iPhone 3G plans start at $50 in Sweden, $80 in Norway

[AppleInsider]

Sweden's TeliaSonera said Friday that monthly service plans for Apple's iPhone 3G will start at $50 (299 SEK), while Netcom Norway announced that its own customers will have to pay a minimum of $80 (NOK 399) each month.

Sweden

TeliaSonera said iPhone 3G services plans will start at $50 USD (299 SEK) for the "iMini" plan that will include 100 minutes, 100 SMS messages, and 100 MB of data. Customers who choose the iMini plan and agree to an 18-month contract with the carrier can purchase the 8GB version of the handset for $415 USD (2495 SEK) or the 16GB for $550 (3295 SEK). However, opting for a 24-month contract will reduce the cost of the 8GB model to $280 (1695 SEK) and the 16GB model to $415 (2495 SEK).

A $80 (489 SEK) "iMidi" plan offers 250 minutes, 250 SMS messages, and 250 MB of data. Customers who choose this option along with an 18-month contract can purchase the 8GB iPhone for $315 (1895 SEK) and the 16GB model for $450 (2695 SEK). With a 24-month contract, the 8GB model drops to $165 (995 SEK) and the 16GB to $300 (1795 SEK).

A high-end "iMaxi" service plans fetches $145 (859 SEK) and includes 1000 minutes, 1000 SMS messages, and 1000MB of data. When combined with an 18-month contract customers can pick up an 8GB iPhone for $235 (1395 SEK) or a 16GB iPhone for $365 (2195 SEK). However, stepping up to the 24-month contract reduces the cost of the 8GB model to just 15 cents (1 SEK) and the 16GB model to $130 (795 SEK).



Norway

Over in Norway, Netcom announced that its own iPhone 3G services plans will start at $80 (NOR 399) for a "Small" plan that includes 100 minutes, SMS messages, and megabytes of data each month. Customers who sign up for the small plan can purchase an 8GB iPhone 3G for $280 (NOR 1390) or a 16GB model for $461 (NOR 2290).

Netcom's $140 "Medium" plan includes 250 minutes, SMS messages, and megabytes of data each month. With this plan, an 8GB iPhone costs $139 (NOR 690) and the 16GB model costs $320 (NOR 1590).

A "Large" plan priced at $221 each month includes 1000 minutes, SMS messages, and megabytes of data. Customers who choose this plan receive an 8GB iPhone 3G for just $0.20 (or NOR 1) and can upgrade to a 16GB model for $179 (NOR 890).

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[stuhowe]

Good lord - are these guys owned by rogers Canada?? Or is Sweden similar to Canada in that it has near monopolistic carriers and no competition?

[stukdog]

As I see each of these plans get announced, I can't help but shake my head at the mobile industry in general. Ten years after cell phones have become pretty commonplace, they still detail you out to minutes and kilobytes. It's quite sad.

On that note, it seems that AT&T is the only company to not yet announce their sentences...er..I mean plans.

[magicgumdrop]

Originally Posted by stukdog

As I see each of these plans get announced, I can't help but shake my head at the mobile industry in general. Ten years after cell phones have become pretty commonplace, they still detail you out to minutes and kilobytes. It's quite sad.

On that note, it seems that AT&T is the only company to not yet announce their sentences...er..I mean plans.

Well, you've gotta fund universal healthcare and fantastic public services somehow...

But for the record O2 Ireland have yet to release updated plans either. Though I'll admit that the Swedish, Norwegian and even French offerings have me feeling much better about the [not so hot] existing ones...

[kexxcream]

Originally Posted by stuhowe

Good lord - are these guys owned by rogers Canada?? Or is Sweden similar to Canada in that it has near monopolistic carriers and no competition?

It's ridiculous. The total cost will end up between $1300 (or 7800 SEK) and $3450 (or 20500 SEK) according to a calculation by Nyteknik. This is way beyond Steve's $199/$299. Beside this, the good news for Swedish people is that you can use the iPhone with any plan Telia offers (currently a cheap flat rate for $100/month with unlimited calls and data traffic). There's a lot of competetion in Sweden but unfortunately none when it comes to the iPhone.

