Thursday, July 3,2008 @ 8:50am
Optus reveals iPhone 3G price plans
Australian mobile carrier Optus on Thursday announced an extensive range of price plans for the iPhone 3G, in preparation for its July 11th launch. Pre-pay deals see the 8GB iPhone 3G marked at $729, and the 16GB model at $849; unlike most countries, there is also an option to fully unlock the device for use on other networks, for an additional $80.
Buyers looking for a contract-based 3G have a broader range of options. Optus has set a fixed charge of $23 per month for the 8GB iPhone when tied to a 12 month contract, while phones are provided for free on all 24 month contracts. Usage charges start at $19 per month for 100MB data access, and $50 of call/text credit. The middle contract plan weighs in at $79 per month, but offers an more reasonable 700MB of data access combined with $550 call/text credit. The top end of the spectrum is marked by a $179 monthly fee, but offers 1GB per month of data usage and over $1,500 of calls and SMS. Special deals for early adopters include a month of free, unlimited web browsing, or $400 of credit for pre-paid plans.