With the new release of the 3G Apple iPhone rumored to only be a few weeks away now, it is almost certain that we will see it here in Australia within the next 2 months.
It has been almost certainly confirmed that we won’t have the same problems as the USA has where AT&T purchased the sole rights to the sale of the Apple iPhone which lead to mass hacking to make it work with other providers such as Verizon and Bell in Canada.
Cracked iPhones became the hot must have item on Ebay at first, until people started bricking them after Apple released an update which re-wrote the code in the modem and killed peoples iPhones who had hacked them, but alas, within days, another hack was out and with that the next round of hacked iPhones.
Here in Australia, all three of the major players, (Telstra, Optus & Vodafone), have confirmed that they will be selling the iPhone, so the exclusivity problem sounds like it won’t be a problem. With most exclusive deals here in Australia we have seen Provider Locked handsets which led to a ACCC investigation and now, providers can lock the handsets but have to offer a quick and easy way for a user to unlock the handset to use with alternate providers. Of course, technical limitations may stop you using your phone on alternate networks.
So, I pose the question, with all the hype of the iPhone in the US, will you be rushing out to buy an iPhone?
Rumored so far, 3G, 22% Thinner, Better Battery Life, Unlocked for Australian Providers, 16GB & 32GB models and priced to be about $599 & $799 respectively.
Having played with an iPhone a few times, I must say that the user interface is mighty impressive. Apple really do get their user interfaces right first time every time (Ok, so maybe the f**ked up the Apple TV, but we’ll forgive them for that as now it’s kick arse!). Most people know that I am a big Apple fan, and even being a PC support person in a day to day role, I still use both a iMac in the office and a MacBook for my Laptop.
My concern at the moment is in the business and corporate space where people will rush out and try and replace their Windows Mobile device or Blackberry, which are specifically targeted at the corporate space for the out of office mobility solution, with the Apple iPhone which is very much targeted at the Consumer level offering Music, Podcasts, Video, SMS and a Phone, and at this point in time, there is no Exchange Connector or Blackberry Enterprise Server connector which straight away deters me to be selling them or recommending them in the corporate space.
A hot item in the next few months, and personally, I can’t wait to see what they’re going to do with the product here. Will it be 3G on 2100MHz only or have Telstra convinced them to make it 3G on 850MHz as well for their Next G network?
All will be revealed in time 
Keep an eye on the following….
Australian IT - www.australianit.com.au
ZDNet Australia - www.zdnet.com.au
Gizmodo Australia - www.gizmodo.com.au
Apple Australia - www.apple.com.au
G
June 4th, 2008 at 7:34 PM
One of our client Execs has an iPhone. His exec support person managed to find a connector for the iPhone for Exchange. I don’t know if they tested it or not, or if it works, but they do exist.
June 4th, 2008 at 9:57 PM
Funny you mention that. There are a few hacked solutions out there, but nothing that is Microsoft Approved, RIM Approved or Apple Approved like the Microsoft Exchange and RIM connectors for Symbian S6.
That said, Apple had advertised a position for a Exchange and Blackberry specialist some time ago, so with the release of v2 of the iPhone, this may be something that we see some time soon.
It may not be out with the unit, but I’m sure that we will see it in good time.
G