iPhone 4S contract pricing emerges

Indicative prices for Vodacom’s iPhone 4S contracts have started to emerge as users that register to receive the device on launch day report what contract values they are being pre-approved for.

According to these reports, Vodacom subscribers can expect the following iPhone 4S contract prices:

• Weekender Everyday+: R399
• Talk 120: R499
• Talk 240: R545
• Talk 500: R799

Asked to confirm whether these contracts would be on offer in-store on launch day, Vodacom’s head of corporate communications, Nomsa Thusi, said that they have not officially released any pricing information yet.

This sentiment was echoed by MTN’s head of communications, Bridget Bhengu, who explained that they couldn’t comment on pricing until the iPhone 4S is launched on 16 December 2011.

It is understood that Apple is quite strict about the release of information prior to a launch and it is likely that approval to reveal the contract prices will only be given much closer to the local launch of the iPhone 4S.

Availability at launch

A number of subscribers that have used Vodacom and MTN’s “pre-registration” form have expressed concern at not being contacted, as well as stores telling them that they would only have stock of the iPhone 4S in January 2012.

Thusi said that Vodacom has tried to contact all customers who have pre-registered for a new contract and has seen a 70% success rate so far.

“We are still continuing with our efforts to contact those customers that we have not been able to reach,” Thusi said.

Thusi added that users that haven’t registered will be able to buy the iPhone 4S from Vodacom World and other participating Vodacom outlets on Friday (16 December), but they will be treated on a first come first serve basis.

MTN will also have stock of the iPhone 4S at selected outlets on Friday, said Bhengu.