iPhone launches in Austria, Ireland

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iPhone launches in Austria, Ireland

Confirming earlier reports of relatively quiet launches, Apple today officially released the iPhone in two additional countries with existing partners: Ireland with O2, and Austria with T-Mobile. Today’s Irish launch of iPhone was announced in late February, mimicking the British launch in several respects but diverging in others. iPhone is available in Ireland through O2 and Carphone Warehouse stores for €399 (8GB) or €499 (16GB), VAT-inclusive, with service plans starting at €45. Irish customers have a 1GB data cap, will not have access to Visual Voicemail, instead paying 15 cents per minute for access to traditional voicemail, and will be required to enter into a new 18 month minimum contract for a purchase. No rollover of minutes or text messages is permitted from month to month.

The Austrian launch of iPhone retains the same iPhone hardware prices (€399/8GB, €499/16GB), but differs in service plan pricing and features. Austria’s Classic plan is offered at €39, with a Supreme plan at €55, both inclusive of 3GB of data, Visual Voicemail, and free T-Mobile Wi-Fi access. The Classic plan includes 1,000 minutes of cell network talk time, but no SMS messages, while the Supreme plan includes 4,000 minutes of total cell and land line talk time, spread 1,000 minutes a piece across four types of networks, plus 1,000 SMS messages per month. Additional charges apply for special calling plans to other countries, and voice/data services when outside of Austrian borders. T-Mobile is selling the iPhone through its Austrian and online stores.

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Comments

1

Dont mind signing up to an 18 month contract or paying 499euro for the handset but very bad value for money price plans.

As usual Rip Off Ireland with Apple getting in on the action.

Posted by Dani on March 14, 2008 at 5:35 AM (PST)

2

Well the Classic service plan in Austria sounds reasonable - it’s about what I pay now even without wifi. But the SMS limits are crippling. For me it’s wait-for-3G-and-see.

But still, resisting will NOT be easy.

Posted by ginalee on March 14, 2008 at 6:55 AM (PST)

3

It seems O2 are really trying to sucker the Irish market into paying way over the going rate for Apple’s latest toy. The iPhone is very attractive but the single network exclusivity and market gouging tactics of 02 are a real deal breaker.

Posted by Devv on March 16, 2008 at 9:56 AM (PST)

4

As an existing Irish O2 customer that would really like an iPhone, I will NOT be getting one in protest at the very poor value price plans. Apple, your single carrier policy is not good news for the consumer, and will ultimately cost you sales.

Posted by Felix on March 17, 2008 at 4:02 AM (PST)

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