The new Apple iPhone goes on sale at midnight on Friday morning and the excitement amongst geeks is starting to wear off on regular phone users.

The iPhone is not just a clever branding exercise or a single technolgical change.

This phone was the first to seamlessly integrate three devices in one - a phone, an MP3 player and an organiser.

Australia is only now feeling the excitement that swept North America 18 months ago.

What we are now seeing is the second generation iPhone, featuring faster internet browsing and email you can read on the go.

The phone will be available on the Telstra, Optus and Vodafone networks, but that’s where the simplicity ends. 

There are dozens of different plans people can sign up for, including 20 from Optus alone! And with a baffling new technology come tricky new ways to make money off unsuspecting consumers...

Here are our recommendations for the best prepaid and contract plans:

IPHONE 24 MONTH CONTRACT

Telstra $30/month

$279 for iPhone 8GB

$399 for iPhone 16GB

IPHONE 24 MONTH CONTRACT

Vodafone $69/month

$189 for iPhone 8GB

$309 for iPhone 16GB

IPHONE 24 MONTH CONTRACT

Optus $59/month

$48 for iPhone 8GB

$168 for iPhone 16GB

IPHONE PREPAID

Optus $50

$729 for iPhone 8GB

$849 iPhone 16GB

The finer details - each carrier has their own way of getting more money out of iPhone buyers. Here's how...

The best prepaid deal:

1. Optus $50 - gives you $370 of value and 500MB of data a month - however call charges are calculated per minute. The phone costs $729 upfront for the 8GB version or $849 upfront for the 16GB version.
2. Vodafone will offer prepaid plans in the future but Telstra isn't offering any prepaid plans with the iPhone.

The best contract deals:

1. Optus - $59 a month over 24 months + $2 a month repayment for the 8GB iPhone or $7 a month repayment for the 16GB iPhone
2. Telstra - $30 a month over 24 months + $279 up front for the 8GB iPhone or $399 for the 16GB iPhone.
3. Vodafone - $69 cap over 24 months + $189 up front for the 8GB iPhone or $309 for the 16GB iPhone or $7.88 monthly repayments for the 8GB iPhone or $12.88 monthly repayments for the 16GB iPhone.

For more info and a full review, go to Pete’s Gadgets | Gadget Guy website

	ALL LOCKED UP
	Optus is the only carrier, which allows you to “unlock” an iPhone for $80. This should mean it would work on 3's network, (not otherwise available).

The main features of the iPhone include:

• A phone with SMS
• An iPod with ability to play videos and music
• An internet browser
• An email and calendar program
• GPS built in with Google Maps

Apple is also launching an online App Store, which will offer software programs for the iPhone, including some that are free and others costing around $10.

iPhone will now also be able to access “push email”, sending email and calendar information wirelessly to the phone like with Blackberries.

Criticisms
Only a 2 megapixel camera, with no video (standard on other 3G phones)

There’s also no flash or zoom.

There is no ability to “copy and paste” text, which is a standard function in most other phones and computer software.

You can’t insert additional memory cards

The iPhone will go on sale in 22 countries from Friday.

More info

Vodafone iPhone prices
Optus prices
Telstra prices

Apple website

Related Links

Full Yahoo!7 NEWS coverage

Apple iPhone 3G makes international debut Friday – Yahoo!7 NEWS