Vodafone NZ - iPhone not for Prepay

Written by Philip Roy | 11 June 2008

UPDATE  Confusion has developed over the past 24 hours since the announcement that the iPhone 3G is on its way to New Zealand, with one version of the official Press Release being edited to remove the term "prepay". Vodafone New Zealand have now confirmed (despite conflicting with two other Press Releases) that the iPhone will only be available "on account" within New Zealand as each country tailors its offering to customers.

The story broke when an eagle-eyed NZMac.com user noticed the change to the Press Release on the Vodafone.co.nz website, with the term "prepay" removed yesterday afternoon. However at the time of posting this story, the Press Release on the Apple.co.nz website and Vodafone.com website continue to mention the term. It should be noted however that the latter two press releases relate to four countries, so it appears that the editing locally concerns the situation in New Zealand.

Having looked at the Press Release yesterday, my browser this morning displayed the following....

But after repeated refreshes and deletion of the browser cache, the text has changed on the Vodafone NZ site...

The decision to market the iPhone in New Zealand at the exclusion of Prepay customers will come as a huge disappointment to many who have waited for the official release of Apple's innovative phone in to the New Zealand market. Given the fact that Vodafone have clearly indicated that this will not be the case in other countries it is disappointing that the decision appears to have been made here.

[Update 1]
It is interesting to note the difference between Vodafone's approach in different countries. The Italian Press Release states...

The 3G iPhone will be available to both contract customers, based on particularly simple price plans, and to pay-as-you-go users, and will include a wide range of data offerings.

Comments (18)

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brenz said: June 11, 2008  

more confusion? And now, just to confuse things even further, as of 2 minutes ago when I checked, the word "prepay" is BACK! Good news? or more confusion?

Philip Roy said: June 11, 2008  

Please check again and make sure you are looking at the PR on the Vodafone NZ site...and also try emptying your browser cache. It's not back for me?

brenz said: June 11, 2008  

Well, I'll be darned. I tried a different browser and got the "new" non-prepay version. Strange that my FF cache would have been holding the oldest version, seeing how yesterday it was showing me the newer one. Apologies for confusion. Feel free to delete my original comment.

Philip Roy said: June 11, 2008  

No problem...exact same thing happened to me first thing (as shown above). For a moment life was great again...then reality set in. I have no interest in being on a plan!

Alan Smith said: June 11, 2008  

I'm with you on this one Phil. Plans? Plans? We don't need no steeking plans!! But I really really do want an iPhone

jason said: June 12, 2008  

I was disappointed with the new press release which i received via email last evening. It ruined an otherwise good day. GIven AU is only a short flight across, I guess a trip across to buy the phone would be in the pipline. How frustrating it is to be played out (Betrayed?) by Vodafone.

Tim said: June 12, 2008 | url   

Fingers crossed unlocking the new phone won't be too difficult, then we'll be able to import them from other non-contract forcing countries. Also will the NZ iPhone be locked? Vodafone have said they will not be locking handsets, however the iPhone will be locked by default by Apple I would guess. In the meantime, I'm glad I've got a v1 iPhone to use on PrePay. It works great by the way, if you're happy to use WiFi and not 2G.

MattD said: June 12, 2008  

After you register for iPhone info you get the following message confirming 'On Account' plan iPhone 3G on Vodafone Thanks for registering – now you'll be one of the first to get all the latest updates on the iPhone 3G and how you can get it on a great On Account plan... Check out the Press release Check out the iPhone 3G features

Jason said: June 13, 2008  

well, apple/vodafone nz have just lost out on at least one sale (& i'm sure that will be devistating news for them). i'm not going to sign up to a contract just to get an iPhone, a trip to australia sounds like a plan - i need a holiday anyway. annoying is the understatement of the year.

Alan Smith said: June 13, 2008  

Here's my prediction, based purely on hope and something I read somewhere. It strikes me as interesting that you are unable to purchase an iphone from Apple's online store. I think that this will only be a temporary situation and that eventually you will be able to purchase directly from Apple. I reckon that as part of the deal with the carriers they have said that they will give them exclusive reseller rights for the first few months (maybe 6 months), then after that they will offer them on the Apple Online Store (and Apple retail stores). - The bit I read that leads me to this thought is that in some other country - possibly Australia, I can't recall ATM - they have two carriers who are offering the phone, but later down the tracks - after the exclusive deal expires - there are a couple more lining up to also provide coverage for the iPhone. As such I am hoping (possibly beyond hope) that the iPhone will become available on Prepay - around the same time that is available on the Apple Store - once the carriers get the early adopters all signed up on contracts. Everything comes to those who wait!!