[Marsattack]

I think it's funny how the danish prices arn't mentioned... (www.telia.dk/iphone) It's crazy! they want me to cough up 599 DKK ( US $ 126,-) a month...AFTER an initial 1399 DKK (approx. $295 - 8GB) or 1999 DKK ($422 - 16GB) And they have just been rewarded by a danish newspaper as the country's most crappy "Mobile Broadband" operator! I just hope that 3 (three) announces that they will start selling it too soon.
What is this world getting to...

[Marsattack]

I should also note that this is based on a 6 month subscription (don't know what the maximum limit in Norway and Sweden are, should check it, I know), but it still leaves the iPhone at a minimum price of 4993 DKK (US $1053,-(!)) and 5593 DKK (US $1179,-). I still think they are ripping future customers with their "offer"...
My 2c

[Sverkel]

Well in Denmark we also got the price today... We will be giving 295$ for the 8GB iPhone and 422$ for the 16GB iPhone...

The Plan is as following:

Price per month: 599 kr,- (126$)
Price per month after 6 month: 399 kr,- (84$)
Talktime to other Telia mobiles: Free
Talktime to landline: Free
Talktime for other mobiles: 300 min.
Data plan per month: 300MB
SMS: Free
HomerRun: Free (Telia hotspots)
Price per min. after the 300 min.: 0,99 kr,- (0.2$)
Data price after the 300 MB: 1.25 kr,- per MB (3$)

Some says it's madness but all I care about is getting an iPhone with warrenty that I can update as soon as the are there And by the way... It's only 6 months

[kexxcream]

It would be ideal, if not cheaper, to travel to USA, buy an iPhone with AT&T for $299, wait 1 month until you can terminate it, pay $175 in termination fee, jailbreak it (i give it 1 week after release until it will be available), travel back and use it with your favorite carrier, which currently isn't Telia. Why don't Apple just ship the iPhone to several carriers if they only get $199/$299 from each phone? Wouldn't this maximize their financial profit? The big issue with 1st generation iPhone was that people thought it was expensive. Has anything changed since then?

[Marsattack]

I think the most sad part of what you mentioned there (and I mentioned just prior to you ) is the 300 MB maximum data traffic...it's insanely low! Especially if I want to use my iPhone as my laptops mobile boadband modem (there were rumors that iPhone 3G or iPhone OS 2.0 would be getting this). In comparison 3 offers unlimited traffic for 299,- DKK (US $ 63) a month with 7.2 Mb/s speeds and with much better 3G coverage than Telia Denmark.
But yeah..here's for hoping that other danish carriers are going to be revealed not too long after the initial launch here in Denmark.

Originally Posted by Sverkel

Well in Denmark we also got the price today... We will be giving 295$ for the 8GB iPhone and 422$ for the 16GB iPhone...

The Plan is as following:

Price per month: 599 kr,- (126$)
Price per month after 6 month: 399 kr,- (84$)
Talktime to other Telia mobiles: Free
Talktime to landline: Free
Talktime for other mobiles: 300 min.
Data plan per month: 300MB
SMS: Free
HomerRun: Free (Telia hotspots)
Price per min. after the 300 min.: 0,99 kr,- (0.2$)
Data price after the 300 MB: 1.25 kr,- per MB (3$)

Some says it's madness but all I care about is getting an iPhone with warrenty that I can update as soon as the are there And by the way... It's only 6 months

[Sverkel]

Originally Posted by kexxcream

It would be ideal, if not cheaper, to travel to USA, buy an iPhone with AT&T for $299, wait 1 month until you can terminate it, pay $175 in termination fee, jailbreak it (i give it 1 week after release until it will be available), travel back and use it with your favorite carrier, which currently isn't Telia. Why don't Apple just ship the iPhone to several carriers if they only get $199/$299 from each phone? Wouldn't this maximize their financial profit? The big issue with 1st generation iPhone was that people thought it was expensive. Has anything changed since then?

