Three Vodafone New Zealand stores will open at 00:01 AM

Jul 7, 2008 13:20 GMT  ·  By

Mobile users from New Zealand will be the first ones to buy Apple's new iPhone 3G on July 11. That's not only because the Southern Hemisphere country is where, according to the UTC time, July 11 arrives first, but also because Vodafone decided to start selling the handset come 00:01 AM on that day.

Thus, New Zealanders who are eagerly waiting for the iPhone 3G can stay up late on the night between July 10 and July 11 and get the handset almost a day before North American users. The new iPhone will not be available starting 00:01 all across New Zealand, but only in three Vodafone stores (from Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch), the rest of the stores (nine of them) opening their doors no sooner than 09:00.

Vodafone New Zealand says the iPhone 3G stocks are "strictly limited", so a sound word of advice for those who really want the handset would be to make sure they're among the first to visit the Vodafone stores.

The prices and plans to come with the iPhone 3G have not been announced yet by Vodafone New Zealand. Still, the operator said that the 8GB version of the handset would be available, with a two-year contract, for 199 New Zealand dollars (NZD) - the equivalent of 150 USD or 96 Euros. This doesn't sound bad at all and if the V carrier also offers unlimited plans priced decently, New Zealanders might have some of the best iPhone 3G offerings in the world.

Measuring 115.5 x 62.1 x 12.3 millimeters, the iPhone 3G is only a bit bigger than the first generation one. Besides the 3G connectivity, Apple packed in the new handset other nice extra features, like GPS and access to App Store and Microsoft Exchange Mail. Unfortunately, Apple forgot to bring MMS capabilities or the video recording feature.

Anyway, the new iPhone is more than an attractive handset and users from New Zealand will surely make it one of the best-selling high-end devices from the insular country.