Scopical.au reports that mobile carrier Optus has put an end to pre-registration for the iPhone 3G. Up until early this week, the company was accepting pre-registration orders on their website but has subsequently pulled out on the orders due to an overwhelming demand. The site is now only allowing users to register for future updates.
“Meanwhile Vodafone says it has received in excess of 40,000 visits each day to it’s own iPhone website. The phone is due to be launched on July 11, however it is not clear how many actual pre-registrations have taken place. The two current host networks are also yet to release any pricing details for the iPhone, including data packs.”
The pre-registration was apparently a $100 (AU) refundable deposit, as an Australian source stated on June 10th “I went into the optus and vodafone stores in Perth today. Optus store has a flyer that links you to the “deposit $100 with no details on price” site. Vodafone just have paper lists and are taking names/numbers. I assume they will call/email details when they have them. But at least it’s free to register.”
It is starting to become more (aggravatingly) apparent that overseas carriers are attempting to push more enticing incentives, such as pre-reg. and better subsidies than what we have here Stateside. I know that if these opportunities were available here to me that I would be all over them.
2 Comments to “Optus pulls out on iPhone pre-registration.”
Dude I totally agree. It’s like I have been reading all of these things that these international carriers are doing to help people get iPhones and I just think…..why hasnt AT&T done anything like this….probably because they simply content with doing nothing.
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I don’t think they should be content with doing nothing. Apple is obviously trying to make USA more like Euro cell markets. What with 3G and all. But, not until we get non exclusivity will we be close to Europe.
Hopefully ATT realizes that it has most of the users in the USA now, making a major change to benefit the future of our cell networks would be a welcome move.
They can even work the eco-friendly movement into it, ramp up ATT acceptance to a whole new level!
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