back to the iFone... my friend has one, just delivered from eBay yesterday.... i wouldn't mind seeeing how it works :)

Oh my, that Nokia looks like a rebadged iPhone. How long has it taken them to come up with a copy? Companies in China did that before the iPhone had even hit the market.

Post by MJKooLio

back to the iFone... my friend has one, just delivered from eBay yesterday.... i wouldn't mind seeeing how it works :)

The interface is pretty cool, its basically a touch screen Mac that fits in your pocket. But your chum will find its very limited in what it will do as its probably not unlocked for the Australian market. He'll need to jump online and visit some forums to get some tips on how he can hack it to suit his needs.

All reports are that pre-hack they arent that fabulous. Unlock their potential and they are awesome.

For sure, mines hacked and I'm a massive fan of iPhysics and Crayon Physics

His is unlocked and is working with Optus and Vodafone...

Shame its not 3G, thats when I'd get it whilst now, its not really worth it..

But they just released details on which 3G chip they will be placing in the 3G version of the iPhone... and it should be out unlocked, sold at all network stores and Apple stores in the last week of June/early July (non 3G version that is)

Where did you read that Matt? I can't wait to get my hands on one. I've really been holding off until the 3G version comes out as it's the always-on Internet connection that I really need.

From what I've reseached:

Today, Apple have been informing resellers of their iPhone strategy for Australia.

Resellers have been informed of the following things:

* Last week of June release
* More than 1 carrier
* No contract lock in
* Current resellers will be able to sell iPhones


Last week of June release
This ties in perfectly with the Sydney Apple store opening, any WWDC announcements, iPhone 2.0 software and time for stock to filter in to the country.

WWDC is in the first week of June this year, which could be the announcement of the 3G iPhone we're all waiting for. A 3G iPhone lends credence to the fact resellers have been told the iPhone will be on multiple carriers, as every telco in Australia has a 3G network. The current iPhone will only give high speed data on Telstra.

iPhone 2.0 software will be released then, and a late June release gives it time to be rolled out on new factory models for shipping to Australia, so the iPhone can be sold on the new features v2.0 brings.

A late June release also ties in well with the Sydney and Melbourne Apple stores currently under construction. It's well reported that at the progress of the Apple stores, a June opening is likely. What better grandstanding event to launch the store with than a new 3G iPhone? Would be be worthy of a visit to Australia from Steve Jobs - I'm sure he'd like to have a nice holiday in Sydney too.

Resellers have been told specific dates, but they have all been told different dates within the same week. If a specific date is said in the media, then Apple knows who leaks it and can slap them around. As the sources of my info are also my friends, I haven't included the dates. However, it is fairly certain Apple will not pre-announce the iPhone very far in advance, or at all, with a simple "iPhone is available now, come and buy it!" approach, compared to the dates given overseas to let people prepare.

More than 1 carrier
Having multiple carriers is a shock, but not unbelievable. Our telcos have been notoriously stubborn dealing with Apple, not seeing the potential benefits of having exclusivity of the device. It is highly likely Apple simply said "Seeing as you won't play with us, we'll give the iPhone to anyone who wants it, meaning you all lose out on exclusivity for your network".

More than 1 carrier also leads to the rumours of a 3G iPhone. In Australia, the only high speed network the current iPhone works on is Telstra's EDGE network. If Apple was to release the current model here in Australia, they would need to be exclusive to Telstra, or persuade another telco to upgrade their GSM network to EDGE to support it (like what O2 is doing in the UK). However, if a 3G iPhone is released, it won't matter, as all telcos have a 3G HSDPA network (either running on the 2100mhz or 850mhz frequency, both of which are supported by multiple 3G chipsets in mobile devices).

No contract lock in
No contract lock-in ties into the idea of multiple carriers, as there's no need to hold anyone in to a certain provider to use the iPhone, unlike in the USA and other countries. Perhaps Apple have learned that there's no point holding the iPhone back to a certain provider, as we're all unlocking them anyway and are using Australia as a test-bed for rolling it out elsewhere due to Australia's high adoption rate of mobile phones and new technology, but our small market that won't hurt them if it fails.

Current resellers will be able to sell iPhones
In the USA and other countries, you can only purchase iPhones from Apple, or from branded stores for the provider (AT&T stores for example). In Australia however, Apple are planning on letting resellers stock and sell iPhones, just like any other product, as the range of telco stores and official Apple stores is low, but resellers are wide-spread - together with driving people into stores where Macs are, so they'll look at what else Apple does. Also, it's the reason Apple is telling resellers in the first place, because they'll be selling them - otherwise Apple would do what they need to do without them.

So that's what we know about the iPhone so far. No doubt more info will be released over the coming weeks. Australia finally gets the iPhone - now let us all speculate on the plans and whether it will be 3G or not!

If true, that's pretty cool. I pick up a handset, carry on using my existing 3 plan, and upgrade to more data. OR I could be coerced over to Telstra depending on what their data charges were.

Great if we get a 3G iPhone mine's going straight to eBay

ooh ooh! sounds awesome! I can't wait!