, will not work, so move over to another telco if you want iPhone lovin'.

<a name="q3">What is data speed like on the iPhone? What is GPRS & EDGE? How much will it set me back?</a>
The iPhone's silver bullet is Mobile Safari. For once we have a browser on a mobile device that isn't total junk. Naturally, you want to use the Internet on it and if you aren't around a wi-fi hotspot an want internet access (say on the train), then you need a data plan attached to your account.

There's a couple of ways to get Internet on a mobile phone (also called data). The acronym soup begins with GPRS, EDGE and HSDPA (also referred to as 3G, or NextG). GPRS is slow as molasses and reminds me of the Internet in 1995 (roughly 6kb/sec), EDGE is tolerable (roughly 20kb/sec) and HSDPA (up to 700kb/sec with Telstra, 300kb/sec with everyone else at the moment) is crack cocaine for internet junkies.

Unfortunately, the maximum the iPhone supports is EDGE (thank you backwards US mobile market). Another unfortunate circumstance is that the only telco providing EDGE in Australia is Telstra (damn). If you're on Optus or Vodafone - the best you'll get is GPRS. Some people say its good enough for emails and desperate emergency web surfing - some people would rather eat a raw onion laced with lemon juice than use GPRS so they shell out for EDGE data with Telstra (i.e: me).

In terms of how much cashola you'll need to pay for this 1st world luxury: it depends. As usual with mobile phone providers, what you pay varies on what plan you're on. See the next question as to what plans MacTalk recommends...

<a name="q4">Which mobile plans are good for iPhone?</a>
Forum member NeoRicen has constructed an awesome graph with info and a lot of detail on the current data plans suitable for an iPhone and possibly a future 3G iPhone. Take a look http://forums.mactalk.com.au/47/4939...australia.html

If you loathe Telstra and don't give a damn about EDGE, Virgin is the telco for you. They have no contracts, reasonable call rates and a very generous data plan. Virgin piggybacks on the Optus network, so anywhere there's Optus, there's Virgin.

You can pay $5/month and get 50MB/month of data. Or pay $10/month and get 300MB. This is on top of whatever plan you like that Virgin provides.

Check out the Virgin website for all the gory details on their plans and choose one that suits your level of phone use best.

On the other side we have Telstra and their sweet, sweet EDGE support. Be warned: Telstra's plans are extremely complicated. You need to set aside a good hour and sift through their copious, slightly differing plans and caps to find one that suits you. Their data plans are pretty easy though. The iPhone doesn't support NextG (damn), so we're left with this highway robbery, labelled as Telstra Mobile Browsing Packs: $5/month & 5mb/month, $10/month & 20mb/month and $29/month and 80mb/month - plus a staggering $1/mb for excess data.

If you're on Optus and thinking about moving, contact the Optus "Retention" Team for Small Business on 1300 556 385. Their job is to make sure you stay with Optus, so they can cut you a deal. Thanks to richbowen for that tip.

So to summarise this one: you want value? Get Virgin. You want speed? Get Telstra. If you're already on Optus or Vodafone, they do similar data packs, but not as well priced as Virgin and not EDGE capable like Telstra. At the end of the day, get what suits you. I like Telstra's network coverage and the EDGE data enough to pay that extra for it, others may not - be grateful we have more than just one mobile telco!

<a name="q5">I want one - how do I smuggle one into the country?</a>
If you're going to be in the USA, grab one while you're there and bring it back with you. Thanks to the surging Aussie dollar (or the plummeting US$), an iPhone has never been cheaper. Just don't forget to include sales tax, which varies from state to state. If you're going to California (8% tax), a 16GB iPhone is only AU$595 (US$540 with tax).

If you aren't going to the USA though, you can always get a mate in the US to send you one. Get them to go buy one from an Apple store and ship it over. The United States Postal Service (the equivalent of Australia Post), have Express Mail International which will only set you back US$40 for 5 business day shipping on an iPhone, which includes insurance if it's lost in transit or damaged, as well as tracking so you can see when your precious cargo has left the USA and entered the metaphorical package resistor that is Australian Customs then on the truck to your grubby little hands. Don't forget a little tip for your US mate though, Americans like tips.

No American chums and not visiting the land of the free any time soon? There's eBay, but who wants to trust a stranger? Enter PriceUSA - a shipping service for USA items run by an Aussie with contacts to the USA that ship here. I've talked about PriceUSA on these forums before, so check out the thread. The head honcho of PriceUSA scans the forums and acts on all feedback, so they are not dodgy and are very reliable and professional. Visit their site and grab a 16GB iPhone for only a small 5% markup for their time and effort.

Again, to sum up buying an iPhone - get one yourself in the USA or get an American friend to ship it to you. Otherwise just use PriceUSA. Forget eBay and it's potential related dodgyness.

<a name="q6">Guide me through the process of getting the damn thing working here in Australia.</a>
Luckily for you, it's never been easier to activate, jailbreak and unlock an iPhone. Some Italian guy called Zibri has done all the hard work for us and packaged it up in one neat little package called ZiPhone.

Buy your iPhone (shrink-wrapped, never used, don't bother paying extra to have it pre-unlocked) and don't do a thing to it except take off all the plastic coverings.

