After we’ve all seen Telstra’s 3G iPhone plans for Australia, it’s time for Optus to finally announce their offer. I guess we’ll be waiting for Vodafone to make their move to choose which one is better for the average Australian Joe.

The cheapest plan, the ‘Yes’ Cap, starts at $19 per month which includes 100MB of data and $50 worth of national calls and text messages. Call fees will start at $0.47 for 30 seconds while text messages will be charged at $0.25. The 8GB iPhone will conveniently sell for $51 per month with a 12 months contract while a 24 months contract will lower the monthly charge to $21. The 16GB iPhone will come up to $61 per month for a 12 months contract and for $26 per month with a 24 months contract.

There are 7 different versions (check the picture above) of the ‘Yes’ Cap plans with the most expensive one arriving at $179 per month, which is quite a lot. What you get is 1GB of data and $1500 worth of national calls and messages. Call fees will start at $0.35 for 30 seconds while text messages will be charged at $0.25. With this plan, both iPhone versions come free with a 24 months agreement while a 12 months agreement will get you an 8GB 3G iPhone for just $23 a month and a 16GB 3G iPhone for just $33.

Is it just me or these iPhone prices are more expensive than usual. Each ‘Yes’ Cap plan will include two offers, ‘Yes’ Time and Free For 5. ‘Yes’ Time will offer free 20 minute voice calls to Optus GSM mobile users in Australia from 8PM to midnight all week and Free For 5 offers free 5 minute voice calls to mobiles within the same mobile account at any given time.

But wait, there’s more. Besides the ‘Yes’ Cap Plans there are simpler ‘Yes’ Plans to go with the iPhone. They are almost similar to ‘Yes’ Cap Plans, starting from $19 to $179. What’s different is lower month spending allowances but when these allowances are reached you get cheaper fees per minute.

The $19 per month plan will offer 100MB of data, but only $14 worth of calls and text messages. All additional calls are priced at $0.46 per 30 seconds and $0.25 per message. With this plan the 8GB iPhone will cost $49 per month with 12 months contract and $19 with a 24 month contract while the 16 GB version will cost either $59 or $17 per month depending on plans.

The top ‘Yes’ plan will arrive at $149 and includes 1GB of data and $144 worth of calls and text messages. Additional calles are price at $0.19 per 30 seconds and $0.25 per message.

You also get ‘Yes’ for special offers: Yes Time, MyTime (Free 5 minute voice calls to 5 family members or friends), Yes Free Text (100 free text msgs each month) and Yes Text & Talk (22 cents talk or text on any mobile, any time).

But wait, there’s more. You might want the prepaid Optus deal. Which isn’t quite a deal. You will get the 8GB iPhone for $729 and the 16GB iPhone for $849. $30 plans come without data while the top $100 prepaid get 1GB of data. And we need data with the iPhone right? Should you choose Optus Pre-Paid you will be eligible for a $400 bonus and 1GB internet browsing when choosing a $40 or more Turbo Cap.

I am going with Telstra so far. Not that Optus doesn’t have some interesting plans, but Telstra seem more appealing to me. Let’s see what Vodafone will roll out!

While we are getting closer to July 11th, the day Apple will start selling the 3G iPhone in 22 countries, we see more deals popping up. We’ve heard rumors about Russian carriers as well as Chinese carriers looking for a deal with Apple and we’ve heard rumors about Australian carrier Telstra wanting in.

It appears Telstra means business after all. After Optus and Vodafone, Telstra will be the third carrier to deliver 3G iPhone handsets to Australians. Talk about competition… Telstra officials will announce all of this on June 26th while the 3G iPhone from Telstra will go on sale on July 22nd. A race in three that’s something to see. Especially as Telstra is such a big carrier in Australia which got in the 3G iPhone race later than the others. Telstra also seems to have a small advantage over Vodafone and Optus; well it’s actually a bigger advantage. They offer better 3G speeds and more coverage. That means their plans and iPhone price might be higher than others.

Place your bets now! Who shall sell more iPhone in the next year? Is it Optus? Maybe Vodafone? Anyone choosing Telstra? I say Telstra for now!

We continue the iPhone news spree with Orange’s addition to future iPhone carriers. Orange will sell iPhone plans in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Among the European markets Orange is going strong in, we counted Austria, Belgium, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia and Switzerland. Other countries include the Dominican Republic, Egypt, Jordan and other African countries. (more…)

Yes please! It’s an island! We need someone to bring over some food, water we have, and the 3G unlocked iPhone!

Everyone who’s anyone in the Australian cell phone carrier world is announcing iPhone deals. After Vodafone last week, we have today Optus saying that the iPhone has been secured and it’s going to be available in Australia sometime later this year.

Optus is a subsidiary of Singaporean SingTel which is apparently behind all this. They are going to deliver the iPhone to Singapore, India and the Philippines and of course, Australia.
I imagine we are talking about the 3G versions right? Let’s see who delivers first… Is it going to be Vodafone or Optus? What about Apple stores?