AppleInsider Staff
Austria
Nearly all of the details surrounding the Austrian launch that were published Thursday evening turned out to be accurate with the exception of the top tier calling plan offered by T-Mobile Austria.
While the wireless carrier's website had initially listed the €55 "Supreme" calling plan as including a 3GB data cap, 4000 minutes, and 1000 SMS messages per month, Apple's Austrian site lists the plan with a 3GB cap and unlimited minutes and SMS messages.
Meanwhile, an entry-level €39 "Classic" plan includes a 3GB data cap, 1000 minutes, and no allotment of SMS messages, which will instead cost 25c each. Both plans offer Visual Voicemail support, though usage of the feature will draw from the 3GB monthly data cap.
Matching pricing in France, Germany, and Ireland, the iPhone itself retails for €399 and €499 in 8GB and 16GB configurations, respectively. The device, which requires a two-year service contract, is available from the online shops of both Apple and T-Mobile, as well as T-Mobile's 39 local retail shops.
Ireland
In Ireland, details of which were announced last month, O2 wireless customers can select between three monthly plans, starting with a €45 option that includes 175 anytime minutes and 100 text messages. A €65 tariff includes 350 anytime minutes and 150 text messages, while the high end tariff offers 700 minutes and 250 text messages for €100.
All three plans require a 18-month agreement and none include unlimited data or Visual Voicemail at this time. Instead, all three bundle just 1GB of data transfer and a 15c per minute charge for checking messages.
Similar to distribution in the UK, the iPhone will be made available through O2's local retail stores as well as local Carphone Warehouse shops.
Malcolm Owen
Oliver Haslam
Andrew O'Hara
Wesley Hilliard
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Christine McKee
46 Comments
Now for the Canadians, Australians and New Zealanders demanding their share of this, wondering why the don't get some of this, without having to resort to the grey market
That is a massive price difference. How come Austria gets off so cheap?
That is a massive price difference. How come Austria gets off so cheap?
Competition. What the market will bear (how much will you pay). Just wait for the Canadian launch. Then everything else will seem cheap. Canadians get ripped off crazy.
And it's not available in Canada because someone is being dumb, greedy, stupid?
Is it available in Mexico, South America?
Skip
And it's not available in Canada because someone is being dumb, greedy, stupid?
Maybe - but possibly not in the way you seem to be implying. Unlike the settlement with Cisco in the USA, there's still an active dispute in Canada with Comwave Telecom over the use of the trademark "iPhone". However unlike Cisco, Comwave Teleom is actually actively selling telecommunications equipment under the name 'iPhone', and has been for 4 years now.
I honestly don't know how accommodating Rogers is going to be in bringing down some reasonable pricing. It sucks that none of Rogers' competitors are in the GSM band here.
Of course not - or did you know that already? I believe the exhaustive list is Austria, France, Germany, Ireland, UK, and USA.