I have searched for this but found no mention on MacTalk but delete this if it has been covered.

I saw this news item;

Optus, Telstra in war of words over iPhone - Technology - BrisbaneTimes

and wanted some background from some more knowledgeable folk. It implies that the Optus 3G network is only 900 MHz and as such won't support 3G services on the iPhone.

Experience has taught me to take most of these stories with a grain of salt so can anyone enlighten me; will the iPhone work on Optus's 3G ?

From the tech specs on the iPhone;
UMTS/HSDPA (850, 1900, 2100 MHz)
GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
I am guessing the extra 3G speed is only on UMTS/HSDPA and not on the GSM/EDGE bands, if so is Telstra talking about the lack of UMTS/HSDPA 900 MHz on Optus ???

optus run a 2100MHz in most places

the 900Mhz network will be rural based

So does that mean that rural users get the slower GSM speeds?

Go to the Optus website and look at the coverage maps. The orange areas are 900MHz, the mid yellow 2100MHz and the light yellow is "planned" (whether 900 or 2100, doesn't say). Apparently Optus only know of yellow shades and can't use, I dunno 3 contrasting colours.

Rural users in Optus' future and current 900mhz areas can not and will not be able to use 3G on the 3G iPhone. Users in Optus' 2100mhz areas can use 3G on the 3G iPhone.

A theoretical, unlocked iPhone will work on all of the NextG Network, All of the 3 3G netowork, Optus and Vodafone's 2100mhz Netoworks, but will not work on any of Vodafone or Optus' future 900mhz 3G networks.

got a link to that? the only one i can find had completely different colours

Try this Optus - About Optus - Coverage Maps: SA

While the Optus maps are good, and way better than Vodafone's, they should make public the 'actual' coverage maps, but they won't. They call it commercially sensitive information.

Yeah that's what I meant. Three shades of yellow for 3G and 2 shades of blue/green for 2G. Sometimes it's obvious, but not when you have a tiny amount of one shade between others. Also annoying that the planned 3G coverage doesn't tell you whether you are getting useless 900MHz or 2100MHz.

Can't remember where - but all their planned upgrades are 900mhz!!! This is not compatible with the iPhones 3g system.

man there is a lot of 900Mhz

would be nice when i go up the river to be able to get 3G but main thing is that adelaide area is 2100

Will a 3G phone (any phone) drop to 2G if its outside 3G coverage?

Yes, it will

Theoretically - yes, it has all the guts to do normal gprs service and edge data.

Really surprised Apple didnt go for the Quad band 3G and cover 900 too. Seems silly to introduce this one.