06/25, 3:40pm
Japanese iPhone 3GS launch
Japanese shoppers are already in line to buy the iPhone 3G S, which goes on sale with Softbank at 7AM local time on Friday, equivalent to 6PM Eastern on Thursday. Lines are smaller than those for the iPhone 3G launch, according to IDG, at present closer to 100 people at Softbank's flagship Omotesando store. When reservations opened for the 3G S last week, approximately 200 people arrived at the Omotesando location. Online preorders have not been allowed with Japanese iPhones.
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06/16, 11:25am
Optus iPhone 3GS plans
Australian carrier Optus has let slip the details of new iPhone subscription options, meant to coincide with the release of the 3GS, a leak claims. The carrier's "yes" cap plans should now range from $19 to $79 a month, and by default provide between 100MB and 1GB of data; missing is a $29 option, which will come sometime after launch if at all. Varying payments may be necessary based on the choice of iPhone model, and the length of a contract, spanning one to two years.
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06/08, 10:50am
'End of life' rumor valid?
The Australian website that leaked a memo concerning low iPhone stock in the country has received a cease-and-desist order, its owner claims. Anthony Agius has refused to say which party issued the notice, but it is believed to be either the memo's circulator, Vodafone, or the carrier's regional supplier, Brightpoint. Apple could also be involved, given mention of its products.
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05/22, 9:25am
iPhone 3G at 'end of life'
An e-mail in circulation to Vodafone staff in Australia hints at the timing of the next iPhone, a source from the country contends. In particular the e-mail is said to be going out to retail workers, informing them that Vodafone's regional supplier -- Brightpoint -- has marked the 16GB iPhone as "end of life," along with the Nokia 6121. Both items have only a few weeks' worth of stock available, according to the memo.
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02/17, 10:50am
Unwired Airport Express
A placeholder in Apple's Australian store shows an unannounced 'Unwired Airport Express Bundle' that carries a price of A$168 (~$109USD), according to AppleInsider. The listing does not provide any additional details, although the title suggests the package could include a modem or service from the Australian wireless-broadband carrier Unwired, which offers data connectivity without requiring a phone or dedicated line.
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01/16, 11:55am
Apple Aus. smashing gear
The Australian division of Apple has been destroying broken Macs which could nevertheless be repaired or recycled for parts, claims an individual involved in the process. An anonymous worker at a Sydney warehouse alleges that he was asked to help destroy some $200,000 worth of Apple gear, including iMacs, Xserves, MacBooks and Mac Pros, along with Mighty Mice and a copy of Final Cut Studio. The worker's crew is said to have used hammers and screwdrivers for the task, and gone to the extent of tearing up manuals. Everything, eventually, was crushed using a forklift, in response to complaints about it being visible over a dumpster's edge.
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10/17, 1:25pm
Brightpoint Apple deal
Brightpoint, a cell phone distributor in Australia saw its shares rise 51 cents on Thursday after it announced its plans to begin distributing iPods. According to a report, this deal could give Brightpoint an opening for a wider relationship with the iPhone maker. Oppenheimer & Co. analyst Ittai Kidron stated that he believes this is the beginning of a broader relationship between the two companies that will in fact see it expanding to include the iPhone and not specifically to Australia but to other regions as well.
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09/08, 11:45pm
Fifth Ohio Apple store
While still shy of its anticipated 242 retail locations, Apple will open a fifth Ohio store on Saturday, while Melbourne will see the third Australian store. In Ohio, the Crocker Park location will open its doors at 10am, bringing a nearly two year long construction to an end, according to ifoAppleStore. Little was known about the location until it recently was adorned with typical Apple Store architecture. For months at a time, the former construction site saw little to no activity.
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08/12, 9:00pm
Mac sales up down under
New figures show a sharp increase in Apple's market share in Australia over the past year, according to ZDNet Australia. Two analyst firms, Gartner and IDC, came up with different figures, but both showed a dramatic increase in Mac Sales. Garner says Apple's market share in the second quarter of 2008 was 5.3-percent -- up from 3.8-percemt in the same period of 2007. IDC says Apple's Market share hit at 6.2 percent during the first quarter.
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08/04, 5:50pm
Virgin Australia: Iphone
In the US and Canada, iPhone owners have only one choice for wireless service; as of Monday, Australia now has four. Virgin Mobile Australia has confirmed that it has become the fourth wireless company to offer the iPhone 3G, joining a market already crowded by Vodafone, Optus and Telstra. Virgin is apparently off to a fast start: a check of its website shows both the 8GB and 16GB models are already "out of stock."
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08/04, 3:40pm
Second Sydney store
The grand opening for Apple's second retail store in Australia is set for Saturday morning in Sydney, according to an announcement. A celebration is planned, with free t-shirts for the first 1,000 people through the door. The Chatswood Chase opening comes less than a month after that of Australia's flagship store, which is found elsewhere in Sydney on George Street. A third store is currently under construction in Melbourne.
