Last updated: 9:20PM, 6th July, 2008

1. Is it coming out in Australia?
2. When can I get my hands on one?
3. Where can I buy it from?
4. I'm on a contract with 3, yet they haven't announced the iPhone - what can I do?
5. How much will it cost?
6. What sort of plans is the iPhone available on?
7. I don't like contracts, is it available on pre-paid?
8. What sort of data rates are there for the iPhone?
9. I'm on a different provider on a contract, what happens in regards to moving over to get an iPhone?
10. What is Optus and Vodafone's 3G coverage like in non-metro areas?
11. I am on Optus and Vodafone currently and want to switch to an iPhone, what are my options?
12. I need to use Telstra for (insert reason here), will iPhone work with Telstra?
13. Will Apple resellers have iPhones?
14. Can I buy the iPhone outright from the Apple online store or any other store?
15. I already have a 1st gen iPhone, what does a new iPhone mean for me?
16. What's different between the iPhone 3G and the 1st generation iPhone?
17. Will the new iPhone software work on my 1st gen iPhone?
18. Does this mean that the older iPhones are now supported by Apple Australia too?
19. Will features like the App Store & Visual Voicemail now work on my 1st gen iPhone?
20. Is it true that the iPhone 3G doesn't have MMS or video calling?
21. Will the GPS feature use up a lot of data with maps and such?
22. What happens to jailbreaking iPhones on MacTalk now that it's out in Australia?
23. Can the new iPhone 3G be jailbroken so I can use it on any carrier I like?
24. I heard the SIM card can't be removed from the iPhone 3G, is this true?
25. Can the iPhone use Bluetooth for something other than a headset yet?
26. I have a really important question that's not answered here and it's eating away my soul!

Is it coming out in Australia?
Yes! Finally! Australia will officially be getting the iPhone. No need to import from the USA or hack it to get it to work in Australia. The iPhone 3G will be officially supported by Apple Australia, with warranties and user support.

When can I get my hands on one?
The official date is July 11th (link). Most Optus stores are opening at 7AM - check this website Optus has provided in order to see what time the stores will open.

Telstra has a list of store opening hours for launch day: http://www.telstra.com.au/nextgnetwork/pdf/tshop.pdf

Vodafone has no official word on launch day opening times.

Where can I buy it from?
As of the 1st of July, Telstra recently joined the pack to offer the 3G iPhone. Previous to this date, it was only Optus and Vodafone that announced that they will will have the iPhone. The Telstra announcement was made via a press release (link) that includes brief information on the plans, as well as a webpage where you can register your interest (link).

It is uncertain if they will be available from the respective, Telstra, Optus and Vodafone online stores, or just in physical stores. It is not confirmed that non-official Telstra, Optus & Vodafone stores, the Apple online store, the Apple stores in Sydney, or Apple resellers will have them. If you see or hear anyone else saying they will have the iPhone 3G on launch day, take it with a grain of salt, as the only confirmed places by Apple selling them will be Optus, Telstra and Vodafone.

Optus was taking deposits for iPhones, but has since stopped as they've reached a limit for their first shipment. Optus has since refunded all customers their deposits. What this means we don't know and what the deposit actually entitles (or entitled) us to we also don't know.

It looks like stock of the iPhone 3G will be tight in Australia initially. Unless you have a deposit from Optus, it is looking more and more like it will simply be a case of first in, first served, until stock at the store you happen to be at runs out. Get your camping gear ready people!

I'm on a contract with 3, yet they haven't announced the iPhone - what can I do?
If you have a burning desire to stick with 3 - you can buy an iPhone pre-paid from Optus, shell out $80 to have it unlocked and then pop in your 3 SIM.

If you want the iPhone on a contract, you will need to sign up with Vodafone, Optus or Telstra and leave your 3 contract behind, paying any costs that may incur.

3 have been begging Apple for the iPhone (rather embarrassingly), but as of the 5th of July, no luck. Chances are that they will get it eventually however.

How much will it cost?
Steve jobs has been quoted as saying it will cost no more than $199 around the world. This, people, is clearly marketing spin taken to the extreme and pure bullshit. Apple seems to have no control over pricing - this is up to the individual telco. This time around, Apple is simply selling stock to the telcos - what they do with it is up to them. The only place with iPhones for $199 is the USA and even then it's $199 with a beefy 24 month contract.

Optus was first to release pricing the iPhone, it is available on pre-paid and on a 12 or 24 month contract. Link for prepaid pricing (click) - Link for contract pricing (link)

Vodafone's pricing is available on their iPhone site (link).

Telstra have simply had one press release (link) stating that The Next G™ iPhone 3G™ plans start at $30 per month with an upfront cost of $279 for the 8GB model and $399 for the 16GB model. Customers will receive the 8GB iPhone 3G™ model at no cost with the $80 plan and either the 8GB or the 16GB model at no cost with plans starting at $100 per month. All plans include free Wi-Fi access at Telstra hotspots and require a 24-month contract. No call rates or data plans have been announced. More detailed pricing information has been leaked but it is not 100% confirmed - it is a good indicator of how much Telstra will shaft us however.

