Where is Your iPhone Three?
I’d like to begin this post by saying I love Three (the mobile phone network).
I have always found their customer service to be excellent and their innovation in mobile products to be way ahead of Telstra, Vodafone and Optus.
I especially like their innovation in roaming bandwidth pricing. Did you know that when you roam to another country with a Three network, the prices are quite reasonable on their International 3 Like Home rates. Here’s my bill from a recent trip to the UK where I used the mobile web as usual - a very reasonable $8.10 for the trip.
Such is my loyalty to Three that I resisted buying an iPhone from Telstra (always lame), Vodafone (blacklisted by me after appalling customer service) and Optus (silly animal ads). Eventually I emailed customer. If I had been told that they would be able to give me an iPhone in 6 months I would have waited.
Instead I got this:
Hi,
It looks like your asking about the Apple Iphone.
At this point in time, we do not have any information on future handsets that may be sold on 3. A handset designed for a 3G network does not ensure it will be available on 3 Australia. Due to differing technical features and configuration details, third party devices may not be completely compatible with our network.
We suggest you check our website regularly for the most up to date information and prices. Any new handset launches will be listed here or in “The Australian” newspaper.
Until then, thanks for being a customer with 3 – we’ll continue to make sure we bring you the best value and the services that you need from us. Thanks again for getting in touch.
Regards
3 Care
So I went with the people that have the silly animal ads. You lost me (and my few hundred dollars a month bill) Three.
Filed under Random Thoughts |6 Responses to “Where is Your iPhone Three?”
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If you love 3 soo much (like me) why didn’t you simply go on the lowest optus plan ($19) and pay the relevant handset repayments, then go on one of the three iphone caps. You will get the first 6 months free from 3 since you get $300 credited to your bill.
All it really means is that (say your are on the $49 cap) you are paying $700 for an awesome handset, and then $49 for an unreal cap that includes 1GB of data.
I may well do that Grant… the whole unlocking thing is my resistance to that. I haven’t heard a single story of success in that. Also, note that THREE told me that they gave me this excuse: “Due to differing technical features and configuration details, third party devices may not be completely compatible with our network.” and yet they sell plans for the iPhone.
Phil:
I waited for it and went ahead with the Nokia E71 with 3. May be next year when a new iPhone comes up I will look at it.
But you are right about 3, they are the best.
Cheers
I left 3 for Optus as well, and I have to say their service has been very average. 3 was awesome in comparison. Optus have had service dropouts, web unavailability, .. the list goes on. I wish I could afford Telstra because their network is unmatched.
So if i buy an iPhone from the Sydney Apple store, I have to sign up with Optus, Telstra or Vodafone while in store, and then it’s locked to that network?
You can unlock iPhones bought via Optus (even on a 24 month contract). You just have to call Optus, wait 10 days for it to be unlocked, and have made at least one phone call on the Optus network using the iPhone. And then of course, you have to do a Restore via iTunes.
PS - I went with Optus also… 3G is average on their network.