APPLE OF HIS EYE: Orcon's mobile service has launched with a pedestrian line-up of handsets (see below). But the company has Micro-SIMs - which will only work in an iPhone 4 or  iPad  3G - on order. And until the Micro-SIMs arrive, Orcon has a service to cut any standard SIM card to fit an iPhone or iPad (Mr Bartlett poses with an iPad 3G using a trimmed-down Orcon SIM).

[UPDATE: iPad in hand, Orcon boss launches 020 mobile service]

Telecom has extended the reach of its XT network a little today, signing so-called mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) deals with business specialist Cogent Zintel and newcomer to NZ Telcoinabox, which is targeting small-to-medium enterprises.

The pair join Telecom’s existing MVNO, Digital Island, which also targets the business market.