iPhones - Are they just a wank?

[ST John]

I was hesitant at first to purchase an iPhone. After my missus and me both got one each for the first week I was pulling my hair out with this contraption. Sending messages made my blood boil and there were so many new things I was really confused....

But after a month or so of 'iPhone Experience' I love the bloody thing. I could not ask for a better phone. I mean, fast internet speed at my beck and call? You could not imagine how many times a quick Google Map search has helped me out.

[Grumpy John]

I've had the iPhone for 2 months now and I'm pretty happy with it. The only thing that really pees me of is the position of the mute switch. I am constantly (accidently) switching the phone to mute and because of this I miss quite a few calls. I've seriously considered putting a drop of CA on the switch to stop it accidently being moved. Does anyone else have this problem?

[Ray153]

I spend a week XC skiing out of the Bogong Rover Chalet each year and the only mobile that gets coverage up there is the iPhone.

This in itself is the most important reason to get an iPhone, as someone who has slogged it up the hill to the gate in the middle of winter on more occasions than I can recall makes me very glad to hear this.

[Clinton1]

two things I might add:

1. battery life... investigate it and make your own decision.
2. $120 Chinese copies on epay, bonus is dual sim, probably don't do all the apps, same battery life, a little slower.

[pellcorp]

I've had the iPhone for 2 months now and I'm pretty happy with it. The only thing that really pees me of is the position of the mute switch. I am constantly (accidently) switching the phone to mute and because of this I miss quite a few calls. I've seriously considered putting a drop of CA on the switch to stop it accidently being moved. Does anyone else have this problem?

You guys have me curious about the iPhone. I have been making fun of my colleagues many of whom have iPhones. I currently have a telstra phone, must be 4 years old and itching to upgrade. So whats the best plan? I like the sound of a 32gb iPhone to replace my iPod.

What provider did you go through GJ, What about Stinkalot?

Did you guys sign up to a plan or is this prepaid?

Did the phone cost a lot to buy?

How much bandwidth do you get per month for internet?

[Grumpy John]

I'm with Telstra, The iPhone cost $99 (8 gig) on a $40/mth plan. Not sure of limits I wasn't paying much attention to the salesman. Got the phone at JB. I think the 32 gig was $200 up front. HTH

[Sir Stinkalot]

What about Stinkalot?

We have two 32gb 3GS phones connected through 3. As we have been with 3 a few years we also get a loyalty credit per month which is handy.

Mine is on an older plan as it was better value to upgrade for me so I am on a $29/month plan with 1gb data (upgraded due to older plan) ...... cant remember the exact monthly cost for the handset but it did work out cheaper than the new plans when everything was considered. Call costs are lower than current plan but not by much.

The Stinkette has the newer 3 iPhone plan of $49/month + $10/month for the phone and 250mb data. For some reason reason (only known to 3) even though she was previously on the $49 version of my plan it was better for her to switch to the new iPhone plans but not me on the lower cost plan ..... perhaps as the entry level iPhone plan is now $39/month.

I would have thought that I would have used a bit of data as I often check work email via the internet when out of the office or surf the net when waiting at the airport etc but so far I haven't even put a dent into the allowance of 1gb. I think that they give me 1.125gb for some reason and after sending a quite a few work emails during the week it is still 1.08gb. The Stinkette doesn't use her 250mb as far as I can tell.

As for a replacement for the iPod it is handy to have the music on the phone but I still love the capacity of the iPod classic ..... but on short trips it saves having to pack the iPod and phone. Better than the iPod for watching video podcasts.

Everybody will have different requirements however I like the fact that it is basically a little pocket computer where I can check home and work email quicker than booting up the laptop, can easily keep track of the calendar and notes as well as access the internet. This is more important to me than using it as a phone.

[derekcohen]

I am with Vodafone as they offer about 4 times the download capacity as Telstra. Telstra have better coverage but they are very expensive when it comes to one using the internet.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[pellcorp]

Vodaphone and 3 are merging, so that might make the offers from vodaphone / 3 very interesting in the long run.

[pellcorp]

In fact vodaphone / three merged sometime ago (1 year or so ago apparently). Nothing much has changed except that 3 now roams to vodaphone and telstra networks where three coverage ends.

I am close to signing on the dotted line for a Three $49 cap (+ $5 rental) for 250mb data and a 16gb iPhone (black)

At the same time SWYMBO will be signing up for a $29 cap with phone included (has no interest in iphone or data)

We are both on a joint account at telstra at the moment and our phones are 5 and 10 years old! This is the last thing we have with telstra as our home phone is now voip over ncable.

However before i do that Sir Stinkalot has agreed to visit to confirm our coverage at our house in lara. The reason being that the edge of a Three network gap actually slices through the icon representing our house on the Three network map All I care about is that I do not roam between two different networks at home even if no data is available. So hopefully early next week,

[pellcorp]

Update on my iPhone saga

I checked the network coverage map myself on the three.com.au website and we are now smack bank in the middle of broadband without a 2g site in range!

Suffice to say I am really confused. Surely they can't have updated their maps during the day.

I am remaining pesimistic to avoid disappointment, (but inwardly hoping its true)

Edit - Map was updated yesterday, so maybe the three girl this morning was looking at old data!

Cheers
Jason

[Wongdai]

Trapster = the greatest iPhone app ever. This app alone makes iPhones worthwhile.

[rsser]

Jason, I'm right in the metro area with 3 and some days the phone signal shows near max reception and other days low signal.

Really p*sses me off when I make a call with a low signal and only when finished does the screen show the phone was roaming and Telstra's cash register has been filling.

Re low signals, I've read of guys getting a directional antenna (where their phone has a socket for one) and aiming it at the nearest tower. There's a govt website somewhere that indicates tower locations.

[pellcorp]

Really p*sses me off when I make a call with a low signal and only when finished does the screen show the phone was roaming and Telstra's cash register has been filling.

It might have been vodaphone cash register as three roams to vodaphone first as I understand it.

[rsser]

Whatever. Still Telstra in the country, and in the last year or so my unit mostly recognises the network there but refuses to connect to it.

I now use a cheap Telstra 'blue tick' phone outside of the capitals for emergency comms. Have got connection in marginal areas where those with supposedly Telstra roaming capability on their 3 phones have had nothing.