Vodafone slashes iPhone pricing: how it stacks up vs Apple direct & Telecom rebates
Vodafone has made its iPhone 3G 8GB available for no money up front if you sign for on a 24-month $130 a month plan.
It has also introduced a $200 rebate for anyone who buys an iPhone 3GS 16GB or iPhone 3GS 32GB on an iPhone $80 or higher plan.
The new pricing means an iPhone 3GS 16GB now costs $399 (rather than $599) on a 24-month iPhone $80 plan (see Vodafone's full new pricing here).
There’s a catch, however. Both deals expire on March 31 next year. With Telecom and 2degrees (which will launch 3G data plans in the New Year) still circling around Apple’s handset, Vodafone is keeping its options open.
There is still no word on whether Vodafone’s free 3GB of data a month/free pxt deal for iPhone users - which was earlier extended until October 31 - will be rolled over.
For those who want to buy an iPhone without contract, Apple’s NZ webstore (whose pricing includes delivery) remains the cheapest option on full-price deals:
iPhone 3G 8GB
Vodafone price: $979
Apple online price: $950
iPhone 3GS 16GB
Vodafone price: $1179
Apple online price: $1149
iPhone 3GS 32GB
Vodafone price: $1379
Apple online price: $1349
And if you want to take your contract-less iPhone over to XT, Telecom is offering the following rebates for Vodafone defectors (which apply to any 3G phone, not just the iPhone. Telecom’s former $600 iPhone blanket rebate has been discontinued):
24-month plan: monthly cost (rebate)
One Rate 100: $49.95 ($150)
One Rate 180: $79.95 ($220)
One Rate 250: $99.95 ($300)
One Rate 400: $149.95 ($300)
One Rate 750: $449.95 ($400)
One Rate 1500: $799.95 ($500)
The new pricing means an iPhone 3G 8GB that now costs $399 on a 24-month Vodafone iPhone $80 plan would effectively cost you $959 after buying it direct from Apple, then pocketing Telecom’s rebate on a $79.95 a month OneRate 180 plan.
Vodafone wins.
More on Vodafone:
Vodafone charged over 3G coverage claims
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Comments and questions8
If only they could fix their godawful coverage and sub par 3G, it really sucks on my iphone which sorta makes any cheap deals worthless
Regarding Anonymous's comment above: The Vodafone network has been undergoing a programme of speed and software upgrades with some recent improvements specifically implemented for the iPhone. Nationwide improvements to be completed by December. More details available on twitter by following @vodafoneNZdata.
yeah? well my coverage is still mostly 2G and in the rare instances when I do get 3G on my iphone it is painfully slow.
And you can tether your iPhone on Vodafone. You can't on Telecom and 2Degrees will charge you 50c/MB for the privilege of using their 2G network.
You have got to be kidding me. These plans are like something from the dark ages!
On the $60 iphone plan you still have pay $449 upfront for the old 3G model, and you only get 60 minutes, 200 SMS and 250MB of data per month on a 24 month contract? What the hell?
Wake up Vodafone - the same $$ in Australia (AU$49 per month), will get you the same old 3G model FREE on a 24 month contract (or $5 per month more for the 16GB 3GS)... and the plan is generous enough to allow 200+ mins and 600+ SMS, and 250MB of data. Triple the usage for the same price, less $449 upfront? Oh - not enough data - $6 for 500MB. None of this $10 for 100MB crap.
Oh... these prices aren't on a competitor's network... this is on the 3 Network whom Vodafone merged/swallowed recently. Why does Vodafone NZ screw the market so badly?!
Rhys, isn't it the $80 and $130/mth plans that are the sweet spot now? The 3G iPhone is only $199 (a $750 discount over Apples price!) on the iPhone $80 plan. That looks like an awesome deal now..
Even the $60 plan actually looks pretty good to me. $449 is a $501 discount. Way I look at it, $501 is about $20/mth over 24 months. So the $60 becomes $40 a month & looking at it that way it doesn't look too shabby. especially when you add a couple of best mates... I just gutted this deal wasn't available when I bought mine :-(
Also I'm sick of people winging about 250MB...this isn't a broadband plan! 250MB is heaps for just iPhone use. with quite a bit of youtube watching etc i hardly ever break 100MB.
Ok - I just got it, Rhys, as in Rhys Darby. No wonder he had such a weird view on such a great deal
Thanks for this i can do my homework prop