Aggressive pricing sets iPhone stage
Although widely anticipated, the new version of the phone offers a few key features likely to entice more business users to adopt it.
First, there’s the ability to use Microsoft’s ActiveSync technology to seamlessly let you keep your phone and desktop information synchronised. The device will also allow you to hook up your corporate email server in a similar way to that currently used by BlackBerry – as long as you’re using Microsoft Exchange.
However, the biggest news comes in the pricing department. While Vodacom – which has the exclusive rights to the phone in SA – has yet to reveal any details with regard to its launch here, Apple CEO Steve Jobs said the maximum price of the entry level version would be US$199. That would price it at around R1 600 in SA.
While normal Apple prices don’t include local sales tax, the announcement by British network O2 that it would sell the phone for £99 (R1 539) on its lowest level contract would indicate SA consumers probably won’t have to pay more than R1 600 for the phone on a contract. That price seems to be inclusive of VAT in Britain and it’s hoped Vodacom will follow the same route here.
When compared to the BlackBerry offerings Vodacom already has – the closest in functionality to the iPhone in the Vodacom stable – it’s possible that even on the lowest contract new subscribers might get a free phone.
The initial list of 22 countries receiving the iPhone doesn’t include SA but Apple has committed to launching in the remaining 70 countries by year-end 2008.
Finweek
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