What makes a fair iPhone plan?

Are Kiwi iPhone users getting backed into a corner with available plans?

I started out my iPhone life with a $40 per month plan from Vodafone. This gave me a 100 texts and 20 minutes phone calls, plus 250MB of data.

Now, I don't know how Vodafone came up with this plan, to be honest. Hopefully it reflects some real users out there. But it sure as hell doesn't reflect my requirements. For example, I go nowhere near 250MB data, as I do most of my downloading over my wireless network, as prudent users are recommended to do.

Of course, I realise some don't have wireless networks (although it's incredibly easy to set one up for your iPhone/touch using even one Mac connected to broadband) and I also know that developers often go into over-data, for work-related reasons.

But for me, 250MB seems generous for $40 a month, since I come nowhere near that figure.

But - and it's a big but, no pun intended - I usually only make about 5-10 minutes of calls a month, in emergencies or whatever. Since I work from a home office, I use one of those cool Orcon home phone plans that lets me call anywhere in NZ or Australia without extra charges. So I'm lucky in that I don't need to make cell calls often, but when I'm out, people can contact me.

But 100 texts? That's ridiculous! I have a teenager, for goodness sake. I coach a soccer team with teenagers in it. They don't check email - I can vouch for that. I can use 100 texts in 10 days or less. All the others cost another 20¢ each. That mounts up fast!

So, I went up to the next plan because I got sick of paying for hundreds of extra texts. I was spending $80 to a 100 a month.

The latter plan cost $60 a month. I think that's a lot. Now I get 60 minutes of calls ... that means I get at least 50 minutes a month of calls I pay for but don't use. I still get 250MB data, which is fine.

And now I get 200 texts - and this is almost as bad as 100, so I still have to pay for extra texts every month. I would have to pay $80 a month to get a much more reasonable 600 texts, and I'd do this except then I'd get 90 minutes of phone calls I'd pay for but not use. I think this is stupid. I think it's stupid enough that I can't configure my $60 plan so I get 20 minutes of calls and 500 texts, say.

It's like I won't get Sky because I don't see why I should pay for dozens of channels I'll never watch. It's stupid.

Everyone knows that paying what we NZers pay for texts is, quite frankly, a rort. In fact, what most people in most countries pay for texts is. Text messages harness a secondary radio channel that already exists on mobile networks. This smaller data lane was designed to alert cellphones about reception strength and to supply it with bits of information regarding incoming calls. Voice communication arrives via a separate signal.

In other words, texts use free capacity on existing cell systems. Those systems still need to be supported and implemented, so it's fair we should pay something for texts, sure. But not what we pay.

I'm not arguing that Vodafone and other providers shouldn't make profits. I have few quibbles at Vodafone's service. I'm arguing for a bit more flexibility and fairness. Other Vodafone plans are more configurable, letting you add texts, say, at cheaper rates. Why aren't the iPhone plans configurable? Why can't I have a Best Mate, as on other Vodafone plans?

It feels like NZ iPhone users are being punished for having iPhones.

At the same time, NZ iPhone users don't get full speed on Vodafone. Now, no one's expecting (I hope) that Apple would remake it's NZ-destined cell phones more physically compatible with Vodafone's network (imagine what the iPhone would sell for here then!), but this speed problem is something most Kiwi iPhone users are uncomfortably aware of. Telecom's XT network suits the iPhone better, but Telecom is not an iPhone vendor, despite, supposedly, Telecom's best efforts.

Telecom is even trying to entice users into switching. You take your iPhone 3G or 3GS to a Telecom store, sign up to a 24 month One Rate 180 plan or higher and get $600 account credit on the faster XT network, plus get 240MB of data free each month for 24 months. You can even keep your Vodafone number.

Telecom's plans do allow you to configure extra texts - I could get a $29.95 plan with 50 minutes calls (I think - not sure if this applies to iPhone switchers) then add 1500 texts a month for another $18. All right! That's just $49.95 a month for a plan I would actually use properly.

Come on, Vodafone, pull finger. Do you want me to go to Telecom?

Meanwhile, 2degrees has just launched - with pricing often set at half Vodafone and Telecom rates.

You have all seen the XT network adds with that British Dick (sorry - 'that British Richard') extolling (XTolling?) the virtues of Telecom's new (if somewhat late in the piece) technology. I will soon be testing this on my iPhone.

2degrees may snare 2 per cent of the mobile market in its first year of operation (it has only just launched). It's also thought that 75 per cent of 2degrees users will come from Vodafone because of the ease of switching. If you want to see what 2degrees charges, read this story by my old colleague Philip Roy.

Now, then, if you're as rich as Vodafone seems to assume iPhone users must be, you can buy an iPhone outright with no plan (from Vodafone, or Apple's online store), and use it on any network you please. Just drive to the Vodafone store in your Ferrari ... but hey, I have a Toyota Corolla.

So if you have an iPhone and you're not on the rich list, and you also value more flexibility, please add a comment below or contact Vodafone directly.

- Mark Webster mac.nz