I used to feel special. . . no privileged . . . superior even. Walking down streets in Sydney chatting on my iPhone and enjoying the odd looks I got from those parsers by noticing my shiny iPhone. But nowdays I am starting to see iPhones everywhere I look, in fact some bastard had his on in Clovefield!!!

So, now I am really interested in the ongoing debate in regards to the number of unlocked iPhones out in the wild. It goes without saying that every phone I see in Aus is part of that number. Apples insistence on holding out supplying iPhones to the Australian market seems now to only be hurting their potential launch figurers rather than helping.

I could sit here and write a detailed coverage on this issue, but this has already been expertly done by many proper journalists out there. So rather than taking it from me, follow the story in the links below and jump into the comments with your thoughts.

•  News.com.au
• BBC News
• Reuters
• ZDNet

Looks like Australia is not the only country missing out on the iPhone. It has been well publicised  that Apple had been in close talks with a China Mobile to take the phones into Asia. Today it was announced that those talks have failed.

It is not like this was unexpected though. Reuters noted a while back:

“Analysts had expected talks to fail at least initially, predicting that both parties would eventually lock horns over revenue sharing and a plethora of technical difficulties. Experts said last year that the iPhone would have to navigate a spate of technical, content and fee issues unique to China, including a standard revenue-sharing agreement that China Mobile would be sure to dislike, before any launch could proceed.”

At least China can always depend on the cheap iPhone knock-offs that CECT manufacture. (yes, sadly the image on the right is a real photo of the CECT el-cheapo)

Ok, so your desperate to get your dirty paws all over the hottest new gadget, the iPhone. Well we here at iPhone Australian Edition care for you so much, we have put a list together to help you import.

1 - Go to the US, or have a relative/freind send you it. Slightly expensive if you haven’t got a holiday planned, but if you are going, why not buy one. Or if you know someone overthere, ask them if they will pop into their local apple store and pick one up for you. Cost= iPhone ($400 US + local tax) + Postage (about $40 Us i think, only if you’re having someone send it over), Total= $440 US + US local tax (about $515 AU)

2 - Mac-Pro.com. An american site, will post to Australia. Cost= iPhone ($490 US) + P&P ($40 US), Total= $530 US ($620 AU)

3 - eBay, .com or .com.au (.com.au recommended). Prices Vary from about $650+, dont get to ripped off, however much you want one.

So in conclusion, option 1 is the best, but not easy for most, then option 2 or 3, I cannot gaurantee that Mac-Pro.com is a good site, so it is really up to you. Post your experiences or where you bought yours from below.

Been searching around and found a site that imports iPhones (a loads more) to good old Aussie Land. It’s a pretty expensive deal though at about $680AU (4G) and $790AU(8G). If any of you do, remember to contact iPhoneae with all the goss on apple’s new god-like gadget. Of course there is still good old eBay to help you out.

international-orders.com