Vodacom iPhone 3G launch prices... not as cheap as expected
26-09-2008
Following signing up for notices on the Vodacom website regarding the iPhone launch we received an sms stating:-
'i? keep u entertained! i? keep u informed! i? surf! i? react to your touch! join us from 9pm tonite 25 September at Vodaworld. i? make my appearance at midnight!"
Yes, Vodacom launched their above-the-line iPhone 3G campaign on the 26th September with radio, tv, outdoor and print. The excitement over this launch continued for months prior but very many consumers are found angry over pricing. Those who had signed up were in step to be the first in line to buy iPhones for what was dubbed the biggest mobile release ever. We were soon dissapointed to find out the 8Gb iPhone would retain for over R6300 cash or on a Business talk 120 @ R450 per month plus a R2000 buy-in .... way more than what we expected or that many were willing to pay.
Our advise if your feel ripped off... Dont buy the iPhone 3G just yet... wait for the Google phone (HTC) to come out in november - serious rival, or go out and get yourself a Samsung Omnia, also a serious contender.
Apple launches the new 3G iPhone – buy yours at your nearest Vodacom store
23-08-2008
Got news today from within Vodacom. They probably only going to get a release of the 3G iPhone late August. South Africa's on the 3rd phase of release from Apple.It will be launched initially probably on a talk 500 package but will include a data bundle. So your looking at a contract at about R900 a month. The confirmed cost is derived from a UK operator who are releasing theirs for around 300 pounds for the 8Gb and 360 pounds for the 16Gb. You do the math on what that is on prepaid.
Finally news about the new Apple 3G iPhone. I was so excited when I went onto Apples website and saw the video that Steve Jobs the CEO of Apple gave on the new Iphone 3G.
So I’m guessing tons of questions have come to mind about when and where to get the iPhone and how much it will set you back when you buy the iPhone? Well in the Keynote Address by Steve Jobs he said that the iPhone will be released in countries on the 11th July 2008, but sadly that is not the case for South Africa. We have to wait to hear from Vodacom when they will be releasing the iPhone for sale in their stores, as iPhone is being brought in by them and not by Apple as I found out the other day when I went into my local iStore to inquire about the iPhone. So I’m crossing fingers and hoping that Vodacom will be giving us information on when we can get our hands on the iphone in South Africa. In America the iPhone is going for $199.00, I did however hear that in South Africa it is going for around R4 000 which is not that expensive when you think about what you get with the iPhone.
The iPhones features are endless and I’m sure it will keep us occupied for hours, these include Phone, Mail, Safari (which allows you to browse the net using 3G or Wi-Fi and is really fast, also Google and yahoo! are built in browsers.) , iPod, SMS, Maps with GPS, iTunes, App Store (which lets you download a huge range of other applications for your iphone and some are even free.), Calendar, YouTube, Photos, Camera, Stocks, Weather, Notes and Calculator. You would think that would be it but it also includes technology such as 3G, Multi-touch, Accelerometer (now this I thought was amazing, the iPhone responds to movement which automatically changes your view from portrait to landscape as you move the phone from an upwards position to it lying on its left or right side.), sensors (the iPhone has built in sensors which detect light which allows it to change the brightness of the screen depending on the brightness of the room you are in automatically which is called Ambient light sensor). It also has sensors so that when you put the phone to your ear while answering and during the call it turns off the display so as to prevent any unwanted touches which is called proximity sensor.
You can pre-register to buy the new iPhone 3G by going to the Vodacom website and entering in your details. They will get hold of you. Available to Contract or prepaid, not just Vodacom subscribers. My advise is that when you go there, you select 'Contract' as your prefered option, even if thats not what you want. Its only intuitive that come later on this year, they will contact contract applicants first as this represents the highest profit group for Vodacom.
If you’re interested in any more information about iPhone or any other Apple applications feel free to contact us & leave us your email address and we’ll be sure to let you know when we hear anything.
Corporate Intelligence Next >>
You can buy the new iPhone for around R4000 later on this year