As you might know, if you try and use an existing youChoose connection with iPhone, Vodafone will tell you to sign up to the iPhone-only data plans with a mandatory 24-month term. Not really surprising for a company who will start charging prepay customer $1 to call the customer care help center.

That is, even if you already have their Mobile Broadband (200Mb/1Gb) plans assigned to your account. With these “mobile broadband” plans it’s possible to pay slightly more per month, $10, to not be locked into a term.

That option isn’t available with the iPhone mobile data plans. And Vodafone will also tell you there’s no way to use your iPhone on the “mobile broadband” data plans.

They’re lying.

With that site it’s possible to configure your iPhone to use the generic mobile data APN (access point) and not the iPhone only plans. You can use the casual data rate or any other data plans you want. It’s also completely reversable and seemingly undetectable.

Vodafone do not want you to have a fully functional iPhone without signing a 24-month contract. Too bad!

Happy Hacking!

Their plans were so upsetting to Canadians who had to sit out of the iPhone launch while their brothers to the south (and west) rubbed their noses in it. The announcement spawned websites, petitions and blog posts across the internet.

It’s even rumored to have drawn the ire of Apple itself who are said to have made a power play to divert a majority of stock destined for Canada to Europe. They also have said that Canadian Apple stores will not be selling the device on launch day.

However, it seems that they have been heard by Rogers, who have decided to release a better value data portion to their plans raising the cap up to 6GB. Still not the unlimited plans that AT&T are offering but a huge improvement.

Will Apple ding Vodafone NZ for their behavior? Will Vodafone NZ listen to it’s customers? Don’t hold your breath.

I feel a bit sorry at the moment, watching Mark Rushworth squirm on Campbell Live trying to defend an indefensible position. Unfortunately, I can only hear the phrase “our plans provide great value” so often before I switch off.

For those new to the game, iPhone 3G is a new device produced by Apple. It’s a second generation product but it’s the first time that Kiwis will be able to get their hands on it fully supported by a telco. In NZ, that telco is Vodafone. The offending plans are here. A run-down on other countries far more reasonable plans are here. Sweaty geek outrage can be found here.

Obviously, Vodafone have the freedom to take their iPhone resale privilege wherever they like, although it seems that Apple did not look to kindly on providers who upset their customers over the much drooled-over device. So in this instance, if the Herald “Your Views” section is to be believed, Vodafone has used their freedom to walk off a cliff and spell the end of their business (Isn’t the crowd a fickle beast? Hard right when it suits them, socialist comrades when it’s something they want, plain frothing insanity the rest of the time).

Not quite.

This is an obvious occurrence of the “early adopter fee”, notoriously common with Apple products. In six months there will be a multitude of phones that will match the iPhone for features and ease of use. Microsoft are planning a release of their new Windows Mobile OS, Nokia will bring the goodies with their new N96 and series of other phones to build on where they left off. Of more importance, Google plan to launch Android alongside the HTC Dream. Definitely a duo to watch out for.

Also, don’t forget that Telecom will be launching it’s GSM network later this year (or was it last year?) which should stir up a little bit of competition in the 3G GSM space!

So yes, the iPhone is awesome, and it sucks that Vodafone have crippled it with their plans. But in the scheme of things, the iPhone plans are in-line (actually a little cheaper) with all of Vodafone’s other pricing in New Zealand. It’s just a shame that they don’t stack up globally.

I recommend that all those interested in a shiny smartphone, save your little pennies, make your current model go that extra couple of months and see what the future will bring. And if you do end up buying an iPhone, don’t buy it from Magnum Mac.