Apple's iPhone goes on sale in Austria, Ireland

[AppleInsider]

Apple on Friday began selling the iPhone in both Austria and Ireland, marking the fifth and sixth countries to see official support for the touch-screen handset since it first went on sale in the US last June.

Austria

Nearly all of the details surrounding the Austrian launch that were published Thursday evening turned out to be accurate with the exception of the top tier calling plan offered by T-Mobile Austria.

While the wireless carrier's website had initially listed the €55 "Supreme" calling plan as including a 3GB data cap, 4000 minutes, and 1000 SMS messages per month, Apple's Austrian site lists the plan with a 3GB cap and unlimited minutes and SMS messages.

Meanwhile, an entry-level €39 "Classic" plan includes a 3GB data cap, 1000 minutes, and no allotment of SMS messages, which will instead cost 25c each. Both plans offer Visual Voicemail support, though usage of the feature will draw from the 3GB monthly data cap.

Matching pricing in France, Germany, and Ireland, the iPhone itself retails for €399 and €499 in 8GB and 16GB configurations, respectively. The device, which requires a two-year service contract, is available from the online shops of both Apple and T-Mobile, as well as T-Mobile's 39 local retail shops.



Ireland

In Ireland, details of which were announced last month, O2 wireless customers can select between three monthly plans, starting with a €45 option that includes 175 anytime minutes and 100 text messages. A €65 tariff includes 350 anytime minutes and 150 text messages, while the high end tariff offers 700 minutes and 250 text messages for €100.

All three plans require a 18-month agreement and none include unlimited data or Visual Voicemail at this time. Instead, all three bundle just 1GB of data transfer and a 15c per minute charge for checking messages.



Similar to distribution in the UK, the iPhone will be made available through O2's local retail stores as well as local Carphone Warehouse shops.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[ajmas]

Now for the Canadians, Australians and New Zealanders demanding their share of this, wondering why the don't get some of this, without having to resort to the grey market

[netdog]

That is a massive price difference. How come Austria gets off so cheap?

[paxman]

Originally Posted by netdog

That is a massive price difference. How come Austria gets off so cheap?

Competition. What the market will bear (how much will you pay). Just wait for the Canadian launch. Then everything else will seem cheap. Canadians get ripped off crazy.

[ncee]

And it's not available in Canada because someone is being dumb, greedy, stupid?

Is it available in Mexico, South America?

Skip

[lfmorrison]

Originally Posted by ncee

And it's not available in Canada because someone is being dumb, greedy, stupid?

Maybe - but possibly not in the way you seem to be implying. Unlike the settlement with Cisco in the USA, there's still an active dispute in Canada with Comwave Telecom over the use of the trademark "iPhone". However unlike Cisco, Comwave Teleom is actually actively selling telecommunications equipment under the name 'iPhone', and has been for 4 years now.

I honestly don't know how accommodating Rogers is going to be in bringing down some reasonable pricing. It sucks that none of Rogers' competitors are in the GSM band here.

Is it available in Mexico, South America?

Of course not - or did you know that already? I believe the exhaustive list is Austria, France, Germany, Ireland, UK, and USA.

[wilsongs]

that is a huge price difference in Austria from the German prices! no, seriously, crazy! and unlimited calling and SMS too, for 55 Euros!?! maybe they'll drop the price here for us in Deustchland? hmmm....

[rols]

iPhone is going out country by country and not very fast either. Ireland and Austria, probably not tiny markets, but surely much smaller than Canada or a largescale rollout in Asia. Every product has a lifetime and apple needs to get the iPhone out worldwide in a shorter amount of time before the buzz is over and it's just another product. Other phones hit markets worldwide in a very short amount of time.

I think it's time Apple gave up with the revenue share model, they're just not going to find that many companies who are going to do it. In many markets you can already sign up for a 2 year contract, at a reasonable rate, and get a free or heavily subsidized phone, a full-price phone AND an expensive plan is going to find a limited subscriber base.

I hope when Apple releases the 3G version they go a little more consumer and just put the phone into people's hands and let them use it wherever they happen to be. Then we'll start to see some real market penetration.

[JeffDM]

Originally Posted by lfmorrison

Maybe - but possibly not in the way you seem to be implying. Unlike the settlement with Cisco in the USA, there's still an active dispute in Canada with Comwave Telecom over the use of the trademark "iPhone". However unlike Cisco, Comwave Teleom is actually actively selling telecommunications equipment under the name 'iPhone', and has been for 4 years now.

