Australian Operator Petitons to Be Able to Sell the iPhone

After being spurned by Apple for the 3G iPhone launch in Australia, Hutchison 3G (3) has decided to set up a public petition which it hopes will persuade Apple to change it's mind. The operator has set up a page on their website which they want their customers to sign.

Apple has signed an agreement to offer the handset via Optus and Vodafone - and there have been reports that Telstra is also trying to secure the handset.

Noel Hamill, director of sales at 3 told reporters that "we've engaged Apple to get the 3G iPhone but at this stage we haven't been able to range it, so I don't know if we're going to be able to range it,"

While the website certainly attracts attention - it could backfire as it also strongly reminds people that 3 doesn't have the iPhone handset in its range.

According to estimates from the Mobile World, the operator ended Q1 '08 with just under 1.7 million subscribers - which represents a market share of 7.6%. In comparesson, Vodafone and Optus combined have a total of 11.2 million subscribers.

On the web: www.three.com.au/iphone - Mobile World

Posted to the site on 26th June 2008