Call me crazy... But I DON'T want my iPhone to be JailBreaket

[Sverkel]

Originally Posted by Marsattack

I think the most sad part of what you mentioned there (and I mentioned just prior to you ) is the 300 MB maximum data traffic...it's insanely low! Especially if I want to use my iPhone as my laptops mobile boadband modem (there were rumors that iPhone 3G or iPhone OS 2.0 would be getting this). In comparison 3 offers unlimited traffic for 299,- with 7.2 Mb/s speeds and with much better 3G coverage than Telia Denmark. But yeah..here's for hoping that other danish carriers are going to be revealed not too long after the initial launch here in Denmark.

You are missing something... I don't for a sec. belive that I will be using all 300MB in one month!

I will only use it to get some mails and read the news via RSS when i'm not with Wi-Fi...

And I don't think that the "normal" user in Denmark will use over the 300MB either Only the ones that are REALY Geeks (you know i'm kidding)

But if you don't like then don't buy it

Btw... Taler du Dansk?

[kexxcream]

Originally Posted by Sverkel

Call me crazy... But I DON'T want my iPhone to be JailBreaket

Neither do I to be completely honest. However, it makes me wonder since I'm moving from Sweden to be in USA during the rest of the year if I can buy an iPhone in USA and bring it back to Sweden. Would it be possible to make it work in Sweden? Answer: doubtful, but no. Would it be able to connect it to Telia and make it work from there? Answer: do we really want to? The prices are just insane!

[Sverkel]

Originally Posted by kexxcream

Neither do I to be completely honest. However, it makes me wonder since I'm moving from Sweden to be in USA during the rest of the year if I can buy an iPhone in USA and bring it back to Sweden. Would it be possible to make it work in Sweden? Answer: doubtful, but no. Would it be able to connect it to Telia and make it work from there? Answer: do we really want to? The prices are just insane!

Hehe... I get what you are saying But then can't you just get the plan closed after one month and then get it unlocked (leagily) so you could use it with what ever you wan't back in Sweden?

[Marsattack]

Selfølgelig taler jeg da dansk, men jeg er ikke dansker (kommer fra nogle øgrupper ude i nordatlanten, you know ). Måske ikke alle vil bruge de 300 MB, men jeg synes nu ikke det er svært, heller ikke for "de andre" ikke nørder...facebook, messenger (må komme oficielt før eller siden (september lyder meget sandsynligt efter Apple's planer), upload af kæreste, fest og "kjole" billeder ville feks. for piger hurtigt sluge mere end de angivne 300 max. Men hvad ved jeg...tror mindre end hvad Telia ved ang. eksisterende iPhone brugeres forbrug på deres netwærk...

[kexxcream]

Originally Posted by Sverkel

Hehe... I get what you are saying But then can't you just get the plan closed after one month and then get it unlocked (leagily) so you could use it with what ever you wan't back in Sweden?

That's one of the remaning questions to be answered. All I know is that it will be possible to buy a contract with AT&T (16 gb model) for $299 + $70-80/month + $175 termination fee, so the total cost would theoretically be: $550 dollar (3300 SEK or 2600 DKK). This raise another question, will Telia apply the same rule to its contract? That is to say, will you be able to terminate it or get in unlocked? For how much? Hopefully we'll found out soon enough.

[Chris_CA]

Originally Posted by kexxcream

Why don't Apple just ship the iPhone to several carriers if they only get $199/$299 from each phone? Wouldn't this maximize their financial profit? The big issue with 1st generation iPhone was that people thought it was expensive. Has anything changed since then?

So you think Apple is getting oinly $199/$299 for each iPhone?

[Rot'nApple]

What are the non iPhone plans in Canada, Sweden, Norway, etc.? Any difference? Are they more or less then what is offered now if all the minutes and data plans were added together and applied for some other smart phone?

I read from these posts that the monopolistic practices these carriers are practicing are "raping" the customers, etc. Fortunately no one is forced to purchase the iPhone and carrier calling plan and if the absurd pricing is true then the market will show its displeasure because the buying public will not buy if it is not a good deal. Kind of like the disappointing sales figures in the UK and Germany because of the high price and lack of 3G of the iPhone itself, let alone the calling plans. I mean some people will buy but the masses won't until the pricing comes down and the buying public think they are getting a good deal.

I am curious to know, however, if a monopolistic carrier asks for a certain price amount because there is no competition but with competition "price wars" would ensue to make pricing lower, then how can an employee of one, ask their employer for a raise when their boss has resumes of competition looking to do that same job? I guess it's just one of life's little mysteries.

