- Browse Archives -      March 2007 April 2007 July 2007 August 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008 May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 December 2008 January 2009 February 2009 March 2009 April 2009 December 2010 January 2011 February 2011 March 2011 April 2011 May 2011 August 2011 November 2011 December 2011 January 2012 September 2023

Mobile users from New Zealand will be the first ones to buy Apple's new iPhone 3G on July 11. That's not only because the Southern Hemisphere country is where, according to the UTC time, July 11 arrives first, but also because Vodafone decided to start selling the handset come 00:01 AM on that day.

Thus, New Zealanders who are eagerly waiting for the iPhone 3G can stay up late on the night between July 10 and July 11 and get the handset almost a day before North American users. The new iPhone will not be available starting 00:01 all across New Zealand, but only in three Vodafone stores (from Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch), the rest of the stores (nine of them) opening their doors no sooner than 09:00.

Vodafone New Zealand says the iPhone 3G stocks are "strictly limited", so a sound word of advice for those who really want the handset would be to make sure they're among the first to visit the Vodafone stores.

The prices and plans to come with the iPhone 3G have not been announced yet by Vodafone New Zealand. Still, the operator said that the 8GB version of the handset would be available, with a two-year contract, for 199 New Zealand dollars (NZD) – the equivalent of 150 USD or 96 Euros. This doesn't sound bad at all and if the V carrier also offers unlimited plans priced decently, New Zealanders might have some of the best iPhone 3G offerings in the world.

Measuring 115.5 x 62.1 x 12.3 millimeters, the iPhone 3G is only a bit bigger than the first generation one. Besides the 3G connectivity, Apple packed in the new handset other nice extra features, like GPS and access to App Store and Microsoft Exchange Mail. Unfortunately, Apple forgot to bring MMS capabilities or the video recording feature.

Anyway, the new iPhone is more than an attractive handset and users from New Zealand will surely make it one of the best-selling high-end devices from the insular country.

Labels: Iphone

---

---