Nick Foard said: June 13, 2008  

You could just buy a hacked one I already have an iphone on pay as you go with Vodafone. I had it as soon as the got here and I hacked it from 1.0.1 all the way to 1.1.4. The only thing to don't get is visual voicemail, which is nice but I would rather have pre pay. I have weighed up getting a new one and I don't think I'm going to yet. I can get the same firmware on mine as hacking your iphone now takes minutes now there are scripted tools, its almost as easy and connect to itunes and press a button. (it used to take hours now takes 5mins) I don't need 3G - have you seen the prices of the data plans. Do you really wanna pay that much to browse the internet, its a rip off. I have a wireless network at home, work and at the cafe round the road. If I don't have a wireless network and I want to get my email I just use GPRS it works fine. Location based services are pretty nice but lets face it, NZ isn't that big and if you want to find the closest pub or restaurant just use your eyes, you are probably stood next to it. 3G is like Bluetooth, its a good idea waiting for a killer app. Bluetooth in the UK only took off when the Police baned mobile phone use in the car without a hands free device! So after all that muttering, if you want a pay as you go phone and your hands on an iphone now and you don't really rate 3G or visual voicemail just go to your nearest parallel importer and get an iphone today!

Sam McEwan said: June 14, 2008  

I'm actually really pleased. Means my old iPhone actually has some value. I'm fully dreading the cost of the plans.

Darryn Lowe said: June 15, 2008 | url   

Actually considering the iPhone is being sold unlocked in Australia, France, and Germany why not just pay for the higher price of those phones and use them on a prepay contract? Personally I'm a plan man myself because it works out cheaper in the long run and I get more benefits but that's just me. I've been with Vodafone since they were BellSouth so it's not too much of an issue for me. I would hazard a guess that the prepay thing will only be temporary in order to make a bit more money to cover R&D then they will sell them to everyone contract free later on, maybe early next year. Of course we're all only working on speculation and we still have 3 weeks to go before we find out anything about it. So I would only get upset after July 11 when we have all heard what is going to happen.

Philip Roy said: June 15, 2008  

Not sure I'd agree with the reason they might offer prepay (if they do). In the US it's plans only...and a year later and another iPhone version....it's still plans and no mention of ever going to any other option. If it happens here, I'll be surprised if it happens...but maybe it might mean that Vodafone are paying notice of some of the terribly upset people like me Phil

Jason said: June 16, 2008  

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4585432a28.html seems that parallel import will be more sort after now more than ever. i sure as hell won't be signing up to any contract if Vodafone can't provide a decent level of service...

Stuart Taylor said: June 18, 2008  

Dumb and Dumber Id'd love an iPhone. But how dumb can Vodafone get? They now have the greater share of the market but with over 80% of their customers on prepay (I am)I cannot for one moment believe that they would force them to use on-account for the iPhone. Just recently they got themselves in hot water with the Telecommunications Commissioner over locking phones and were forced to withdraw. Now they are at it again. In some respects they are getting "big-boots" like Telecom has been doing for years. It may be that they are trying to stop people switching to Telecom but it is likely that the iPhone won't work on the Telecom 850Mhz network. Also Vodafone's 900Mhz is one of the few left in the world nowdays (Australia has two such networks)so where is the problem? Let's raise a storm and lodge complaints with the Telecommunication Dispute Resolution (TDR) http://www.tdr.org.nz/about-sc...es-covered. looks like a big market ahead for the parallel importers

Philip Roy said: June 18, 2008  

Ummm...what is there to complain about? Vodafone are making the iPhone available only (sadly) on a contract and we're getting names for a petition (see front page). You've then answered your own complaint...the TDR would say you're not being denied the opportunity because you can buy from a Parallel Importer. I don't think disputes are about poor marketing choices? Phil

jason said: June 20, 2008  

I pre registered with Vodafone AU to get more information. Here is what I just received from them in the email. FYI The new iPhone 3G – it's all happening. Here at Vodafone, we're eagerly counting down the days until the launch of the new iPhone 3G - and we bet you are too! We are keen to make sure that we can give you the very best deals on your new iPhone 3G and we are putting the finishing touches to these offers. So, what next? Since you have taken the time to pre-register, you are now at the front of the line. We will be rolling out these exciting offers very soon, so make sure to keep an eye on your inbox to stay ahead of the game. Stocks will be limited so you will need to be quick. Regards The Vodafone Direct Deals Team Please do not reply to this email as it is only intended to inform you.

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