I think what some other companies do for different regions is use a different name if they have to. Given that they might sell several hundred thousand a year in Canada, making an "ApplePhone" or "Phone" branded version doesn't seem that unreasonable.

It won't help the Rogers issue though.

[rickertb]

Hi,

Does anybody know if Tmobile Austria uses Edge or UMTS?
I've been to austria in feb. and everywhere i went, the 3G signal was very good.. but i don't know what provider i used back then..

Regards,
Rick

[JeffDM]

Originally Posted by rols

I think it's time Apple gave up with the revenue share model, they're just not going to find that many companies who are going to do it. In many markets you can already sign up for a 2 year contract, at a reasonable rate, and get a free or heavily subsidized phone, a full-price phone AND an expensive plan is going to find a limited subscriber base.

Apple's current revenue-sharing model is effectively a subsidized phone. Ignore the Sith mind tricks that tell you otherwise. A "full priced" unsubsidized phone would be at least a couple hundred dollars more. Yes, it's a lot, but the package with the plan is definitely a subsidized model under a different name.

[trefusismadding]

We're being totally ripped off here in Ireland, to be honest. I'm just glad I got my iPhone from the US and unlocked it.

I went along to the launch today at the flagship O2 Experience Store in Dublin (Ireland!).

You can read my thoughts here. There's some photos there as well.

[noirdesir]

Originally Posted by trefusismadding

We're being totally ripped off here in Ireland, to be honest. I'm just glad I got my iPhone from the US and unlocked it.

How much do pay for data charges each months? And much do you use the Internet features (Safari, Mail)?

[disillusion]

Originally Posted by wilsongs

that is a huge price difference in Austria from the German prices! no, seriously, crazy! and unlimited calling and SMS too, for 55 Euros!?! maybe they'll drop the price here for us in Deustchland? hmmm....

I would not expect a price drop since the Austrian market is much more competitive than the German equivalent, compare our services and contract options to German offers: Usually you get unlimited calls to every provider for about 20-24 Euros, the only significant difference is the included data plan: Yet, data plans have been extremely expensive, with the advent of the iPhone it will take a while, however, I hope that data rates drop rapidly...! I am positively surprised by the options, still I see no reason to abandon my current plan, usually I pay around 8-10 Euros per month.

[John_Drake]

Originally Posted by JeffDM

I think what some other companies do for different regions is use a different name if they have to. Given that they might sell several hundred thousand a year in Canada, making an "ApplePhone" or "Phone" branded version doesn't seem that unreasonable.

It won't help the Rogers issue though.

It's simple really:

Apple cares more about money than they do about Canadian consumers.

They'd rather sell the product elsewhere than have to deal with the equally greedy Rogers or a potential trademark lawsuit. Think about it. The iPhone has been on the market for 8 months & 15 days. If they really wanted to release it, they could've figured out a way by now. They probably just did a cost-benefit analysis and came to the conclusion that Canada wasn't worth it. It's the only way to wrap your head around them releasing the product in a country of 6 million (Ireland) before releasing it to a country of 33 million just north of the border.

[tsweimer]

Originally Posted by John_Drake

It's simple really:

Apple cares more about money than they do about Canadian consumers.

They'd rather sell the product elsewhere than have to deal with the equally greedy Rogers or a potential trademark lawsuit. Think about it. The iPhone has been on the market for 8 months & 15 days. If they really wanted to release it, they could've figured out a way by now. They probably just did a cost-benefit analysis and came to the conclusion that Canada wasn't worth it. It's the only way to wrap your head around them releasing the product in a country of 6 million (Ireland) before releasing it to a country of 33 million just north of the border.

OR maybe, just maybe Apple has asked for or is waiting for the Canadian cell phone carriers to become less aggressive with their pricing. Canada has some of the highest cell phone rates in the world.

[Abster2core]

Originally Posted by John_Drake

It's simple really: Apple cares more about money than they do about Canadian consumers.

They'd rather sell the product elsewhere than have to deal with the equally greedy Rogers or a potential trademark lawsuit. Think about it. The iPhone has been on the market for 8 months & 15 days. If they really wanted to release it, they could've figured out a way by now. They probably just did a cost-benefit analysis and came to the conclusion that Canada wasn't worth it. It's the only way to wrap your head around them releasing the product in a country of 6 million (Ireland) before releasing it to a country of 33 million just north of the border.

Why emphasize the blame on Apple? Perhaps you should temper your remarks and do some due diligence, i.e., get some facts before you shoot your mouth off and spout such derogatory crap.