Step 1 - Download ZiPhone and extract the file and place it in your Applications directory.

Step 2 - Plug in iPhone, quit iTunes when it launches, the fire up ZiPhone and click the "Do it all!" button. Wait 5 minutes while your iPhone does some scrolling text ala the Matrix. Don't freak out, it's supposed to do that. Wait for it to reboot and appear with the familiar home screen.

Step 3 - Place your SIM card in the SIM card tray up the top of the iPhone (use a paper clip to pry it out) and within a few seconds the iPhone should appear with your carrier of choice up in the corner! Make a phone call and see if it works. If it didn't work, you stuffed something up - go on the forums and ask for help. If it did work, go on to step 4.

Step 4 - Setup your wi-fi by tapping Settings, then wi-fi and join the access point of your choosing. We're going to install some apps to make your iPhone work nicely in Australia and you don't want to do it over GPRS or EDGE.

Step 5 - Tap "Installer", let it refresh it's sources. Tap Install, then All Packages. Scroll to BSD Subsystem tap it, then click Install. Let it do it's thing, then return back to Installer and tap Sources. Tap edit up in the corner and add in http://wpool.com/iphone. When that's done, tap Install down the bottom and scroll to Localisation. If you're using 1.1.3, tap the 1.1.3 version, or tap 1.1.4 if you're on 1.1.4. Install each of those packages then reboot the iPhone (turn it off by holding down the top button and slide across the power off slider, then turn it on again). That's it, you're done and have an iPhone working sweet in Australia!

If this looks like it will phase you, check out my offer to unlock your iPhone for you, in return for a donation to the EFA. Or if you want to do it yourself, just ask any questions in the iPhone Help forum.

<a name="q7">What happens if it's a dud? There's no warranty right?</a>
You are correct, there is no-one in Australia who will be able to fix your iPhone for free under warranty. Apple Service Centers here in Australia cannot order iPhone parts and technicians are not trained how to fix them. There may be a few stores around that will repair iPhones for a (generous) fee however. If anyone know of any, post em up on the forums!

If your iPhone is a dud, your best bet is to send it back to the USA. Find a good friend in the US who can take the iPhone to the store for you and explain what has happened. You don't need a receipt, so mail them the iPhone with a couple of Tim Tams and then PayPal US$50 to send your iPhone back.

It sucks, but that's the risk (and only risk really) of buying a product with no official support in Australia. A good tip is that if you're buying it from a friend in the USA, get them to turn it on for you and to press a few buttons on the emergency keypad screen. At least that way you don't have a DOA iPhone.

If break it later on down the track, or something fails, all hope is not lost. MacTalk forum member, BoxDog, whilst not a professional technician, has done a few iPhone repairs before and has offered to help anyone with an iPhone that has dodgy hardware. So if you are desperate to get your iPhone going again, contact BoxDog via a private message on the forums and see what he can do for you.

<a name="q8">How do I put applications on it?</a>
There's a couple of ways - by far the easiest is to use Installer.app. You should have used Installer.app to install the Australian localisation programs. Installing other apps to the iPhone is the same.

If you find an app that isn't in Installer.app but you want to put it on your iPhone, another way to add it on is to use SCP. Log into your iPhone with something like Transmit, obviously, your iPhone needs to have wi-fi on and connected to your Mac or the same access point as your Mac. This can be a bit tricky, so unless this is clear to you, consult the forums for advice. My recommendation is just to stick to programs in Installer.app.

<a name="q9">Can I upgrade to the latest software versions or what?</a>
Generally you should wait when a new version of iPhone software comes out. Hang around the MacTalk iPhone forums and see what others are saying about the new version. As of the writing of this article, 1.1.4 is fine to use on your iPhone.

Don't install new firmware onto your iPhone unless you are 100% sure that it will work, otherwise it may render your iPhone into an unusable state and you may not be able to recover from it, leaving you with an iBrick.

For those wanting to upgrade to 1.1.4 (the latest version currently), forum member laughingbird has written a wonderful guide that goes into explicit detail aimed at the extreme beginner. If that still frightens you, I'll upgrade your iPhone from any version to the latest one in return for a donation of any amount ($1, or $100, doesn't bother me) to Electronic Frontiers Australia. Take a look at this thread for more information: Free iPhone Unlock Service - Support the EFA

<a name="q10">I heard about this SDK thing, what does it mean?</a>
The iPhone SDK (software development kit) is a bunch of programs that let people make their own applications for the iPhone, much like making an application for your Mac (very similar actually). For most lay-people, the SDK isn't anything they will interact with. For programmers however, this is a watershed event, they can finally legitimately develop applications for the iPhone with official methods of coding and interface guidelines.

It also brings "enterprise" level features to the iPhone. Apple will be releasing iPhone software v2.0, which brings many features such as push email, contacts and calendar (ala Blackberry), WPA2/802.1x support (so those of you at a university can use campus wi-fi) and Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync support which means anyone who uses a Windows Mobile phone given to them by work, can also use an iPhone instead with the same management and remote access features as Apple licensed the technology from Microsoft.

