The problem with 3 is that their 3G coverage is appaling and calls keep cutting out especially indoors. I have managed to get my Nokia 6120 to default Euro 1 setting and I have it defaulted to GSM only. Which effectively means a better voice coverage (through Telstra GSM). However if i were to do the same with iPhone, then if you are using push email or any stuff that uses data firstly you would end up paying roaming data charges (very high) and a slow speed network (because it would use GPRS) besides you are not assured if you would get all the features associated with application store and other services. You may lose your warranty (i dont know if it is buried in the fine print "iPhone comes with up to two years of technical support during the time your wireless agreement with your carrier remains active. In addition, your iPhone, its rechargeable battery, and all included accessories are covered against defects for a full year from the purchase date by a limited hardware warranty."

I am thinking of quitting 3 and go over to Telstra ( I believe their Next G coverage is superior to their basic GSM even in metropolitan regions, although I have no confirmation of it) so that I could use all of iPhones features unhindered even if you are traveling (Maps!). If you are with any other carrier you lose your 3G functions once you cross the metropolitan regions.Sometimes even indoors within metropolitan areas. Besides stronger signals, longer battery life. I believe the new Optus high speed network is not supported by iPhone and Vodafone relies on Telstra GSM at roaming.

Hence, though you may get ripped off by Telstra, if you want the best iPhone experience ( I believe) it would be with a Telstra iPhone Next G contract. I have 15 months left in my contract with 3 but I feel its worth to quit 3 and switch over to the Big T all for the iPhone (my dream phone . .lol). But I dunno how much I would be worse off . . prob a fair amount.

While I agree with you on Next Gs superior network it would be a no brainer if Telstra offered some decent value data plans. However they are likely to offer something only a little better than the current rates and at $5 for 10MB does it really matter how good the network is when you have to sell the house every time you use Google Maps on the iPhone??

Personally I would rather have a smaller coverage but have the ability to use it as much as I like rather than knowing that I *could* use it in the country yet be too afraid to use it even where I live.

If however my bill was paid by someone else (eg many of the corporates who swear by Next G's superiority) then hell yeah I'd be signing up with them too!!

three.com.au/iphone

was just updated, confirmed that there getting the iPhone, but not on july 11th, comes form the director of sales for three, Nole.

Hardly confirmed... Noel actually says: "We’ll keep asking Apple for the iPhone, and since they don’t have an exclusive approach here, we can only assume that it’s just a matter of time."

well its pretty confired because its from the director of sales,

and it dose say

"For those of you who can’t wait, I respect your call and thank you for being with 3 until now. I also hope you return at some point."

which concludes, that they mustnt be getting the iPhone july 11th, otherwise why would they say this?


ur right about the other part:
"can promise if the iPhone does come to 3" i read it as:
"can promise the iPhone dose come to 3"

The other day I was on my three phone travelling through country south australia and I have to say the reception was rock solid and never cut out. Thats just my 2cents , I have had nothing but positive experiences with them.

Really? I cannot see it :/

Edit: Reading the later posts since your post - I agree. Nowhere has anyone said they're getting the iPhone. You're reading too much into it.

Um, I've read that statement and the 5 gazillion opinions that basically acknowledge that 3 have given up for the launch but are going to try to maybe later, maybe, totally, maybe.

Wouldn't you have been roaming on 2g Telstra in country SA?

Yeah, only thing we really learnt here is that 3 never had a deal with Apple. Here's hoping though. I've still got a long time left on my contract, I've also signed up for Mobile Broadband (although I think I can keep that if I cancel the other contract right?)

I was in my local 3 store earlier today. I asked about bringing an unlocked iPhone over to the 3 network. They said I could do that, but I could only use the phone, no internet. They said the internet will only work with planet 3 software on it. Is this true, or is it just another case of bullshit?

Bullshit.

You can't use Planet 3 internet content obviously, but browsing the normal web should be fine as long as you have the right settings.

Total bullshit - how would they even know before it's out?

Sign up to an X-Series plan for better mobile data rates: X-Series

Sorry that's not true either. The majority of Planet 3 will work on the iPhone (I can say this with 99% certainty) but the 3 Portal might not be formatted correctly for MobileSafari/The iPhone's native res. The 3 Portal will work on any (3G) phone that is registered on it's network, and connecting via the '3services' APN. Since we can change the APN on an iPhone, simply browse to: http://three.net.au and you will be able to access the Planet 3 Portal.

If you really want, you can tether your current 3G phone and browse Planet 3 on your computer (if you have nothing better to do) as long as you are connecting via the '3services' APN, it will work.

**Things such as MSN, MobileTV (and maybe ringtones/songs) or ANY service that requires a HTA 3G certificate/DRM or a Java app to be installed will obviously not work.

EDIT: The normal internet will also work by signing up for X-Series, one of the Explorer Packs or Casual Access. This will work via both the '3services' and the '3netaccess' APN. Though on '3netaccess' the 3 Portal won't load (as you are assigned a public IP address that's accessible direct to the net) where as using the normal Internet via the 3services APN gives you a NAT-like IP address and hence things like VPN and P2P won't work (as there's no way to forward ports)

That's what I figured. I said to the chick in the 3 store. "When 3 does get the iPhone and Apple refuse to allow Planet 3 software on it, how are people going to access the net then?" No Planet 3 no internet right! She just shrugged her shoulders at me and said "I dunno".

I should have known better not to even bother asking.