Australian carriers to launch iPhone 4S, but no talk on plans yet

Two local carriers have confirmed that they will offer the iPhone 4S after it launches on October 14 and analysts welcomed the new device despite Apple shares falling after the gadget was debuted.

Telstra and Optus have confirmed that they will offer the iPhone 4S but details of specific plans have yet to be revealed. VGA was contacted this morning but no reply was available prior to publication although it is believed that the telco will carry the device.

“Following this morning’s announcement we can confirm Optus will be selling the iPhone 4S in Australia. We will share further information soon,” the telco said in a statement, noting that prospective users can register their interest on the company’s website.

Telstra released a statement to The Australian saying: “We’re pleased to confirm that Telstra will be bringing iPhone 4S to our customers when it launches in Australia.”

Although the device is set to launch on October 14 carriers have their own dates set for pre-orders and will likely start offering deals within the next few days.

Those prices may be released earlier than expected because there is just over a week between now and when the iPhone 4S will launch.

Usually the wait time for Australians is a little longer and carriers are able to delay announcements about plans and deals.

Despite disappointment from investors who had expected Apple to unveil a new design for the iPhone analysts have welcomed the iPhone 4S.

Ovum chief telecoms analyst Jan Dawson wrote that Apple has fallen victim to the hype that surrounds its announcements, saying the conference was full of product news.

“With so many false rumours about what it would announce it was almost inevitable that the
announcement itself would disappoint,” Dawson wrote, pointing out that the new iPhone 4S isn’t likely to blow anyone away.

“In some ways the more interesting announcement was the continuation of the iPhone 3GS, which is now available for free on contract with many carriers and which now represents Apple’s low cost strategy for emerging markets and smart phone laggards,” Dawson wrote.

Forrester analyst Charles Golvin praised the announcements, saying the new Siri voice assistant was “a powerful harbinger of the future use of mobile devices — not just the power of voice but more importantly the ability to contextualise a statement or request”.