O2 XDA II Release Date in Sydney, Australia

[deemacgee]

Hi all,

For any Sydneysiders interested in release dates for the XDA II: Harvey Norman, David Jones and Harris Technology have all confirmed a shipment arriving on Wednesday December 10th, product instore Thursday, December 11th.

(Sorry if this information's already been posted!)

Hope this helps anyone who has so little else going on in their lives that they have to obsessively stalk small, touchscreen technologies (like me). :roll:

DMcG

[916senna]

Thats the same time frame as Ive beeen quoted in Melbourne.
Did they mention any prices, Ive been quoted 1599 with a 128 SD card and 1467 without.

Jon

[Rb26DETTGT_R]

Geez, I hope that that will be similar for Melbourne. I had a P800, and lost it in Bourke st. waiting for a tram. My insurance has been approved, so I am just waiting for Optus to get the XDAII so I can pay the difference. I have called them numerous times, and they don't have any idea when it will be out, they say maybe end of december, early Jan?!!? You can really tell they don't have a clue. They better hurry up and get it before I go to Queensland on the 23rd!! :roll: :roll:

[Rb26DETTGT_R]

916senna: Just for your info. , Calculator King in south Melbourne has had the imate-ppc since last Thursday. I called them up this morning as I saw it on their website.

Now the question is: how long will it take Optus to have them available?????????

[916senna]

Thanks GTR,
Organiser world has had the Imate for about the same time. But I think (Not sure) they are sim locked to vodaphone, whereas the O2 ones are for Optus and Telstra.
Telstra told me they will have them on the 12th and I dont see why Optus would be different, You just need to find someone in Optus who knows what there talking about.........good luck!

Cheers
Jon
PS Do you have a GTR?

[Rb26DETTGT_R]

Who did you speak to regarding the Telstra release? I called and the only release they are expecting is some time in January, according to their product testing update.

Also, no I dont have a GTR. I used to have a R33 gts-t, but I havent changed my nick in aages. Back then, I used to blow over GTR's, hehe.

[916senna]

Telstra shop in Queen St City.
Spoke to a girl named Mia.

But to be honest I'm not sure if shes got a clue. Tried to sell me a Bluespoon digital at what she called retail price. Except it was about $50 more than the published retail for the bluespoon. I specifically asked for a price on an XDA2 and she gave me the price for the XDA. (That when she checked and said the XDA2 would be in on the 12th.)

Cheers

Jon

[Rb26DETTGT_R]

I gave them a call, and they also said the 12th. The guy there reckons that that is when their stockist will have it, and it could be another month until they get it at their store. ?Q!!?!?!?

I called another Telstra store, and she is getting back to me (said she would call the stockist directly, then get back to me). I missed her reply, so now its a cat and mouse game of getting back to each other.....

[deemacgee]

916senna - Harvey Norman has quoted $1557 at me, and that's with no bonus bits.

I've been on their back about the XDAII since last Wednesday. First the shipment was delayed... then it was delayed again... then they didn't know what was happening:

"Duh, it's not here. I dunno where it is."

(Yeah... that helps me).

So on Tuesday I emailed TechPacific about shipment arrival and delivery, and was told they started shipping to stores on Friday. Called back Harvey Norman (in a minor fit of rage) and spat this information at the attendant.

They: "Uuuh... it usually takes two or three days for stuff to get to our stores..."

I: *growl*

They: "...and everyone's been asking about them..."

I: *growl* "Then you should really know more about them, shouldn't you?" *growl* *teeth clench, one cracks*

They: "...hello? Are you there? I'm getting static... *pause* That's better. We can put your name down and reserve a unit for you, if you like."

I: "That-would-be-lovely-thank-you."

So now, my name is allegedly on a waiting list, to be called when the XDAII arrives.

It's now Thursday, mind you, and I've heard nothing. Soooooooo, I'm going to call David Jones and see if they've got the XDA II. If they do, I'm going to call back Harvey Norman and see what's going on. If they have them and didn't call me, then they've just lost themselves a customer. $1557 will go to someone else without hesitation, I've had it with incompetent retail staff. It's not that hard a job.

DMcG

[Rb26DETTGT_R]

I know now that its at Telstra stores (the one in Highpoing shopping centre anyway), they called me and said they now have it in stock for $1599!.

Just waiting for Optus stores to get it now, so that my insurance can organise for me to get one as a replacement for my P800 (paying the difference in market value of course)

[deemacgee]

Not more than an hour after writing my last post, Harvey Norman called me. "Your phone's here... come get it..."

*sigh* That huge spike in blood pressure for nothing.

Anyway, I'm now the ridiculously proud owner of an XDA II and a Logitech Mobile Bluetooth Headset. So far, so good...

No word on the XDA II backpack yet... they seemed quite offended when I asked after it. "What, isn't this enough?!?!"

[Rb26DETTGT_R]

Who is this tech pacific? Are they the Australian distributors or something?

