Apple retail 8AM launch

With a little over three days to go before the iPhone 3G sees its launch, Apple has clarified a time where customers can find the device in its retail stores, while potential New Zealand and Mexican iPhone customers can now browse official rates. Apple silently placed a notice on its retail homepage, saying that customers can get the long-awaited device at its US retail stores at 8AM on July 11th, coinciding with AT&T's previously announced morning launch.

CruchGear writes that Vodafone New Zealand unveiled pricing that has drawn angry responses from potential customers, similar to the backlash on exhorbitant prices from Rogers Wireless in Canada. With plans ranging from NZ$80 to NZ$250, Vodafone provides users with a mere 250MB to 1GB of transfer, and 120 to 600 minutes. Text messages sit at 600 for all three plans. Prices for the 8GB and 16GB iPhone sit at NZ$199 and NZ$349 on the 1GB plan, but skyrocket to NZ$549 and NZ$699 on the 250MB plan.

According to AyudameMac, America Mobil is similarly offering rather upsetting plans, with rates ranging between MEX$459 and MEX$799, minutes from 200 to 400 per month, while data and SMS are at 100MB/100 messages to 200MB/200 messages. Plans come with a 24-month contract, while the 8GB and 16GB models cost MEX$775 and MEX$1880.

by MacNN Staff