Keep that up and I wouldn't care if you never got it.

Think about it

And for those with a more open mind, a little background: "Trademark dispute could further delay Apple iPhone in Canada" http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2...trademark.html

[ecking]

Happy now Ireland? I can't remember if you liked the iPhone or not.

[ecking]

Originally Posted by tsweimer

OR maybe, just maybe Apple has asked for or is waiting for the Canadian cell phone carriers to become less aggressive with their pricing. Canada has some of the highest cell phone rates in the world.

F* that just release it unlocked online and in apple stores in canada for a markup of like 600 bucks for the 8gig and 800 for the 16 and people will flock. Watching that happen would definetly put the screws to rogers.

[John_Drake]

Originally Posted by Abster2core

Why emphasize the blame on Apple? Perhaps you should temper your remarks and do some due diligence, i.e., get some facts before you shoot your mouth off and spout such derogatory crap.

Keep that up and I wouldn't care if you never got it.

Think about it

And for those with a more open mind, a little background: "Trademark dispute could further delay Apple iPhone in Canada" http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2...trademark.html

Keep what up? Speaking my mind? Oh sorry about that, I thought this forum was about the free exchange of ideas & opinions.

Comwave is a ridiculously small company in Canada that the majority of Canadians haven't even heard about. How much is Apple worth again? How many lawyers do they have? They could settle that issue tonight if they really wanted to, but like I said, they don't want to.

It's been 8 months! Not including the 6 months after the initial announcement. They have had plenty of time to work things out in Canada, but no they'd rather release the iPhone in Luxembourg than give it to Canadians.

If I sound frustrated it's because I am. Imagine if the situation was reversed and a Canadian Apple was giving the US the shaft. It would be anarchy!

Defend the corporation all you like but you know what I'm saying is true.

And btw I could honestly not care less if you care that I get the iPhone. Who are you? A nobody to me.

[samab]

Originally Posted by tsweimer

OR maybe, just maybe Apple has asked for or is waiting for the Canadian cell phone carriers to become less aggressive with their pricing. Canada has some of the highest cell phone rates in the world.

Canada has some of the least expensive mobile tariff rates in the industrial world.

http://files.ctia.org/pdf/080108_US-...n_Ex_Parte.pdf

[wbrasington]

Originally Posted by samab

Canada has some of the least expensive mobile tariff rates in the industrial world.

http://files.ctia.org/pdf/080108_US-...n_Ex_Parte.pdf

If the rates are so high, and the tariffs are so low, that would make Canada home of the greediest bastards running phone companies in the world.

[wbrasington]

Originally Posted by ncee

And it's not available in Canada because someone is being dumb, greedy, stupid?

Yes, and in that order.

[samab]

Originally Posted by wbrasington

If the rates are so high, and the tariffs are so low, that would make Canada home of the greediest bastards running phone companies in the world.

As I said, Canadians (like me) enjoy some of the lowest prices in terms of mobile monthly plans in the world. We can enjoy to talk 400-500 minutes a month. We are more expensive than the US, but less expensive than most of the industrial world.

People complain about how Rogers have very expenisve data plans --- sure they have. But the other 2 carriers (CDMA) in Canada have cheaper data plans than Rogers GSM network.

[quinney]

Originally Posted by samab

Canada has some of the least expensive mobile tariff rates in the industrial world.

http://files.ctia.org/pdf/080108_US-...n_Ex_Parte.pdf

I think it is the cost of data plans which is so expensive in Canada. Since iPhone
relies on transferring lots of data for many of its features, this makes the overall
cost in Canada unattractive to users.

[samab]

Originally Posted by quinney

I think it is the cost of data plans which is so expensive in Canada. Since iPhone
relies on transferring lots of data for many of its features, this makes the overall
cost in Canada unattractive to users.

Canada has 1 GSM carrier and 2 CDMA carriers.

Not only is the CDMA carriers (which controls more than 1/2 of the market share) --- offer lower data prices than the lone Canadian GSM carrier --- they also were the first ones to launch 3G networks (ev-do) in Canada.

[Abster2core]

Originally Posted by John_Drake

Keep what up? Speaking my mind? Oh sorry about that, I thought this forum was about the free exchange of ideas & opinions.

Why Apple? The last I heard, they were asking between 7 and 35 mil for the Canadian trademark.

Your suggestion that Apple is the GREEDY one by stating that "Apple cares more about money than they do about Canadian consumers" in large red type is inflammatory and misleading.

