New Zealand, Australia, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Greece, Italy, India, Portugal, South Africa and Turkey are the lucky recipients. While this won’t mean too much for those who couldn’t wait and already have a grey market iPhone, for the rest of us it means we get to use the device on a New Zealand network officially.
What are the benefits of using an iPhone on an officially approved network?
Firstly, iPhones won’t have to be hacked to work with other SIM cards. This process is usually harmless (and often reversible) but adds more complication, and things can and do go wrong. When modifying firmware there is always the chance that the device can end up not working, and the warranty voided.
When a software update is released for the device it can be applied straight away and the new features, functionality, or stability/security can be enjoyed. With modified iPhones it is necessary to restore the original firmware, run the update, then wait for the suppliers of the third party hacks to update their hacks to work with the new firmware. As has happened in the past there is a good chance the new firmware will include changes that render existing hacks useless.
Visual Voicemail can be used on the device. This feature requires network support so only networks officially selling the iPhone have it installed. This stores voicemail messages in a similar fashion to SMS messages (‘texts’) which can be scrolled through, and the user can listen to messages in any order they like, or delete without listening at all.
We now head into uncharted territory regarding the actual device itself. Apple don’t announce products before they’re released, but there is some information floating about. None of this is confirmed or official, so take it as such.
The device will be 3G. Amongst other more minor considerations this means much faster data speeds, meaning the user can send and receive emails and browse faster. In New Zealand, the device will be running in the 900MHz frequency, which has much better coverage than the 3G derivatives which run on frequencies around the 2GHz mark (lower frequencies travel better than higher frequencies).
The device has been rumoured to be smaller than the existing model, so while it packs a much faster chip-set, it will actually be thinner and lighter. Word has also been given that the camera will be upgraded, which is great news, considering that the 2.0 MP camera in the current device takes very good photos.
For details on the phone that turned the industry on it’s ear, take a look at Apple’s site.
As always, feel free to discuss this in our forums.
Comments
29 responses to “Apple iPhone coming to New Zealand! (and 9 other countries)”
are you sure about this – been hearing rumors for so long just about given up
bet the price is going to be $$$$
If Vodafone go and stick their bright red logo all over it they can keep the damn thing! The iPhone is a beautiful minimalistic device which the bright red Vodafone logo will not enhance but will destroy. I think a lot of people will feel the same way!
Macca
If the phone is locked to the network, then there should be some sort of compensation in the way of a discount to justify this. I wouldn’t be happy paying retail for a phone which I could not do what I wanted with.
Anna
I agree. The iPhone is considered by many to be a work of art, and is the best looking cellphone available. For Vodafone to destroy this with their bright red logo would be a travesty.
I don’t think apple would allow branding to happen as it is a work of art, and fun to play with as i found out last year playing on a mates hacked one.
sadly though vodafone has power and may still do it but if econet is anywhere near coming to the market they will be able to use this ph aswell and will not want vodafone branded phs which may mean less branding in general.
For some odd reason the iPhone is not available in the Netherlands 🙁
We will just have to wait..
Sanders last blog post..Literatuur: A guide to Environmental Signage
That bites… although it took over a year for the iPhone to turn up here. If it turns up with a bright red logo on it’s sexy black case I’m not gonna be going anywhere near it either. I hope dammit is right and Apple say no.
the iphone is soooo sexy!!!!
Yeah but are they going to have special plans for the phone or not. I wanna use the phone on my plan I got now and dont wanna sign up for another two years
They’ve got to offer an unlocked model surely? Apple will be selling them through the Applestore so why would people buy one on a 2 year contract. Unless they give a hell of a discount that is.
Pricing will have to be pretty good though – I say $799 probably as anything much more is going to be too much for the casual fashion victim to justify for a phone. The serious fashion victims and all Apple fans will go for it but that’s a pretty limited group on good old NZ.
Dammit
I really hope you are correct.
Sceptic
There is logic in what you are saying, so lets hope Apple follow it. As for pricing, Vodafone are well aware of how many of the devices are on their network so far, so they should know they have to be careful when pricing, otherwise individuals will shop elsewhere.
I’d love to see $699, think $799 will be closer to the money, and think $999 is in with a reasonable chance, also. A lot of money for what is ultimately a phone.
I love the iphone!
I didn’t want to get a hacked one so I’ve waited patiently for the official release. I really hope it doesn’t have red on it anywhere and I really hope it’s not $999. $699 would be perfect!
Who reckons this’ll be like all the other phones through vodafone where the price drops after a few months. The N73 was a grand at launch and is like 500 or 600 now. Could be worth waiting for a while before getting stuck in
I wanna see it around 700 but think apple and esp vodafone are too greedy
I wish everyone would just stop going on about the jesusphone. It’s only a phone for crying out loud! I’m sure my Nokia does everything that this phone does and it has 3G.
POTOFGOLD
Its more that the ph is a fashion item and to be honest it does look better than the Nokia N95 which effectively is its comparison the larger screen helps.
Who cares about the price – I want one!!!!!
Who here has used an iPhone? The best thing about it I found is the responsiveness of the software. On my Nokia (N73) I push buttons and the GUI takes several seconds in some cases, to respond. The iPhone is instant. It makes using it a smooth instantaneous experience that no other phone can match.
I’ve got an iPhone and it’s so much better than my N93 which used to drive me bloody balmy it took so long to do anything – even booting up the damn thing would take forever. I was so tempted to go back to my 6310 which I’ve still got lying around somewhere. Battery on N93 is crap too lasts about a day and a half tops. iPhone is so much better in so many ways and cost me less!
Are these devices as easy to use as the Apple computer line is? I have a terrible time doing anything on my current cellular phone, as it is rather complicated for someone who grew up in my era.
If it was a simple device to use I would not hesitate to make such an investment.
So gonna get me one of these!
Way cool!
When are these coming – I want one now!!!!
Does anyone know when they’re coming yet? I think they make the perfect accessory!
p.s. When do we get another blog post?
They are actually quite good reading.
Maclover
I feel your pain. I have an N73 and the pauses between keypress and UI response is shocking. The iPhone is much better in this regard, in that it’s instant. As for the 6310i – this should be recognised as the best cellphone ever. Mine lasted over 5 years before I wore it out!
Lackadaisical
Yes, they are. One of the key aspects of the iPhone is it’s ease of use. If this is what you’re looking for, and you like the OS X interface (of which the iPhone uses a cut down version) then I highly recommend one.
Easyaspie
7th of June (8th if you’re in New Zealand) may be the date to watch out for. As usual Apple are keeping tightlipped, but the rumour mills are going overboard re: this date.
As for blog posts – I know. I have been extremely busy the last few weeks, and have been ignoring my social networking duties 😉
They just look so cool! Being Apple they probably work well but…they just look so cool!
Carly,
They do work well indeed. The iPhone 2.0 update is reported to bring enterprise support to the device as well, so this will further enhance its usability and desirability.
How much are they?
Had mine for over year here in California through AT&T and couldn’t use another phone anymore – everything else seems sluggish and outdated and ugly. Browsing was a bit slow but that’ll be fixed in the new version. Can’t believe it’s taken good old NZ so long to get them.
I got one from parrallel imported about 14 months ago and it died and they wouldn’t do anything to fix it 🙁
Tomorrow is the day for rate plan prices for the iPhone on Vodafone New Zealand. At 10am, all will be revealed.