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07/10, 1:05am
iPhone 3G replaces BB
Friday creeps ever closer, bringing the iPhone to dozens of countries worldwide, and the press reviews are thus far turning out well, with one journalist claiming he is giving up his BlackBerry 8300 in favor of Apple's smartphone. Macworld Australia writer Matthew Powell gives the iPhone 3G an overall rating of four out of five, citing its ease of use, "speedy" web browsing, and great media playing functionality, but noted the Mail client needs just a bit more work.
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07/08, 10:45pm
iPhone shortages expected
Carriers around the world are expecting shortages of Apple's iPhone, with saying they will be sold out in "minutes" and others indicating that the crunch could last for weeks. In a cautionary message to potential iPhone buyers, Britain's O2 says a rush of customers, ordering as many 13,000 per second, brought down its online orders for iPhone 3G: "We just weren’t prepared for this unprecedented level of demand," the company said in a memo. "No website is." The British carrier, however, said that stock is limited due to the simultaneous launch of the iPhone in 22-nations -- and while Apple's head of retail Ron Johnson has tried to allay concerns -- especially in the US, where inventory is expected to be greater -- O2 believes that Apple retail locations will absorb most of the iPhone 3G inventory and that only a "small proportion" of its interested 200,000 customers would be able to get one at launch.
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07/03, 8:50am
Optus 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.
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06/30, 9:30am
Telstra to carry iPhone 3G
Telstra has confirmed earlier reports and announced sales of the iPhone 3G, according to the Australian carrier's website. The phone will take advantage of Telstra's Next G broadband network, which has the broadest coverage in the country in part due to support for the 850MHz band; the company has otherwise announced very few details, with customers being expected to register interest in a particular iPhone, along with any accessories they might be curious as about such as a Bluetooth headset, a "dual dock," and a TTY adapter.
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06/27, 10:10am
3 Australia iPhone poll
Wireless carrier 3 Australia has received a strong surge of interest in carrying the iPhone 3G, a corporate blog claims. On Thursday the carrier posted a message explaining that it has contacted Apple about carrying the 3G, but that it is seeking public response on the issue as a means of getting Apple's attention. Hundreds of mostly positive comments have since been posted on the site, and visitors can currently sign up for e-mail notifications about the iPhone.
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06/19, 11:35am
Telstra late on iPhone 3G?
Australian phone carrier Telstra will sell the iPhone 3G, but may be late in joining its peers, writes The Australian. The newspaper cites "people close to the company," who say that while Telstra has perpetually refused to confirm any plans for the iPhone, it has in fact signed a deal; this may be announced by chief Sol Trujillo as soon as next week. Telstra's retail head, David Moffatt, is said to have toured the new Sydney Apple Store last week with a team of executives.
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06/17, 11:30am
New Sydney store photos
Apple has taken the wraps off of its soon-to-be-opened Sydney store, exposing details of its construction. The building has three floors, and uses a glass facade similar to that of the Boston Apple Store, which in turn makes reference to the company's flagship Fifth Avenue location in New York City. Internal photos show extensive display areas for products like the iMac and the MacBook, and backlit promotional images that dominate their corresponding rooms.
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06/09, 10:20am
Aussie, SA iPhone dates
Dates for the Australian and South African iPhones have allegedly been confirmed, according to a site in the latter country. The South African phone is said to have been announced for July 20th, sold by Vodacom, in which international carrier Vodafone is a majority shareholder. In May Vodafone announced plans to launch the iPhone in 10 new countries, including South Africa amongst the likes of Italy, Portugal, Greece and India.
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06/04, 10:10am
Sydney Apple Store done
Work on Apple's flagship retail store for Australia has been completed, says a local publication. The shop, located at the corner of George and King in Sydney, is said to merely be awaiting a handover to Apple at the end of the week, which could signal that it will be open in the very near future. Apple has a number of tasks remaining, primarily cleaning and outfitting the store, as well as filling stock; it is rumored though that this may be complete in time for an opening on June 19th, which could also allow it to launch with the 3G iPhone.
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06/03, 8:25pm
Apple expands iTunes U
Apple on Tuesday further expanded its international iTunes U offerings into four new countries: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. According to Macworld, the free resource provides students with access to a wide variety of educational rich media from colleges and universities around the world, including UC Berkeley, University of Melbourne, Texas A&M, MIT, Yale, and Trinity College Dublin, among many others.
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05/26, 9:20am
Sydney Apple Store photos
Further progress is being made on Apple's flagship Australian store, a MacNN source says. Located on the corner of George and King in Sydney, the store now has a large blue billboard, asking city residents to "drop in soon." Previously, the site had only a uniform black shelter. Also a part of the new exterior is an illustrated wave of iPod nanos, spiraling out towards the viewer.
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05/14, 9:10am
Boston, Sydney store pics
Various images have emerged for two of Apple's major new retail locations: the Boylston Street store in Boston, Massachusetts, and the first store in Sydney, Australia, located on the corner of George and King Streets. The Boylston store should open this Thursday at 6PM, and is comprised of three floors and 20,000 square feet. As the photo below reveals, Apple has also chosen to go with a glass exterior reminiscent of the flagship Fifth Avenue store in New York City.