[kexxcream]

Originally Posted by Chris_CA

So you think Apple is getting oinly $199/$299 for each iPhone?

I would be happy if you could enlighten me with full details!

[audunr]

Non-Scandinavian readers should note that it's very uncommon to pay this much per month for a mobile subscription in Norway and Sweden.

Still, with 100 minutes, 100 SMS and 100 MB per month the price is quite good if you use up all of that. But it's just because 100MB would cost you a lot of money if you didn't have some sort of special subscription. The cost of 100 minutes and 100 SMS makes up about 1/4 of the subscription fee of the cheapest subscription in Norway (399 NOK).

The problem with these iPhone subscriptions is that you have to pay the monthly fee no matter what your usage pattern is. And that is very untypical of the Scandinavian mobile subscription market.

Sure, there are subscriptions here where you pay so-and-so much and get to call X minutes (typically a lot more than a 100...), but those are not tied to a particular phone.

It's like the Scandinavian winners of Apple's iPhone lottery forgot what kind of market they're operating in. This is not the U.S., where people have phones with disabled Bluetooth so they have to pay to get new ringtones.

People here expect to be able to buy a phone, pick whatever subscription they want (and according to the law must be able to do so) and use it as little or as much as they want.

Audun

[bigmc6000]

Originally Posted by stukdog

On that note, it seems that AT&T is the only company to not yet announce their sentences...er..I mean plans.

Sure they have. $199/$299 for the phone and $30 for the data plan. The only thing they are still mum about is the text messaging - are there any included? Either way the unlimited plan is going to be $20. And regular voice plans obviously. Compared to some (UK, France) AT&T is dishing out the shaft but compared to others (Sweden, Norway, Canada) it looks like not too bad of a deal.

Real shame that Apple doesn't have the power to tell them what they can charge for a monthly plan - given the way they have fought to maintain the 99 cent pricing for songs on iTunes despite continued inflation for the past 4+ years I'd bet they'd give us a pretty decent deal...

[samab]

Originally Posted by audunr

People here expect to be able to buy a phone, pick whatever subscription they want (and according to the law must be able to do so) and use it as little or as much as they want.

Haven't you people learned from all these pricing announcements?

All those so-called laws are basically useless.

Originally Posted by bigmc6000

Compared to some (UK, France) AT&T is dishing out the shaft but compared to others (Sweden, Norway, Canada) it looks like not too bad of a deal.

The French iphone plans are a lot more expensive than the US plans.

The UK iphone plan is cheaper than the US iphone plan. But for the 99% of the UK population --- they get shafted big time because O2 charges the same 35 pounds per month for the same 600 minutes and the same 500 SMS as the iphone (yet the iphone plan has unlimited data).

http://www.o2.co.uk/mobilestariffs/t...monthlytariffs

[bigmc6000]

I wonder - what is the status of land-lines across the pond? I mean, I think the US companies throw around mins like crazy because they are still trying to convince people that it's cheaper to get a cell phone than keep their land line. I'm afraid that if the land line disappears they are just going to increase their prices because they no longer have a competitor.

[JoeDyndale]

The main problem with the Norwegian iPhone plans is that they force you to pay for quite a lot of data traffic - which makes the plans way too expensive for a LOT of people.

If you simply take the amount of minutes/messages/megabytes and apply other carriers' prices you'll find that the iPhone plans are several times cheaper than anything else available. Still, people simply aren't used to using that much data traffic.

Of course, the real problem with the Scandinavian mobile phone market is the prices for data traffic in general. The cheapest available prices (from very small companies with limited coverage) start at about $1.45 per MB! However, the average price is between $1.90 and $2.80 per MB. That's utterly ridiculous in my opinion. That's $2 to $3 per page view of an online newspaper!

MANY Norwegians have complained about the incredibly steep prices for the iPhone plans, but they're not taking into account what similar usage would cost with any other normal plan from any carrier, and the fact that you're far more likely to use more data traffic with your iPhone than with any other phone.