For us mere mortals, the SDK means applications will come fast and thick to the iPhone. Big developers (Microsoft, Adobe etc.) can and probably will make programs for iPhone, as well as all the independent Mac software developers we all know and love (Panic, Rogue Amoeba, Delicious Monster, equinux and so on). Many game developers have expressed a fascination with the iPhone, due to it's Wii-like controls in a portable device and powerful graphics and CPU for a mobile device.

The beauty of the SDK is the way apps are placed on the iPhone - just like buying a song from the iTunes store. There's a button on the iPhone that sends you right there, giving developers the opportunity to be on every iPhone out there. At this stage we don't know how this works with our jailbroken iPhones, but we will be eagerly awaiting it's release. Applications made withe the SDK can still be distributed like they are now with Installer.app, so the benefits of an SDK can still be reaped by all.

For all the info you could want on the SDK, watch the March 6th Apple Event, where details on the SDK were released.

<a name="q11">Data is so expensive and I don't want to have to sacrifice my first born just to check email - how do I disable mobile data so it only goes via wi-fi when connected?</a>
On your iPhone, go to:
Settings -> General -> Network -> EDGE/GPRS
and change the APN setting to xxx.xxx - if you leave it blank, it will still work, so enter in fake details instead.

Now your iPhone will not access the mobile phone network to use the Internet. Unless you are connected to a wi-fi access point, the internet will not work. If you decide you want to use mobile out and about, just change the settings back to the correct APN, use your net, then go back and replace it with xxx.xxx so it goes back to not working.

<a name="q12">Can I classify the iPhone as a PDA and hence, get it salary sacrificed?</a>
This is up to the Australian Taxation Office. Your best bet is to ask them and/or your accountant. However, a couple of MacTalkers discussed this on the forums: iPhone and the ATO

<a name="q13">Where can I buy a case or protective cover for my iPhone in Australia?</a>
I am not aware of any local based stores selling iPhone accessories or covers. Australian Apple resellers have been told by Apple not to stock anything iPhone related, so don't go to an Apple reseller looking for iPhone gear as they won't have it. Your best bet is to look at US on-line stores - with the US dollar being so weak, it's a good time to buy from the US anyways. The only downside is that you can't see the product you're buying. With a case, I think that's quite important. On the forums, there was a discussion about cases and protection for the iPhone which may help you: iPhone cases in Aus

<a name="q14">Will my current iPod accessories work with iPhone?</a>
Apple has written a support article to answer this: About iPhone and iPod Accessories

To quote: It is possible, however, to use many existing iPod accessories that have the "Made for iPod" label. When you connect iPhone to one of these accessories, the iPhone will alert you that the accessory was not made to work with the iPhone. With the alert, you are presented with an option to go into Airplane Mode, which will turn off the communication ability of the iPhone while it is connected to that accessory.

So it seems that if you put your iPhone into airplane mode, most accessories will work. However, in airplane mode, you cannot receive or make calls. Your experiences may vary - that's all I can say. Post on the forums your experiences with iPod accessories: iPod Accessories and the iPhone

<a name="q15">I've got questions that aren't answered here! I think I'm going to faint if they aren't answered!</a>
Sign up to the forums, surf on over to the iPhone forum and post your queries. Nerds from all over the country will then assist you to achieve mobile telephony nirvana. That's what MacTalk is here for! Just don't forget to mention us when your friends are gushing over your new iPhone

Thanks so much, it answered many of my questions.

edit: Just to clarify, you only put in your own SIM after you have unlocked your iPhone, and leave the AT&T SIM in there while jailbreaking, unlocking etc?

Thanks

Yep, no need to put your SIM in until its all done and you want to make a phone call.

When I visited this on the front page my first thought was that the thing was finally announced for us.

My god time to save for my iphone in a few months maybe they will be here.

Bloody excellent run through of what seems like a scary exercise. Well done. It makes me want to get one immediately. Should also reduce the amount of repetitive iphone questions on the forums... hopefully.

That's my aim - taking the fear out of the process. It's so simple and relatively fool proof. The end result (a working iPhone) is so worth it

[corny]I just want to spread the iPhone love![/corny]

Great description of the steps involved and explained in simple terms. I just got my iphone yesterday and followed all of these steps - working like a charm. I now just need to work out if I want to sign up to Tel$tra for the EDGE.......it is tempting!!! Mainly for maps.

Damo

Excellent FAQ. I'm getting one shortly and this guide will be invaluable!

Maybe chuck in which versions of the firmware are breakable, I know they're currently all good, but obviously that will change.

Great work decryption. I just ordered a 16gb iphone off PriceUSA tonight

Thanks so much for taking the time to put up this comprehensive information. Its answered a lot of my questions.

I am in the US in April/May and again in June/July. I was going to get a iPhone on the first trip but after the SDK announcements this week I think it makes sense to wait for the second trip (June/July) when the iPhone will be at v2.0.

Or am I barking up the wrong tree?

Now I just need the cash. Oh, and coverage.

(Damn living 800km away from Adelaide!)

What a great resource. Excellent work decryption. I might actually consider getting one of these now instead of the nokia n81 I was looking at.

Excellent guide anthony

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