BrisbaneNorg

It will almost certainly be the 3G phone. AFAIK, Telstra is the only carrier with the right frequency for the current model.

I heard today that all carrier’s have the phone EXCEPT for three. Apple couldn’t release the iPhone to an exclusive carrier in Australia because of our competition rules.

I don’t think the competition rules where the sole consideration. Apple and their choosen telco could of got around it, it is illegal to force the purchaser of goods to use a third party service.  If Apple became agent of the telco, then it is not a third party. Of course there still would of be a court case to test the waters.

Another issue is unlimited  internet access, in all other countries iPhone users have unlimited  internet access in their contract (but it is only 2G) because Apple demand it (for user experience). In Oz where mobile phone data charges are high, would any of the telcos coming to the party with unlimited  internet access on 3G and risk killing a cash cow?

Also which of the telco would be willing to pay pay Apple $X a month per customer.  Especially when people are imported unlocked iphones from around the world.

Apple probably got peed off with the telcos on the last couple of issues, so the went we will fix you and let it be open and see how this works in a small market like Australia, before we try it anywhere else.