What sort of plans is the iPhone available on?
Optus has pretty much taken their existing lineup of plans and given them a bit extra data (link). Vodafone has special iPhone plans that suck (link). Telstra's are by far the worst, with such tiny data plans, they're practically useless. I'm not even going to link to them - they're that crap.

I don't like contracts, is it available on pre-paid?
Yep! Optus has full pre-paid pricing available here (link). Note, that even on pre-paid, it is still locked to Optus. However, Optus states in their terms and conditions that for an $80 fee, the iPhone can be network unlocked and free to use on any provider or plan you wish (even 3!). Vodafone has announced that they too, will offer a pre-paid iPhone but there is no pricing yet. Telstra has not announced if they will offer the iPhone pre-paid.

What sort of data rates are there for the iPhone?
Optus has decided to give many different options for data, varying on how much you pay per month (link) and different again if you're on pre-paid and how much you recharge (link). It is still uncertain if you can "bolt-on" extra data for a fee as has been talked about.

Vodafone are similar to Optus, but with less data overall for the plan price.

Telstra are simply a joke ($29/month for 80mb).

I'm on a different provider on a contract, what happens in regards to moving over to get an iPhone?
Bad luck really - you'll need to pay out your current contract with your provider and move over to Telstra, Vodafone or Optus. You probably want to call your provider first and get a dollar amount to see how much it will cost to end your contract as it can be quite high if you're not towards the end and may end up not being worth it.

All you need to do to cancel your contract is simply sign up with a new provider, who will port your number over and notify your current provider you want to cancel with them. You will then be sent a bill from your old provider which you will need to pay to avoid debt collectors hounding you (not a good experience). Do *not* cancel your contract, then sign a new one with someone else - you will lose your phone number as well as generate extra paperwork for yourself.

What is Telstra, Optus and Vodafone's 3G coverage like in non-metro areas?
Optus and Vodafone run their metropolitan and fringe area 3G networks on the 2100mhz frequency and currently are expanding their 3G network into rural/non-metro areas with the 900mhz frequency. Unfortunately, the iPhone doesn't support 900mhz. So while the iPhone will work fine in rural areas on GSM (2G), you wont get the faster speeds for your data services (web browsing etc.). For a full map of network coverage, check the Optus (link) and Vodafone (link) websites.

Telstra however, use the 850Mhz network (they call it NextG), country-wide. If you're in a regional area, Telstra is by far your best bet. Their 3G network has full coverage in metro and regional areas.

In some areas, like Tasmania & the Northern Territory, Telstra is all there is - so you really don't have much of a choice!

I am on Telstra, Optus or Vodafone currently and want to switch to an iPhone, what are my options?
While they haven't announced anything specific as to upgrade options, it is reasonable to assume that if you are nearing the end of your contract and/or been a good customer, they can possibly arrange something for you. However, if you have just signed up for a contract recently, your only option may be to cancel that contract by paying it out and start a new one.

The best advice is to call your provider, explain your situation and let them explain to you what they can do. They will want to keep you as a customer, so there should be something they can work out for you (wether it's fair or not is another story).

I need to use Telstra for (insert reason here), will iPhone work with Telstra?
Yep! Telstra were late to the party, but they're certainly in the game now. Visit Telstra's iPhone website (link) for details. Full plan info hasn't been released, but Telstra will have the iPhone on July 11th. How many iPhones? We have no idea.

Will Apple resellers have iPhones?
Unfortunately, Apple is not allowing resellers to buy stock from Apple to sell in stores. However, many if not all resellers are investigating the possibility of becoming Optus or Vodafone resellers, enabling them to sell the iPhone. No reseller has confirmed this yet, but it seems likely as the iPhone is a key Apple product and resellers are synonymous with Apple gear. When some official announcements are made, you can be fairly confident MacTalk will let you know.

NextByte has confirmed to MacTalk that they will not have iPhones. They will get them one day, but the date is unsure.

Mac1 and CompNow will have iPhones via Vodafone, but not on launch day.

Can I buy the iPhone outright from the Apple online store or any other store?
At this stage, there are no official plans to sell it outright with no strings attached (i.e: from Apple's Online Store). We do know it will be available pre-paid, so there is the option to buy it pre-paid, then unlock it using the conventional methods for unlocking, or, paying Vodafone or Optus an "unlocking fee". Optus has confirmed that they will do it for $80.

I already have a 1st gen iPhone, what does a new iPhone mean for me?
Your current iPhone will keep on working fine as it is. There's nothing happening that will render your current iPhone useless. In-fact, Apple is giving all iPhone owners the new version of the iPhone software (the same software as on the 3G iPhone), the upgrade for free. So things like Exchange support, increased VPN access and the App Store will work on the 1st gen iPhone.

What's different between the iPhone 3G and the 1st generation iPhone?
The only difference is the hardware. From an operating system/software level, they will both have the same version and features. So the 3G iPhone has a UMTS/HSDPA radio, enabling faster 3G speeds for data (i.e retrieving mail and surfing the web and using Google Maps), as well as GPS, which also requires a radio chip that the previous iPhone does not have. There may be more subtle features, but these are the main ones.

