iPhone – one day to go: Which plan should you choose?

So who has the best value for money iPhone deal? Here is SmartCompany’s pocket guide to Telstra, Optus and Vodafone’s iPhone offerings.

Each of the three Australian iPhone providers have now given customers a glimpse into their 3G iPhone pricing options in the lead up to launch day tomorrow.

Vodafone today joined Telstra and Optus in revealing the post-paid plans it will offer – but no pre-paid option yet – to potential iPhone customers.

Vodafone has now confirmed its iPhone prices, and a lucky few got a quick advance look when they were inadvertently posted on the company’s website between 9am and 11am yesterday. They have since been taken down.

Vodafone’s cheapest offering is a $69 per month plan that comes with talk time and SMS worth $310 and 250MB worth of downloads. An up-front payment of $189 for the 8GB and $309 for the 16GB iPhone, or $7.88/$12.88 per month, is also required.

The top of the range, $169 per month option, comes with $1200 worth of phone calls and SMS, a 1GB data allowance and $0 upfront for the 8GB or $3.71 per month for the 16GB model.

So who has the best value for money iPhone deal? Here is SmartCompany’s pocket guide to Telstra, Optus and Vodafone’s iPhone offerings.

Telstra

• Cheapest plan: $30 per month with an upfront cost of $279 for the 8GB model and $399 for the 16GB model. No information available on talk time or data allowances.
• Top-end plan: No information available.
• Price to get an iPhone with no up-front payment: Customers will receive the 8GB iPhone 3G model at no cost with the $80 plan and either the 8GB or the 16GB model at no cost with plans starting at $100 per month.
• Pre-paid: Yet to be confirmed, but unlikely to be available.

Optus

• Cheapest plan: $19 per month plan with $14 of calls and SMS and 100MB download data. Monthly payment of $19 for the 8GB or $24 for the 16GB iPhone over 16 months.
• Top-end plan: $179 monthly cap plan includes $1500 of calls and SMS and 1GB data allowances. No handset cost for 8GB or 16GB with 24 month plan.
• Price to get an iPhone with no up-front payment: An 8GB iPhone can be had for $0 with a $79 cap or no-cap plan that runs over 24 months.
• Pre-paid: Yes. $729 cash up-front will buy you a pre-paid 8GB iPhone, lifting to $849 for the 16GB model. Comes with $400 in calls and 1GB internet browsing.

Vodafone

• Cheapest plan: $69 per month plan with $310 worth of calls and text and 250MB data allowance. Handset costs either $189 for the 8GB or $309 for the 16GB, or $7.88/$12.88 per month over 24 months.
• Top-end plan: 24 month, $169 per month cap contract includes $1200 worth of phone calls and SMS, a 1GB data allowance and $0 upfront for the 8GB or $3.71 per month for the 16GB model.
• Price to get an iPhone with no up-front payment: 8GB iPhone comes free with $169 cap contract over 24 months.
• Pre-paid: Not offered.

Read more on the Apple iPhone.