Based on the previously attached article, it is Comwave and Rogers that are the greedy ones.

As the article states, ""The force they (Apple) put into marketing would quickly make the brand Apple's and not ours," he said. "It's a case of hijacking the brand. If I asked people on the street who owns the iPhone trademark in Canada, they'd all say Apple. And their product isn't even in the market. So co-existence is not possible."

Interesting, that Barzakay (Comwave) doesn't want to let go of the trademark because it would hijack their brand, and yet recognizes that it has already happened. But the (his) bottom line as he states is that, "they (Apple) can buy the brand from us."

So who is the greedy b*****d? Well I would highly suggest it is not Apple.

[ALPICH]

I live in Australia and will probably end up buying a 3G iPhone when and if they ever come out. But if I lived in Ireland and was even as half as safe with my money as The world thinks the Irish are then there is no way that I would purchase one of these in contract when I could get one off ebay unlocked for less money. 299 Pounds = around $600 US. on ebay I can pick up an unlocked ipod for $600 US for 16Gb handset (plus postage of course) It really is quite odd and I do feel bad for you.

The other scary issue is that when it comes to Australia this could mean that even though our Australian $ is almost at parity with the US $ we may see handset prices around $800. That would make me more keen to get one that has been unlocked. I think I would be too upset with that sort of feeling of extortion from Apple.

[Bageljoey]

Any word on the reception the iPhones are getting?

Lines?
Media coverage?
Crowded stores?
Apathy?
Embarrassing cricket noises?

I'm just kinda curious because this seemed to be mentioned when the iPhone came out in other countries...

[Banalltv]

Originally Posted by Bageljoey

Any word on the reception the iPhones are getting?

Embarrassing cricket noises?

Wellll...

I was down on Grafton St in Dublin this afternoon so my grateful little paws could finally feel what an iPhone is really like ( impressed! ) and there were no queues but people were playing with the display phones. They weren't clawing at each other's eyes to get to them though.

There's no buzz about it as such. I have been astonished all the way since january '07 how little has been seen in either the Irish or UK general media about the iPhone, as if it's just not cool or something. It reminds me of a certain type of pc-evangelising that moans and whines about anything Apple and I attribute the lack of buzz to that.

I wonder if a lot of people will simply wait 'til the 3G version, and I really wonder how many will compare prices and benefits to what is offered in the UK and be put off an iPhone by a gentle feeling of being gouged by O2 and attribute that to Apple.

All other phones in these shops are always blank display dummies. The fact of having live phones you can feel and use and develop a taste for will really let people experience for themselves how different it is and will get them moving more and more I think.

Originally Posted by rols

...iPhone is going out country by country and not very fast either. Every product has a lifetime and apple needs to get the iPhone out worldwide in a shorter amount of time before the buzz is over and it's just another product. ...

What is very evident to me is the amount of advertising up for phones that seek to compete with the iPhone and I agree with the comment above that Apple need to get these in as many countries as possible before the 'new' wears off. That may also be what is going on here.

Saturday is a bigger shopping day anyway and the numbers will tell in the end.


Oh yeah, Happy Paddy's Day to one and all!

[satchmo]

Originally Posted by Bageljoey

Any word on the reception the iPhones are getting?

Lines?
Media coverage?
Crowded stores?
Apathy?
Embarrassing cricket noises?

I'm just kinda curious because this seemed to be mentioned when the iPhone came out in other countries...

Not to beat a dead horse, but the second the iPhone is launched in Canada, you can bet the stores will have trouble keeping up with stock.

My suggestion to Canadians, wait till the WWDC in June and pray Jobs will announce something. If not by then, go across the 49th parallel and pick one up. Unlock it, run Independance or some other hack and Bob's your uncle. Not the preferred method, but one can only hold out for so long.

[John_Drake]

Originally Posted by Abster2core

Your suggestion that Apple is the GREEDY one by stating that "Apple cares more about money than they do about Canadian consumers" in large red type is inflammatory and misleading.

Let me break down what I am saying for you nice and simple:

• Apple has settled trademark and domain name situations in the past.
• Apple has also dealt with other telecoms, the music industry, big corporations who wish to retain their respective leverage and monopolies in the field.

Thus Apple could've dealt with Rogers and Comwave but has chosen not to do this in Canada based on perceived incurred costs. They have done a basic cost-benefit analysis and decided potential iPhone buyers in Canada are not worth it. Therefore my point still stands:

Apple cares more about money than they do about Canadian consumers.

