I live 1 hour and 15 minutes out of Melbourne, and I get great coverage with 3. And, like mac_man_luke says, they roam with Telstra so even if you are outside a 3 zone, the coverage is excellent. Roaming charges apply for data, but not for calls. Which doesn't really bother me because I don't use data really. ( Although if I had an iPhone i would!)

I don't want to leave 3, the plans are too good!

same here 500 free minutes from 3 to 3 with out any monthly payment

The only problem with 3 and the iPhone, is a soon as you start roaming, you are going to get hit for massive data charges. And considering the iPhone uses AGPS and has push email.

+1 I'm on the the Hot for 3 plan too. No intention of leaving either! If iPhone comes out pre-paid on Voda/Optus, sweet it'll work on 3 (assuming it's either unlockable or gets hacked). Else, no iPhone for me.

Everyone keeps saying this but this has not been my experience. I love Three and haven't had any issues with network coverage in the year I have been using them.

I too am hoping that I can unlock a Vodafone or Optus iPhone to use on Three! Fingers crossed.

And that won't be any different on Optus or Voda?


I'll put a $50 bet down that it will be locked to that carrier if you get it from them directly i.e. their stores... Watch these words. Having said that, I'll probably get a prepaid iPhone from one of those two carriers, and then unlock it..

On the other hand, if either will offer unlimited data, I'll leave Three in an instant! :P

I've been on three for a long time and never had a coverage issue - I don't know why this keeps coming up...it's no more true than any other carrier in this country.

correct
which is why i'm holding my breath until i see some firmware which allows a lock to UTMS and not GSM (like in Windows Mobile)
this is how I keep my HTC Kaiser on HSDPA so I don't get roaming charges

for me, this is a dealbreaker - I can't switch carriers either since I have about 16 months left on contract

Can you disable the A-GPS to prevent this?

As for push email ... how much data does push actually use?

Presuming that there's little data usage to simply poll teh Exchange server, it's jsut the emails themselves then ... with my Dopod 838Pro, I just manually sync with my work Exchange server to avoid the issue, but push would be nice.

i took the gamble before any announcements and signed on for another 2 years with a better contract and free phone, where in the back of my mind i was hoping 3 would get the iphone....well seeming thats not going to happen right away i might have to revert to a prepaid unlocking fee (depending on price) as it would cost way too much to end my contract plus i'm not a fan of optus or vodafone their service didn't suit me

OK I just rang three to find out how much to get out of my current plans (I have 2 numbers)..

They put me through to priority care where I was told that Three is currently investigating if it is possible to get the iphone. I told them that unless they have it on July 11 I would be changing carrier and I had already put a deposit down on Optus website for an iphone - she seemed pretty interested that I had already put a deposit down also.

anyway she wrote everything I said down, and in the end said that I should expect a call in the next week or so from their back end team. I questioned what this meant and she said that they will let you know when the iphone is available.

SO... in the end, I found out its going to cost me $800 to swap carriers, so im probably better off buying one outright and staying on three!!

hmm i'm thinking when i have time i am going to give my good ol friends at three a call and talk to them about this....i can only assume the more people ask to more they will listen

i think the prepaid and unlock is going to be our solution for now until three announce something good/bad

found this on another forum

"After talking with my 3 representative today I found out some interesting information.

They said that the new 3g version iphone will work on their network and allow users to voice call and sms. However they need to install their software to the phone to allow you to have access to internet, MM messaging and other advanced services."

I then called myself and got put through to priority services because their system was being upgraded, spoke to an Aussie :P haha

I said i wanted to cancel my account and wanted to know how much it would cost becuase i was interested in going to optus because of the iphone and three hadnt said anything yet. He asked why i liked the iPhone, i explained its the benchmark for all new handsets from now, amazing device, love the ipod, phone, gps... does everything i want, just an awesome phone. he said ok, thank you im just tanking down the feedback to give to my management team as they are interested in numbers of ppl that might be interested in it.

So i said, HK and Macau have signed deals, so there isnt any news at all for australia. he said well i cant tell you, i mean i dont know anything... but i know we are looking at it but there is no timeframe at the moment..

I said can i get it from optus outright and unlock it, he said yes and it will work however currently they only know it will work for Calls and text messaging but items such as planet three, picture messaging and mobile internet will not work yet becuase the settings arnt in the software. and i went ah ok (when i heard mms i was like :O hmmmm mayb he does know more)

then he said, but when we do get it im sure you will know because we know that there will be a high demand for it and so we will also advertise it a lot!

so yea thats what i found out

SO EVERYONE CALL 13 33 20 and register ur interest :P

Here's hoping that there will be a way to hack it and unlock it as I have a year and a half left of three and happy with them.

But in saying that I really want the iPhone...

Optus and Vodafone better step up their game and tell us what plans are being offered and give us all information on how it will work

Three have no fucking idea what they're talking about/getting themselves into.