Oh, it also comes in white now and has a plastic case instead of an aluminum one.

Will the new iPhone software work on my 1st gen iPhone?
Yep!
However - chances are if you're reading this you're in Australia. If you have an iPhone in Australia before July 11, chances are it's hacked. To keep using it in Australia you will need to re-hack it once v2.0 of the iPhone software comes out. I have no doubt some smart cookie will hack the v2.0 firmware, but it may not be right away, so you'll need to wait until applications like ZiPhone and Pwnage are ready to work with v2.0. Once it's unlocked though - your 1st gen iPhone will be running well with v2.0 software.

Does this mean that the older iPhones are now supported by Apple Australia too?
No. - the iPhone was never sold here before July 11 and the 1st gen model was never sold here either. Apple Australia will not help you with any iPhone 1st gen issues.

Will features like the App Store & Visual Voicemail now work on my 1st gen iPhone?
The App Store may, or may not work, it depends on what level of security Apple places on the software and how the hacks work. Chances are it will work fine, but nothing can be promised until the software is out in the wild.

Visual voicemail is apparently not coming to Australia (it's not listed as a feature on the iPhone's Australian webpage), so I doubt that will work on your 1st gen iPhone either.

Is it true that the iPhone 3G doesn't have MMS or video calling?
This is correct as they are dumb features Apple did us the saving grace of removing. Thank you Apple.

Will the GPS feature use up a lot of data with maps and such?
The type of GPS Apple are using is called A-GPS, Assisted GPS. It uses location from the cell phone towers to get a better indication of where you are, then uses that info to find the GPS satellite near you - it results in faster location grabbing. This itself doesn't use much if any data.

What will use data however, is Google Maps - at this stage, it is unknown if the iPhone caches Google Map data, enabling you to use maps even if you turn off your data connection to save those precious megabytes.

What happens to jailbreaking iPhones on MacTalk now that it's out in Australia?
We will still allow discussion on unshackling your phone from it's evil oppressors.

Can the new iPhone 3G be jailbroken so I can use it on any carrier I like?
Chances are it will. I'd be shocked if someone doesn't manage to hack around and unlock it. However, you won't be able to buy it for US$199, unlock it and keep it. You won't be able to leave a shop (either here, or overseas) without signing a contract to pay $x/month for the next 12/24 months. You will be able to buy it pre-paid however and unlock that with no other commitments - so you may not even need to do the whole ZiPhone thing like you did with your first generation iPhone. Just buy the iPhone, pay to unlock it, put in whatever SIM you want and away you go.

Can the iPhone use Bluetooth for something other than a headset yet?
Nope - Apple for some reason don't see it necessary for the iPhone to play with other Bluetooth devices. I have no idea why, but next time I run into the Stevemeister, I'll let him know you're disappointed.

I heard the SIM card can't be removed from the iPhone 3G, is this true?
That is totally false. Whoever told you that is obviously a Windows user. How do I know this? The specs page of the iPhone, under "What's in the Box?" lists an interesting: "SIM ejector tool" (which in the past was just a paperclip)

I have a really important question that's not answered here and it's eating away my soul!
First of all, I feel your pain. Second thing is that this is an evolving FAQ, so feel free to post in the comments things you think are missing or things you want to know and me and my posse of geeks will answer it for you eventually.

You may also want to check out these existing forum threads for more information:

I am unsure which plan to go on for my iPhone?! Help me MacTalk!

http://forums.mactalk.com.au/47/5283...o-finally.html

Vague Telstra iPhone 3G Plan & Pricing Info

http://forums.mactalk.com.au/47/5282...-part-2-a.html

Can a minor sign up to a mobile phone plan?

Why aren't you buying an iPhone?

iPhone Launch Day Queuing?

The Constantly Updated International iPhone Price Rundown

iPhone shortages / availability on July 11

Thanks

very useful , particularly for all us resellers who get a million phone calls a day!

Jeloz

Doesn't exactly fill us with confidence in resellers if you use Internet FAQs for your information.

I missed the 'what are the plan prices going to be for the iPhone' section. Add it in, please decryption? :P

Thanks heaps for that.

The part about "I'm on a different provider on a contract, what happens in regards to moving over to get an iPhone?" was especially helpful as this is something I will need to do come July 11.

That is crazy mate - we are not selling iPhone! where else would we get the info?

Any reseller with any sense will use Mactalk and Whirlpool (and all the others) to further their knowledge, it is a massive pool of info where u can learn every day.

jeloz

Totally agree - it's refreshing to see resellers get information from places like this to further build their knowledge pool. It shouldn't be their only source, but there's stuff you find on forums and on wiki's that just aren't in the manufacturer's "how to sell" guide.

I want bluetooth!!!!!

Cant they just fix that up in the 2.0 firmware??

Nice work

im so sock of people asking for the iPhone at work

Mate on the au website it does mention visual voicemail

Revolutionary Mobile Phone
iPhone redefines what you can do on a mobile phone. Tap a number to make a call. Listen to voicemail in any order with Visual Voicemail.

but I must admit I cant find it anywhere else

Go Steve!

A quick check at ZiPhone Status will give hope to many