Telstra is the last Australian mobile carrier to announce the upcoming launch of Apple's new iPhone 3G in Australia, after Optus and Vodafone have already presented their 3G iPhonesque plans.

While both Optus and Vodafone announced the iPhone 3G since June 9, Telstra got official with Apple's new handset no earlier than today, also unveiling the fact that it would offer it starting the same date as the other two operators: July 11. Moreover, Telstra also made public the prices it will come with.

The iPhone 3G will run on Telstra's Next G network, sold only with a contract agreement for at least two years. The 8GB iPhone 3G will be available for free with an $80-per-month contract, or for $279 with a $30-per-month contract. The 16GB version can also come for free, but only for those who want to pay $100 per month, or for $399 with a monthly fee of $30. All prices are in Australian dollars and all the mentioned plans feature free Wi-Fi access.

Talking about the release of Apple's new handset, David Moffatt, Telstra's consumer group managing director, said: "Australians are very excited about iPhone 3G and we're delighted to bring this product to them on Telstra's high-speed Next G network. With iPhone 3G on the country's largest and fastest 3G network, providing coverage to 99 percent of the population, more Australians will enjoy the iPhone 3G experience in even more places."

Tim Cook, Apple's COO, added: "We're thrilled to work with Telstra to bring iPhone 3G to Australia's largest 3G network. iPhone 3G is an amazing product and we think Telstra's over 9 million mobile customers will love it as much as we do." Well, I wouldn't count on all the 9 million customers, but Mr. Cook can still dream, right?

The bottom line is that Australia, which didn't have the chance to get the first-generation iPhone, will be the only country to have the iPhone 3G from three different carriers, starting the very first day the handset becomes globally available (July 11).