So I'm thinking I'm gonna get the iPhone 3G when it becomes available, and if I find that I'm nowhere near using up the allotted data traffic I'll pay the required fee to break the 12-month contract (which is the maximum legal length of such contracts in Norway) and go back to my current carrier (Tele2).

[CanadianDude]

Looks like they forgot to mention the free access to all of over 1800 Wifi hotspots across Sweden being included with each plan. It doesnt make the cost any less extravegant but does take a bit of the pain of living here away.

[mnemonic]

Originally Posted by Rot'nApple

What are the non iPhone plans in Canada, Sweden, Norway, etc.? Any difference?

I haven't made a real comparison as I don't live in Sweden but I do have a plan there as I frequently visit the country. The plan I have is for my company and is with the carrier Tre, a 3G-only carrier (no GSM/GRPS/EDGE in their network). It is called 3Business Max, costs me 499 kr ($83) + VAT per month and allows me a to make a virtually unlimited number of calls to both landline and mobile numbers with other operators within the country at no extra charge. I can also send an unlimited number of text and MMS messages at no extra charge, and when I use the phone in a Tre/Three network in another country (Italy, UK, Ireland, Australia etc), I can call Sweden at the same cost as if I were in Sweden. I also pay nothing to receive calls in those networks.

Data is charged separately at 8 kr ($1.33) per megabyte for 7.2 Mbps Turbo 3G. Nevertheless I have added a separate data plan at 199 kr ($33) per month which gives me unlimited data transfer with no cap.

As I frequently need to call abroad whenever I am in Sweden, I also have an international add-on named, I belive, 3Global. With it, I can call most countries in the world at 0.14 kr ($0.025) per minute, which is almost less than making a landline call within the UK. Quite amazing.

[samab]

Originally Posted by bigmc6000

I wonder - what is the status of land-lines across the pond? I mean, I think the US companies throw around mins like crazy because they are still trying to convince people that it's cheaper to get a cell phone than keep their land line. I'm afraid that if the land line disappears they are just going to increase their prices because they no longer have a competitor.

The US model is quad play --- you are going to keep landline with AT&T or Verizon anyway.

[cameronj]

Originally Posted by samab

The US model is quad play --- you are going to keep landline with AT&T or Verizon anyway.

ATT is not a big player (if they play at all) in the land line business. They are primarily a long distance provider. The local line is provided by others.

[samab]

Originally Posted by cameronj

ATT is not a big player (if they play at all) in the land line business. They are primarily a long distance provider. The local line is provided by others.

That was the old AT&T.

The "new" AT&T is the combination of SBC and BellSouth --- 2 baby bells.

[iVlad]

At&t better not follow these numbers! I must say that Europe does not have the cell-phone decease though, so companies have to charge these numbers. Plus population and the ratios are much smaller.
In US almost everyone and their grand-ma has a cell-phone.

[bigmc6000]

Originally Posted by samab

That was the old AT&T.

The "new" AT&T is the combination of SBC and BellSouth --- 2 baby bells.

I actually have an AT&T land line for 2 purposes - 1) so I can get DSL (I've got satellite TV and I refuse to pay cables insane rates) and 2) so when I have to give my number to people I don't actually want calling me I can give them my land line. I, however, know a number of people who have completely abandoned their land lines altogether. I just wonder the percentage of people in, say, the UK have both or just a land line.

[strong]

Swedish TeliaSonera seems to have stupid 3G plans. No unlimited data transfer options.
TeliaSonera is the most expensive operation in Finland. Unfortunately, there is no other options to purchase iPhone in Scandinavia. I have to order 3G-iPhone from Teliasonera

[samab]

Originally Posted by bigmc6000

I actually have an AT&T land line for 2 purposes - 1) so I can get DSL (I've got satellite TV and I refuse to pay cables insane rates) and 2) so when I have to give my number to people I don't actually want calling me I can give them my land line. I, however, know a number of people who have completely abandoned their land lines altogether. I just wonder the percentage of people in, say, the UK have both or just a land line.

87% of UK homes have landlines.

http://share.skype.com/sites/uk/2008...es_on_the.html

[JoeDyndale]

Originally Posted by iVlad

At&t better not follow these numbers! I must say that Europe does not have the cell-phone decease though, so companies have to charge these numbers. Plus population and the ratios are much smaller.
In US almost everyone and their grand-ma has a cell-phone.

