Telecom, Vodafone, reveal iPhone 5 plans – how they compare. UPDATED with 2degrees' rebates

UPDATE: 2degrees, while not an official carrier, will sell an iPhone 5-compatible Nano-SIM card from tomorrow (Friday Sept 28), a spokeswoman told NBR.

If an iPhone bought from Apple's website or a retailer (or elsewhere) is brought to 2degrees, the carrier will provide a rebate of up to $1050 on a two-year plan, and a one-off $19 data top-up for those who go pre-pay.

A 2degrees Nano-SIM will cost $5 (credited back to your account) if you swap a SIM from another carrier, or $10 new.

The carrier also told NBR it Plus, in now has Dual Carrier HSPA+ on 10% of its network - and will have on 50% of its network by the end of next year - but was not immediately able to provide a coverage map. A spokeswoman said CD HSPA+ was live in parts of Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Previously only Vodafone had bragging rights to the turbo-charged 3G technology.

More on that, and each carrier's Friday launch plans here.

A full breakdown of 2degrees' rebates (which expire Nov 4 and are all 24-month contract):

Click to zoom. 2degrees currently offers a 1GB national data bonus on all plans above $39.

Telecom and Vodafone have released their contract plan pricing for the iPhone 5, and opened pre-orders ahead of its launch this Friday.

As of early Saturday, Apple had yet to open orders through its New Zealand online store.

2degrees won't carry the handset, but told NBR ONLINE it is working on a Nano-SIM offer that will be released early next week for people who want to buy an iPhone from the Apple store, or another carrier, to 2degrees.

The iPhone 5 is the first device to use a Nano-SIM card, which is 40% smaller than the Micro-SIM card introduced with the iPhone 4.

The social media gallery is under-whelmed.

Don't bother torturing yourself by looking at plans in other countries. Americans and others do get better deals.

New Zealander's do have one consolation, however. Thanks to a little Commerce Commission leaning-on: iPhones sold here are not locked to a specific carrier.

So if, say, you buy an off-contract iPhone 5 from Telecom (and why not when it's $20 cheaper than Apple's website) there's nothing to stop you using it on a 2degrees plan.

If you want to pay nothing up front for the 16GB model, then Vodafone's $120/month 2GB plan is the pick of the pack.

On Telecom, you have to pay $139 a month before a $0 up-front option kicks in (it also offers 2GB of data).

Here's a quick over-view.
 

Apple pricing for a standalone phone pricing:
16GB $1049
32GB: $1199
64GB: $1349
More on Apple's website here.
 

Vodafone NZ 24-month Smart Data Plans

The 16GB iPhone 5 costs $649 on the $80/month plan, and $0 on the $120 plan.
The 32GB model costs $799 on the $80/month plan, and $149 on the $120 plan.
The 64GB model costs $949 on the $80/month plan, and $299 on the $120 plan.

More on Vodafone NZ's website here. 
 

Telecom 24-month contract pricing (16GB model)

Telecom 24-month contract pricing (32GB model)

Telecom 24-month contract pricing (64GB model)

More on Telecom's website here.

Break fees
If you're in the middle of a term, Vodafone says break fees are available on request.

Telecom has posted the mother of all break fee tables.

The cost of an adapter
The iPhone 5 has a new, smaller "Lightning" than previous models, which is compatible with chargers, speaker docks and other accessories.

So you'll likely also need to throw in the cost of an adapter from the new connector to the old. Apple has three options:

• Lightning to 30-pin:$NZ49
• Lightning to 30-pin (200mm): $59
• Lightning to USB: $29
   

Older models cheaper
Lastly, iPhone has kept the iPhone 4S and 4 on as cheaper models, but reduced each to a single storage option.

The pricing:

• iPhone 4S (now 16GB only): $899
• iPhone 4 (now 8GB only) to $599