Vodafone to Launch Apple iPhone in New Zealand on Friday

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Vodafone to Launch Apple iPhone in New Zealand on Friday

2:44 am on July 8, 2008 | Category: Telecom Services, Mobile Devices, Wireless, Cell Phones

Vodafone New Zealand announced today that it will launch Apple’s much-anticipated iPhone device this Friday (July 11).

The 8-Gigabyte iPhone will start at NZ$199, on a two year contract, with a high-end voice and data plan costing NZ$250 per month. The 16-Gigabyte model, capable of holding some 4,000 songs, will sell for NZ$349 on the same plan.

Vodafone’s strategy is similar to that of Canada’s Rogers Wireless, charging far more than most cell phone users pay in order to fully exploit its monopoly on the iPhone, while targeting high-end wireless data and multimedia users.

Users who don’t want to sign a costly Vodafone contract must pay NZ$979 for the 8-Gigabyte iPhone, or NZ$1128 for the 16-Gigabyte version.

New Zealand wireless customers have launched a petition to protest Vodafone’s above-market iPhone pricing.