KEY POINTS:
After the savage consumer reaction to iPhone 3G pricing, Vodafone will release two cheaper plans.
At release on July 11, the iPhone 3G cost up to $250 per month on a two-year contract with a purchase price of $199 for the device, which combines the functionality of mobile internet, a 3G phone and an iPod touch.
Potential buyers reacted with anger to the New Zealand prices of the phone - which costs $1129 for the 16GB version or $979 (8GB) to buy outright.
When Apple boss Steve Jobs announced the iPhone 3G at the company's Worldwide Development Conference earlier this year, he told attendees that the phone would cost $199.
Vodafone spokesman Paul Brislen says the plans have been put in place after customers called for a lower monthly cost but were happy with less talktime and lower text message limits, but similar levels of data.
The first option, which entails signing a two-year contract, costs $60 per month. It puts the subsidised handset cost at $649 or $799 (8GB and 16GB models respectively). The plan includes 60 minutes of talktime, 200 text messages and 250MB of data.
The cheapest plan costs half that of the current $80 minimum plans - and bumps the phone prices to $699 and $849. Bundled in the plan is a mere 20 minutes of talktime, 100 SMS messages and 250MB of mobile data.
Changing plans from other iPhone contracts is possible, but customers will have to pay Vodafone extra for the handset. Moving from the 80GB plan to either iPhone 40 or 60 will cost an extra $100.
Brislen says the popular phone has been "selling consistently" and is again out of stock, although another shipment is due in the next few days.
- NZ HERALD STAFF
