WhistleOut Outlook: An iPhone for all in 2011

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12 October 2011

WhistleOut Outlook: An iPhone for all in 2011

With Australian telcos this week (Telstra, Optus and Vodafone) announcing price plans for the new iPhone 4S, leading comparison site WhistleOut says the introduction of lower price plans are a boon for consumers and the market will be awash with iPhone options. The newly announced price plans will result in over 200 plan combinations on the market with 7 iPhone models to choose from, starting at $0 on the $29 Cap plans.

Plans for both the new iPhone 4 16GB and the 32GB better priced than the models they supersede from all carriers. Optus and Vodafone have knocked off a few dollars per month in handset repayments on most iPhone 4S combinations, whereas Telstra has priced the new model far more aggressively than their pricing last week on the original iPhone 4 model.

“At these price points, the new iPhone 4S model is definitely a better deal than the pricing on the original iPhone 4 16GB and 32GB models. Telstra’s new iPhone 4S prices in particular are squarely aimed at taking the fight to Optus and Vodafone and are far more competitive and evenly matched than before, even undercutting Optus on the iPhone 4S 16GB on the $59 Cap which has been one of the most popular and competitive price points,” says Cameron Craig, Director of WhistleOut.

“Overall, it is a great picture for consumers: when the original iPhone 4 prices do drop, there will be respectable price points for every category of consumer. The exception is the new 64GB variant which is the diamond of the iPhone range where the only $0 phone repayment options are $100 per month,” says Cameron.

The iPhone 4s was formally launched in the US last week, and will be in Australian stores this Friday. While it looks almost identical to the iPhone 4, there have been significant internal changes, including a faster processor, a more advanced camera, and a new antenna design.

Apple have kept the existing iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 ranges, plus added 3 new iPhone 4S models and a new cheaper iPhone 4 8GB model, bringing the range to 7 models.

“When it launched, the iPhone was a prestige phone - expensive and powerful. Now the iPhone is ‘mass-tige’, with an offering at every price point. By keeping the iPhone 3GS in the range, Apple's iPhones are more accessible now as they’re on entry level plans, but less aspirational,” says Cameron.

“If the past year is anything to go by, it will be the smaller Virgin Mobile which will be most competitive on pricing as Virgin Mobile have had the most competitive prices on both the iPhone 4 and Samsung Galaxy S 2 for the past 12 months,” says Cameron.

All the current price points are at: http://www.whistleout.com.au/MobilePhones/iPhone-Plans

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FOR INTERVIEWS/ IMAGES & MORE INFO:

Corinne Roberts |The Ideas Suite| m 0447 611 764 | t (02) 9279 3330 | e croberts@theideassuite.com.au

About WhistleOut
WhistleOut is one of Australia’s leading comparison websites, offering the most tailored comparisons available for mobile phone and broadband plans, mortgages, credit cards and more. WhistleOut’s comparison technology is featured on 240 websites with 21 partners, including leading media companies. To find a tailored comparison for you visit: www.whistleout.com.au.