Well, people in Norway on average have at least one cell phone. And an increasing percentage of the population abandon their landlines all together. I haven't had a landline for over 6 years. Mostly it's people over 30 who still have a landline.

Keep in mind, the prices used in these comparisons are converted to USD using the current conversion rate, but when comparing prices between currencies you need to use the "BigMac Index". Otherwise, especially now that the USD is at it's lowest, the prices will be very inaccurate.

Using the current conversion rate, the price of the 16GB iPhone in Norway, 2290,- NOK, is approximately $450. Using the BigMac Index the price is translated to approximately $290. This includes 25% sales tax.

Using the BigMac Index the price for the cheapest iPhone plan in Norway translates into approximately $50 per month.

What does data traffic cost in the US, on average?

[Tyrihans]

Hmm, it would seem that Apple has a really big problem on its hands here. It just can't end good if this shit continues.

Way way too expensive in lots of markets = NOT 12 million units sold anytime soon.

Time to short AAPL...

[Brum]

Originally Posted by stuhowe

Good lord - are these guys owned by rogers Canada?? Or is Sweden similar to Canada in that it has near monopolistic carriers and no competition?

In sweden there are four main carriers but TeliaSonera is the old molopolistic carrier that got competition as soon as GSM was launched in the early nineties. Beside the four carries there ar a number of smaller carriers using the two main backbone 3G networks owned and operated by the four main carriers. So no, competition is hard. The problem is that Apple don't understand that they need to select a modern carrier not something from the jurassic age.

There are two big problems here:

1. TeliaSonera do not have the competency to understand what all other carriers have understood for a long time: Flat rate for data transfer is needed to get customers to use 3G and especially HSDPA. And why should the customers buy the best surf phone ever when the surfing will be really expensive. Imagine extensive e-mailing with push.. .

2. Apple being complete idiots only offering the phone via one carrier. And this in a country where consumers are more or less "anti apple". Most people here don't like Apple due to the fact that they put too many obstacles for other ways of using their products than the one-and-only Apple way. People feel that Aplle is locking them in (like buying iTunes songs in the past, that were not possible to play on anything else than Apple products or with Apple software). Now they are doing it again in Scandinavia. Locking out appr 70% of the potential customers who for one or other reason don't want to be a TeliaSonera customer. ALso Apple seems to be out there for getting business users as well. Then they probably miss 60-70% also there.

I only know one time before in Sweden when a phone only was available via one single carrier (there might have been more cases). Anyhow this was a SonyEricsson phone available only top Vodafone customers at that time. I guess it sold less than 1000 pieces becuse it was discontinued very quickly and then relaunchedwith a different name, a different colour and available for all carriers.

I really hope iPhone will flop in Scandinavia. That is the only way that might get the phone available for more carriers. And for all potential customers.

[calguy]

Originally Posted by Brum

I really hope iPhone will flop in Scandinavia. That is the only way that might get the phone available for more carriers. And for all potential customers.

Even here in the USA, I hope that the iPhone will eventually get to other carriers besides AT&T. But, if the other carriers in Scandinavia or another EU country could carry it, would they also have the extras like visual voicemail, etc. Doesn't each carrier have to do extra software/hardware setups to their network to work with the iPhone extras, even the GPS from Google, if that is available in a certain country. I would be interested in those details.

[samab]

Prices don't seem to be any better in Italy --- where 2 carriers carry the iphone.

[piot]

There seems to be a little confusion over these prices. (or it might be just me!)

Could our Nordic and Baltic friends tell us how much other phones would cost (Nokia N95, Blackberry etc) from the same carriers ... together with data/talk/text plans ?

Thanks.

[samab]

Originally Posted by piot

There seems to be a little confusion over these prices. (or it might be just me!)

Could our Nordic and Baltic friends tell us how much other phones would cost (Nokia N95, Blackberry etc) from the same carriers ... together with data/talk/text plans ?

Thanks.

It doesn't matter --- because most of these people never subscribe to data plans.

http://disruptivewireless.blogspot.c...artphones.html