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05/12, 10:10am
Telstra 3rd iPhone carrier
Telstra on Thursday announced it would be the third Australian iPhone carrier, and that the company's expected June launch date could indicate that it will carry the 3G iPhone. CNET reports that the carrier joins Optus and Vodafone, and will allegedly offer a multi-frequency HSDPA-compatible device, allowing it to work on both competitors' networks and its own Next G network. Telstra declined to comment on the arrangement, but it would potentially be announced before the end of the month.
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05/01, 9:55am
Aussie iPhone confirmed?
The iPhone is indeed coming to Australia, an anonymous source is said to be confirming. CNET is citing an "industry insider," who claims that an Australian iPhone launch is expected in the last week of June, and with the regional carrier Optus. The company is expected to make the announcement in mid-May, just a few weeks before Apple's WWDC conference on June 9th, where a 3G version of the iPhone is expected to be publicly revealed. The source says he cannot confirm that Australia will get the 3G phone, but that Optus is expecting it regardless.
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04/09, 10:25am
Australian iPhone by July?
Australia may be receiving the iPhone as soon as this summer, rumors suggest. The country's local edition of Macworld cites "reliable sources," who at first indicated that the iPhone would not come to the country until next year, but then pointed to a release date in either June or July. This is said to be bolstered by talk from resellers contacted by MacTalk Australia, who are proposing a release date in the final week of June. Representatives for Apple, however, have denied speaking with resellers on the matter.
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03/20, 5:45pm
Apple 12th in Web traffic
In brief: Bookendz Docking Station review posted, Apple 12th in Web traffic, Web 2.0 Expo San Francisco announces Keynote Lineup, Cocktail discounts, prizes offered, and WWDC Scholarships for Australian University Staff and Students ... We have posted a review of the Bookendz Docking Station for 13" MacBook, which replicates all the ports on your MacBook and adds a hub for the USB devices, which gives you five USB 2.0 ports. The hub has its own power supply to add power to the extra USB ports and a green LED on the top of the dock indicates the power is working properly. You do not have to use the power supply, if your peripherals do not require power.
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03/12, 11:40am
Apple Australia
Apple has added a third store to its opening roster for Australia for this year. The company now plans to debut two stores in Sydney in the CBD and in Chatswood and another in Chadstone, Victoria. The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Apple is now putting the finishing touches on its three-level flagship store in the Sydney CBD, located on the corner of George Street and King Street. That store will reportedly sport the transparent glass edifice made famous at other flagship stores, along with a large, white suspended Apple logo. Sydney's store will also feature a glass staircase, which will connect the three levels. The store is expected to be open by June.
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03/03, 12:50pm
Wozniak on Apple TV, MBA
Steve Wozniak today hosted a keynote at an Australian broadband conference, and offered his mixed opinions on the Apple TV and the MacBook Air. Wozniak said that although he believes the Apple TV to be a "really good indication of the future of the world", the platform does have a few flaws. Primarily, he says that the 24-hour rental period is too limited for his busy schedule. Wozniak also said it feels as if he is being restricted by the tiny, simplified remote control, indicating it makes him feel less human.
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02/26, 8:40pm
UK Apple Store opening
Apple is preparing to open its 14th retail store in the UK on Saturday, March 1st in Milton Keynes. The new store will -- as usual -- offer the first 1,000 customers to walk through the door a free Apple T-shirt, and is holding a prize drawing where one customer will receive a Digital Lifestyle Collection that includes a black MacBook and a silver iPod nano. The Cupertino-based company is also entering the final stages of construction on a new store in Sydney, Australia on George Street. That outlet is expected to open around the first week of April, according to ifoAppleStore.
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02/25, 4:35pm
AU iPhone deal illegal?
Apple's planned release of the iPhone in Australia could turn out to be an illegal affair under current trade laws, according to one group of law researchers. iPhone launches are expected tot ake place in Asia as well as Australia some time during 2008, but an exclusive deal with one mobile carrier could restrict customer choice in technology markets, according to law researcher Dale Clapperton as cited by theage.com.au. Both France and Germany have both enacted measures to ensure iPhone customers in those countries can choose a carrier other than Apple's chosen partner, to protect consumer choice as well as competition.
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01/29, 7:20pm
Aussie Apple change
A contract changed enacted by Apple may have a negative effect on Apple resellers in Australia and New Zealand. The shift would allow retailers to "multi source" Apple products, which means they could buy in tandem from suppliers and Apple. The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Renaissance Corp is expecting the sales volume and profit from its Apple distribution business to fall following signing of the new contract. Changes to suppliers' margin structure will also be phased in between now and October.
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01/09, 11:35am
Melbourne Apple Store
The first of Apple's planned retail stores in Melbourne, Australia has been confirmed. Although talk had originally pointed to a streetfront store, the beginning of Apple's presence in the city can be found inside the Chadstone Shopping Center, where a construction barrier marked "Apple opening soon" has been erected in front of an outlet next to Nike Women. The location is said to be two to two-and-a-half times wider than most normal ones in the mall.
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