Pricing dispute led to NZ iPhone 4 launch delay

A last-minute pricing dispute between Vodafone and Apple led to the New Zealand iPhone 4 launch being slightly delayed, according to a new report. Stuff.co.nz claims that Apple told Vodafone to change pricing for the new handset shortly before its was scheduled to hit store shelves, which angered Vodafone and led them to threaten Apple with canceling the launch. The report says that Vodafone’s head office in Britain intervened, telling its New Zealand subsidiary to proceed with the launch. Vodafone in New Zealand told customers waiting outside its stores in the early morning that the launch was off, only to announce midday that the phone would go on sale, but only to customers who signed a two-year contract. The first shipment of phones sold out within hours, but Vodafone spokesman Matt East claims the carrier has since been restocked.