Telstra doubles data on iPhone 4

TELSTRA has buckled under the pressure of competition around data plans for the iPhone 4.

TELSTRA has buckled under the intense pressure of competition around the iPhone 4, which goes on sales at midnight, and more than doubled its data allowances on some of its plans to be more competitive.

The telco was the first off the mark with its iPhone 4 plans this week but only offered 500MB per month of data on its top $99 per month plan.

Optus, which already boasts the most iPhone customers in Australia, followed shortly after with far more generous call and text caps and up to 5GB in data allowances.

Telstra this morning issued a press release stating its entry level $49 iPhone 4 cap would increase its data to 500MB - up from 200MB.

Its $79 and $99 iPhone caps went from 500MB each to 1GB each with the $129 Consumer Cap Plan rocketing from 1GB to a massive 6GB of data per month.

The iPhone 4 is officially available from midnight and mobile operators have organised glitzy parties, concerts and celebrity appearances in a bid to sign even more eager customers to two year contracts.

George St will turn into iPhone 4 party central with Telstra, Optus, Vodafone and 3 Mobile all trying to outdo each other on the busy shopping strip.

Optus will get the ball rolling with a Kelly Rowland concert at the Town Hall from 9pm.

Down the road at the T-Life store Telstra will have MasterChef judge Matt Preston along with competition winner Adam Liaw, runner-up Callum Hann and other finalists to mingle with customers waiting for the clock to strike 12.

Not to be outdone Vodafone and 3 Mobile, now part of the same company - VHA - will take customers who turn up to buy the iPhone 4 to The Ivy for free drinks.

Customers can collect a number to reserve their iPhone 4 from 10pm at the store and then enjoy Vodafone and 3's hospitality at The Ivy instead of waiting outside in the street for midnight to arrive.

Australian operators have said interest in the iPhone 4 has easily exceeded that of its predecessor the iPhone 3GS released a year ago.