[Abster2core]

Originally Posted by John_Drake

Let me break down what I am saying for you nice and simple:

• Apple has settled trademark and domain name situations in the past.
• Apple has also dealt with other telecoms, the music industry, big corporations who wish to retain their respective leverage and monopolies in the field.

Thus Apple could've dealt with Rogers and Comwave but has chosen not to do this in Canada based on perceived incurred costs. They have done a basic cost-benefit analysis and decided potential iPhone buyers in Canada are not worth it. Therefore my point still stands:

Apple cares more about money than they do about Canadian consumers.

And you have inside information to back this up.

[paulwlee]

Originally Posted by John_Drake

Apple cares more about money than they do about Canadian consumers.

Wow. So I guess all the other companies care more about Canadian consumers than money.

The #1 concern of for-profit outfits by definition is making money. Sure, most good companies care about consumers, but the reason is that that will let them make more money!

Nobody at Apple is going to say "oh, we must at any cost get this wonderful device to the Canadians who are suffering in iPhone-less hell!" They will do it in a way that will make the best financial sense to them.

[Crashkiller]

Originally Posted by rickertb

Hi,

Does anybody know if Tmobile Austria uses Edge or UMTS?
I've been to austria in feb. and everywhere i went, the 3G signal was very good.. but i don't know what provider i used back then..

Regards,
Rick

I'm from Austria, Tmobile uses both EDGE and UMTS, but all other providers do so too, except of "one" (UMTS only) and "3" (UMTS only). Regards from Vienna
Boris

[anantksundaram]

Originally Posted by paulwlee

Wow. So I guess all the other companies care more about Canadian consumers than money.

The #1 concern of for-profit outfits by definition is making money. Sure, most good companies care about consumers, but the reason is that that will let them make more money!

Nobody at Apple is going to say "oh, we must at any cost get this wonderful device to the Canadians who are suffering in iPhone-less hell!" They will do it in a way that will make the best financial sense to them.

Post of the day!

[John_Drake]

And you have inside information to back this up.

No, just common sense and deductive reasoning.

Nobody at Apple is going to say "oh, we must at any cost get this wonderful device to the Canadians who are suffering in iPhone-less hell!" They will do it in a way that will make the best financial sense to them.

Yeah so basically to boil down what you're saying, Apple could care less about delivering the iPhone to Canada unless their pockets are getting lined. My point still stands.

[Bageljoey]

Originally Posted by John_Drake

Let me break down what I am saying for you nice and simple:


Thus Apple could've dealt with Rogers and Comwave but has chosen not to do this in Canada based on perceived incurred costs. They have done a basic cost-benefit analysis and decided potential iPhone buyers in Canada are not worth it. Therefore my point still stands:

Apple cares more about money than they do about Canadian consumers.

Dude, get over yourself.

It takes two to tango--we don't know if Rogers and/or Comwave are negotiating in good faith. Maybe they know how much Apple *loves* the people of Canada and are holding out unreasonable demands trying to take advantage. We really have no idea what the negotiations have been like.

But to say that they have done a cost-benefit analysis as if it is some unethical, cruel act, well that just takes the cake. Jeez, I hate to break it it you, but Apple, like most companies, exists to make money--not to make you happy. Sorry. Now, if they can make money and make you happy, well, I'm sure that would tickle them pink. Apple has been pretty good at that over the years, building up a very loyal base that has also made them quite wealthy. But don't confuse that to mean that they somehow owe you happiness...

[gmon750]

Originally Posted by John_Drake

Let me break down what I am saying for you nice and simple:

• Apple has settled trademark and domain name situations in the past.
• Apple has also dealt with other telecoms, the music industry, big corporations who wish to retain their respective leverage and monopolies in the field.

Thus Apple could've dealt with Rogers and Comwave but has chosen not to do this in Canada based on perceived incurred costs. They have done a basic cost-benefit analysis and decided potential iPhone buyers in Canada are not worth it. Therefore my point still stands:

Apple cares more about money than they do about Canadian consumers.

If it gets you to shut up with your whining... I'll be more than happy to assist... here goes...

YES... APPLE DOESN'T GIVE A RAT'S A** ABOUT YOU CANADIANS!! YOUR EXISTENCE IS MEANINGLESS TO THE "JOBS"!

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to answer a call on my iPhone.

[moresmarterthanyou]

Originally Posted by JeffDM

A "full priced" unsubsidized phone would be at least a couple hundred dollars more.

Actually, it's only between 100 and 125 USD more if taken from average prices you can currently buy it in Asia for.