By Claire Reilly
After first unveiling the Galaxy S4 smartphone at its Unpacked launch in New York last month, Samsung has brought the phone to Australia, unveiling the device at Sydney’s Opera House last night.
The device will be available through Samsung from Saturday 27 April 2013, for an RRP of $899. The phone will also go on presale through the Samsung Experience Stores in Sydney and Melbourne from today, as well as at a pop-up experience booth that has been set up on the western forecourt of the Opera House. Importantly for Australian consumers, the phone will be compatible with Australia’s 4G LTE network.
The S4 will also be available through Samsung’s telco partners, with the brand announcing that Telstra, Vodafone, Optus and Virgin would all have access to stock from launch. Operators have already begun presales.
Current.com.au took a look at what's on offer.
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Telstra
Consumers can buy the S4 on the $80 Every Day Connect Plan with a $7 handset repayment per month (after using an included MRO Bonus). This includes $800 worth of standard national calls and MMS, unlimited text messaging to standard Australian numbers and 1.5GB of data for use in Australia. This 24-month contract has a minimum total cost of $2,088.
Business customers can buy the S4 on the $80 Business Performance Plan with a $7 handset repayment per month (after using an included MRO Bonus). This includes the same call, MMS, text and data as above on a 24 month contract, with a minimum total cost of $2,088.
The device is also available outright for $816 (from “select Telstra stores” from 27 April 2013).
Vodafone
Vodafone is offering a number of plans, with an extra 1GB of free data being offered for the first 12 months of 24-month plans above $60. The Galaxy S4 is available for $20 on the Vodafone $30 Plan (total minimum cost $1,200), for $15 on the Vodafone $40 Plan (total minimum cost $1,320), $10 on the Vodafone $50 Plan (total minimum cost $1,440), $5 on the Vodafone $60 Plan (total minimum cost $1,560) $0 on the Vodafone $80 Plan (total minimum cost $1,920) and $0 on the Vodafone $100 Plan (total minimum cost $2,400).
Preorders start today.
Optus
Consumers can get the GS4 on a number of plans ranging from $30 up to $130 (see the full Optus Galaxy S4 page for the fine print). As a guide, the $60 Optus Plan with a $7 monthly handset repayment (after $20 monthly handset credit) is a 24-month contract, minimum total cost $1,512.
Preorders start today.
Virgin Mobile
Existing Virgin customers can "re-contract" with the Galaxy S4 to receive an offer of $2 monthly handset repayments on the Big Plan $59. This 24-month contract has a minimum total cost of $1,464 and includes $700 plan credit, 3GB data, unlimited mobile calls and text Virgin-to-Virgin within Australia.
New customers can get the GS4 for $7 monthly handset repayments on the Big Plan $59. The 24-month contract has a minimum total cost of $1,584 and includes $700 plan credit, 3GB data, unlimited mobile calls and text Virgin-to-Virgin within Australia.
Orders start Saturday 27 April 2013.