From
http://www.theage.com.au/national/te...0630-2zbl.html

The Telstra-iPhone saga is finally over, with both companies confirming the
highly sought after phone will be sold by Telstra within a fortnight.

The issue of whether Australia's biggest telco would be excluded from
selling the new 3G version of the iPhone had been raised many times over the
past three weeks, because No.2 telco Optus and No.3 Vodafone both confirmed
they would have it.

But Telstra today confirmed it would begin selling the phone from July 11,
as will Optus and Vodafone.

"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," David
Moffatt, Telstra's consumer group managing director, said in a statement.

Telstra's apparent inability to reach agreement with Apple over the iPhone
rights was surprising - but also likely to be temporary - because the iPhone
uses the 850-megahertz band used by Telstra's Next G network.

While all four mobile carriers - 3 Mobile is the fourth - operate 2100MHz 3G
networks, these are predominantly located in metropolitan areas, whereas
Telstra's 850MHz network reaches 99% of the population.

Optus and Vodafone are both expanding their 3G networks but both are doing
so using the 900MHz spectrum for outlying areas - incompatible with the new
iPhone.

Telstra's announcement leaves 3 Mobile as the only operator without rights
to sell the iPhone, although the company has resorted to people power -
getting its customers to sign a petition - in an attempt to get Apple to
allow it to sell iPhones as well.