Order a 16gb, Marble White, Unlocked Galaxy S3 from Samsung via Amazon for only $799!
The Samsung Galaxy S3 is highly anticipated in Australia, however no official release date has been given yet despite pre-orders popping up in Germany, England & America.
A number of Australian providers are keenly interested in the Samsung Galaxy S3 such as Vodafone, Virgin, Optus & Telstra, with each itching to sell what could be the best selling phone of all time. Although the most concerning aspect of the Galaxy S3′s launch is whether it will have 4g compatibility within Australia at launch. This is a matter of intense discuss that is going back and forth between Samsung and Telstra, with the Australian telecommunication giant trying to get Samsung to work with them on getting the 4G LTE technology into the phones that they will stock!
Telstra’s plans / contracts for Samsung Galaxy s3
Telstra according to internal reports need up to 14 weeks prior to releasing a phone on their network to ensure that it is properly configured to run on their network, whilst officially they have announced that their Australian user base could expect to own a Samsung Galaxy S3 “in the first half of 2012″.
Unfortunately, so far there is no official date set.
Vodafone’s plans / contracts for Samsung Galaxy s3
Vodafone have no official word on whether the phone will be released on their network by a given date or if available by them at all. Although one would expect Vodafone to the best given that the are currently offering the phone for pre-order in the UK already.
Optus’s plans / contracts for Samsung Galaxy s3
Whilst nothing concrete has diverged from Australia’s second biggest mobile carrier, Optus are currently allowing keen customers to register their interest in the upcoming Galaxy S3. At this present time all that you will get from signing up is the first newsletter and possibly be one of the first to hear about any updates that Optus have around this charming little phone.
Like Telstra, Optus are also testing the Samsung Galaxy S3 internally.
Update 25th of May – No updates from any mobile phone carrier in Australia.
Update 26th of May – Vodafone of New Zealand have released pre-orders for the Samsung Galaxy S3 which can be found here.
Do you know of another mobile phone career that should stock the phone? Leave a comment below.
28 Comments
Sucks how they’re all secretive about the release date for the Galaxy S3.
I want one already.
I have been working in the telco industry for 10 years, and i can tell you this, until the purchase orders are signed and goods are in the store there is no definate date, purely speculation. If a carrier tells you differently be weary. In the past I have seen phones that have been pushed back for 3 to 6 months from the so-called release date, until its in stores either do pre-orders or wait. I love samsung products full stop,aswell as others, however regarding plans no company is going to tell you until its been openly advertised in there stores or on their website. a perfect example of this was the iPhone 4s, we were informed 4 weeks to its release that our carrier was selling it (what carrier wouldnt LOL) nothing more. Everyone presumed it would be the iPhone 5 with all this amazing stuff on it, half of which was pure speculation and not applicable. I had clients who were very pissed off they had waited months until it got released because of what they read on websites etc. My advice would be, its great to do some research on the net but please, regarding the phones spec etc, do not think this is gospel.
FARK YA MUN!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOODDLEEE
You don’t need this phone, it’s beyond what you require, guys.
Nokia phones are the best, they have scroll functionality.
Thank you Daniel for assessing the aspects of my personal life and coming to the conclusion that this phone is beyond what i require. I shall go and buy a 6310. Thanks again
LOL
I need this phone Daniel. It’s not a Nokia.
Galaxy s3 will be released with Optus second or third week of June. I just got it out of a big shot.
Can’t say I’m a fan of the new Nokia’s. To anyone who says 4G is not something you require, we don’t ‘Require’ phones at all. But 4G is by far the coolest thing to happen to customer’s since the ‘first’ smart phone.
@Daniel – You are correct in so much that for an average layman, they will never use 40% of the capabilities of the phone. I can assure you though in my industry, I would use this phone to the fullest every day.
@man – Oh really? Which big shot is this?
@kiera – I agree with you – Adopting the new Nokias is a risk due to an unstable application database. What will happen to you and your apps when Nokia goes bankrupt.
4g isn’t a gimmick, it’s a quantum leap in what a carrier can offer and will spell out huge improvements in what they can provide us.
Vodafone New Zealand are taking pre orders for the S3, with distribution promised within 1-2 days of its launch on the 31st May. Surely Australia can not be too far behind??
https://www.vodafone.co.nz/samsung-galaxy-s3/
I went to renew my Optus contract today, was interested in the GS3 and the sales guys said they were due to get them in 1-2 weeks, and to come back then.
He said definitely by 2 weeks but could not confirm how many they would get.
He also said they would probably be $0 upfront on the $60/month plan as per the HTC one X.
Chill guys.. heard of Sarcasm?
Due to renew my contract with optus at the end of June, so hoping they have them by then. Otherwise I’ll be going prepaid until they do
@Nathan – They will have it before then I would like to think.
Look for news tonight from Optus and chance to own this week
@Quiet – ? I haven’t seen anything remotely to that effect on their website or email newsletter. Source or rumour?
It looks phone will be released today afternoon or tomorrow. Got info from Crazy John and Virgin stores.
Galaxy S 3 will be in optus stores from lunchtime today! i pressured the geeks at my local store yesterday and they said they would be getting them in lunchtime May 31st! they also told me it will be free on the $30/month cap :S
Great pick up! I just found it out after you
Its also ‘in-store’ at Telstra, but not in stock, and not 4G.
$3 pm on $79 plan, $13pm on $59 plan.
Cheers, Stuart
Hi All, Why hasn’t the S3 been released with 4G – I’m, a bit disappointed? Even the S2 has been re-released with 4G. Seems like such a retro step for a new phone and Samsung’s flagship release this year. I assume it will be coming but why not from the off? Can 4G functionality be added later on S3s bought now?
When i ordered mine through Vodafone, the lady informed me that the 4G functinoality is current in the phone, but that testing was incomplete. How much truth there is to that – I don’t know.
None whatsoever. The 4G radio is displaying power issues with the quad core processors thus at this stage the two aren’t able to team up
Unfortunately half of these reps haven’t got a clue what they are talking about. Currently, as far as I know the only carrier that might be introducing the 4G version will be Telstra, but that means that the phone will not have the quad core processor in it but will be using a dual core. I think it might be a year or so along the road before we see a 4G quad core device. Hope this helps.
Thanks Shannon for the feedback. It is worth checking out further. I would love to get it now if it does but if not will wait a little while to see if a 4G version is released.
iPhone 5 will kick S3′s butt
i wonder how much it will cost after 6 months if you wanna buy it by it self not in a plan
Generally, I would reckon it would still cost around $700AUD for a new, unlocked Samsung Galaxy S3 as the pricing works as a deterrent to stop people buying phones outright.
Plans are being pushed and always will be pushed.