Vodafone hikes iPhone 4 pricing
The NZ dollar may be shooting up, but iPhone 4 prices aren't coming down.
In fact, Vodafone has hiked the price of an iPhone 4 bought on contract.
A16GB iPhone 4 on a $40.85-a-month, two-year contract used to cost $619. It now costs $949.
A 32GB model on the same plan used to be $799. It now costs $1129.
On the plus side, Vodafone has doubled the number of calling minutes bundled with each plan (see its full pricing page here).
Apple NZ's website, which offers direct sales (with free delivery) sells a 16GB iPhone 4 for $1123, and the 32GB model for $1328*.
Vodafone is the only phone company to officially carry the iPhone in New Zealand (meaning it can offer cheaper iPhones for customers who commit to contracts, and that features such as laptop tethering, are guaranteed to work on its network after iOS upgrades - although no software upgrades have "broken" any features for other carriers recently. In Australia, Apple has three carriers - Vodafone, Telstra and Optus).
But with the price-grap narrowing between a Vodafone-subsidised iPhone and one bought at full whack from the Apple store, buyers now have more reason to consider buying a handset online, then use it with a Telecom XT or 2degrees Micro-SIM (both networks are iPhone-compatible).
No iPhone price increases for new customers have been reported overseas, bar one tied to a sales tax change in the UK.
Pundits expect Apple to release its next iPhone around September. The company has not given any timeframe.
* The iPhone buying section of Apple's website was returning an error message when NBR visited this morning to confirm pricing.
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Comments and questions27
total RIP OFF!!! nothing new here from the 2 big players....
You've always been able to buy one through Apple so what's the point of this? Just to stop customers buying them via a Vodafone shop when they won't be using them on Vodafone I would think.
Cuts down on the supply chain requirements.
Really this is a piece of non-news... I fail to see why anybody could justify being upset at now having to pay closer to retail. It's not as if VF are mandated to save people money at their own expense.
Also considering how strong Android handset sales are globally , this smells like a precursor to VF pushing Android again. Which would be nice, considering how long ago their HTC Magic "issue" was (naked ladies upsetting HTC)...
Perhaps VF is going to copy Telecom and 2 Degrees and finally promote Android?
JK, Vodafone promote Android already, I know this, because I have seen their advertising and bought an Android plan.
So the "price rise" is simply a reduction of the handset subsidies. If you look at the subsidies that were offered on the iPhone4 they were significantly more than you could get with any other device.
I'm pleased I bought my phone before VF hiked the price! I certainly wouldn't buy one at this price. Talk about a rip off - so much cheaper overseas!
Anonymous, look again at the prices of Android handsets on Vodafone. They are promoting Samsung Galaxy S for $199 on a Smart3 plan that costs $81.75/mth. To get similar pricing for iPhone 4 you need to go to iPhone smart 5 plan - a whopping $255.55/mth!!! Clearly Vodafone want iPhone users to move to Android. I'll be moving to Telecom instead and taking my iPhone with me!!! Perhaps the increased price is really a precursor to an announcement that Telecom is abou to get iPhone as well..... The last rape and pillage.
Slartibartfast, how much does a Galaxy S cost retail? and how much does an iPhone?
Toyota is much cheaper than a Ferrari, clearly they want people to move to the cheaper model!
There I was waiting for the price of 4 to come down when 5 is released (might be July going on past releases). Perhaps that will still happen, 4 will go back to where it is now and 5 will be "the same price as a 4", just like the iPad, but on VF.
The two networks are pretty similar except for the iphone side of things and now VF shoot themselves in the foot.
I know someone in the UK that got their iphone on a plan for 50 quid up front and the montly was similar to here.
I bought an ipod TOUCH (not iphone)downloaded skype and paid ten euros for credit, I can also call my friends and family on Apples preinstalled facetime videocalling app (for free), if I need to call a landline or cellphone (anywhere in the world) it is cheap as chips - the only problem is that I need wifi connections (which work great in the city and are free in some places if you plan you movements) - I'm off to Europe next week, free video calling to friends and family while away (all hotels now have free wifi).........ahhh that was why Google bought Skype! Telcos are cashing in now (with disheartening lock-down plans) as in a few years the whole landscape due to WAP enabled PDA's will change.. End game - screw your customers, your customers will eventually screw you :)
@ Chuck - Google didn't buy Skype. Mircosoft did. Let's see how long all your free stuff remains for now.
My 3GS contract is up in August. I had the smart 3 plan... the costs do not seem to have changed there. Double the minutes looks good, although I am getting that now.
Ideally I will be wanting the next iPhone whether its a 4GS or 5.
Sorry my bad, Google owns everything else. the principle remains the same. Remember when you tube was free and google bought it. The ads do not bother me, it is free. Free is free, not low price, not cheaper but free......... http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2011/05/microsoft-buys-skype-2/
I would understand if the early termination fees were reduced too... but they're still the bloody same!!! Not cool... doesn't make sense... can't recommend plan to anyone anymore...
Meanwhile NZ apple prices have not altered given the dollar rise. I just bought and iPhone 4 in the US for the equivalent of $800 and am considering a new Mac Book Pro which is half the NZ retail price.
What do you nean 'from the big 2'. This is only Vodafone making a change.
XT still offer a $600 account credit for briging an iphone.
Just checked it out on Telecom's site, they do up to $800 credit now...http://www.telecom.co.nz/simoffer
Just checked it out on Telecom's site, they do up to $800 credit now...http://www.telecom.co.nz/simoffer
I fail to see why anyone would want to buy an iGayphone anyway!!
My Samsung Galaxy S - II GT-I9100 kicks the pants off the iGayphone 4 & most probably the iGayphone 4s.
Apple are lagging big time!!
What you FAIL to mention is that you have to spend over $110 per month (minimum of $140 per month actually) to get the $800 Credit - a rather VITAL!! fact!!!
who gives a $h1t - its an overhyped piece of junk from a foreign corporate hell-bent on sucking as much cash out of NZ as possible... Go Android and dont go with voda-groan
Yeah, because when you go android you are not supporting international corporates.
What a stupid comment!
I wonder how many of these idiots that are complaining siged ' Drop the rate mate '??
Oh yer and NBR bad reporting as usual!
in AUS voda just hiked their iphone4 16gb price on the 24month $65 infinite plan by $5/month it used to be free a week ago, making it cost an additional $120 over the period and by double that on the next plan down
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