The hype surrounding the launch of Apple's 3G iPhone has crashed Vodafone New Zealand's website and details released today show the new gadget might cost much more than originally thought.
The long-awaited device, version two of the initial iPhone launched in the United States a year ago, will be available in New Zealand shops at 12.01am on Friday.
Yesterday it was reported the iPhone would cost $199 on a two-year contract.
Today, Vodafone released details of the price of the two-year contract.
To get the 8GB iPhone at $199 customers must sign up for a two-year contract at $250 a month, a total cost of $6000 for two years.
At $130 a month the same phone will cost $449 and for $80 a month it will cost $549.
The 16GB iPhone will cost even more, at $349 and $250 a month, $599 at $130 a month and $699 at $80 a month.
Vodafone spokeswoman Libby Hay said there must have been "a lot" of interest for the website to go down.
She said the company was expecting so much attention but did not realise it "would all happen at the same time".
"The buzz is obviously there and we are very excited about it too."
She said the high plan price was to help "subsidise" the cost of the phone itself.
She said it was the "flip side" of having such a good phone and high data capacity.
The $250 a month plan allows for 1GB, the $130 plan 500MB and the $80 plan 250MB.
"Does everyone need 1GB? Probably not, but it's there as an option if people want to bring down the price of the phone."
Cancelling an iPhone plan will cost between $260 and $1050, depending on the plan and the length of time the phone has been held.