If so, do they distribute for Optus? I have no idea, and you probably wont either. Im haaaaaaaaaaaanging for my XDAII from Optus.

[deemacgee]

TechPacific are the Australian distributors for a lot of techy-nerd products.

You can try contacting them, they were really quite civil with me - replied within the hour.

http://www.techpacholdings.com.sg/Contacts/contacts__tech_pacific_australia.html

Hope this helps you.

[Andrew - Sydney Australia]

Would anyone like to take a guess as to what sort of pricing Optus will release the XDA II on contract? My contact expires in March 04 but they normally let me upgrade a month or so earlier...

[Rb26DETTGT_R]

No Idea. Id be gessing it will be similar to telstras pricing. In Melbourne, Telstra had it for $1,599, and in Queensland at Pacific Fair, they had it for $1,349!!!!! whats going on there? Anyways, I dont care about others, just Optus. I have been waiting for sooooooooo long for them to get it, so I can get it as my insurance replacement. They seem to be the only ones who dont have it yet. Apparently, Optus finished their network tests a few days before christmas (according to a guy named Owen as Pacific Tech). Optus stores, let alone insurance department however, dont even have a listing, or a price. They keep saying now early january, mid january.

This is making me insane :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

[Andrew - Sydney Australia]

Notebook.com.au have the XDA2 for $1305 which seems to be the best price going around in Australia.

http://www.notebook.com.au/ProductDetails.aspx?item_id=3XDA0002

But I am still faithfully waiting for Optus (Damm you Optus!) to bring out the XDA2 on a plan. I am happy to stay on contract with Optus and hopefully they can beat that price with the contract.

[Rb26DETTGT_R]

Bugger Optus, I was waiting for too long. They had been saying for soooooo long they were getting it, and never do. Apparently, they are having problems testing on the network. (I was told by Pacific Tech, their distributor and tech staff at optus). I was waiting as I had put in a claim for my P800, and got market value for it for $1239. I thought I would wait for Optus to get it, pay the difference, sweet. Instead, I kicked up a fuss about how log I was waiting, and I got a cash settlement instead :)) happy me!!!!

Telstra store in Port Melbourne did the O2 XDAII for me for $1230 cash, I was VERY happy. Im on Optus, no problems at all. I think what they are waiting for is to set up that Optus ZooTV to be compatible with the XDAII first, before they release it. (Told by Danielle in Insurance). This is because, I was told, the XDAII doesnt have some type of browser compatibility with Zoo TV. Once thats cleared up, they seem to think 2 weeks from last Friday, it should be available to stores to buy.

[Andrew - Sydney Australia]

Without actually looking to closely at it that Zoo Tv looks pretty crappy. Well I plan to give it about a month (by then my contract should expire). There seems to be heaps of places that are now selling the XDA II and I-mate but I want the XDA II. The prices are continually dropping so it might even be a $100 cheaper in a month or so. Will wait for Optus to release it but if they don't I'll consider buying it outright somewhere else, then getting another phone on contract from Optus and selling the handset to try to make up the difference.

Andrew.

[acurtis007]

G'day All,

http://estore.pressd.com have the imates at $1299 and the iMate SmartPhones at $790 (in stock).

Cheers
Andy

[Andrew - Sydney Australia]

Sorry to bang this thread again but does anyone know if Optus (Australia) is ever going to release the XDAII? I was at an Optus World Shop last week and the sales person had no idea.

Andrew.

[madbart]

G'day All,

http://estore.pressd.com have the imates at $1299 and the iMate SmartPhones at $790 (in stock).

Cheers
Andy

I found a company that will beat both these prices. Delivery anywhere in Australia. Emerging IT in Port Melbourne. Ask for Gerald. 1300 133 966 $1289 for the XDA II & Smartphones @ $775.00. Cheap SD cards as well.

[Andrew - Sydney Australia]

Of course you can get em on eBay even cheaper....
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3084469401&category=1503 @ $1265 including delivery. But when are the buggers at Optus getting it?

[Kev_in_oz]

I work for Optus (not in Mobile though), and they can't tell me when they'll get it. I ended up buying mine outright from a retail store. They're $1249 now in Sydney.

[Andrew - Sydney Australia]

Kev, out of interest what store did you buy your XDA II at?
It's a shame that Optus don't seem to be supporting this great phone/pda I am sure there are other Optus customers like me that are dissapointed that Optus aren't selling the XDA II. :cry:

[Kev_in_oz]

Andrew - I agree. It's funny though, that the Group Leader for IP service assurance was given an XDA II in December, to "test" the network compatibility. He loved it, but still no plans to roll it out. Apparently someone needs to convince some purchasing officer somewhere (and I've got no idea who it is :? )

I bought my original at Harris Technologies in December.
http://www.ht.com.au
I'm buying a new one (for my wife) tommorow at a local computer store
http://www.cx.com.au

[Andrew - Sydney Australia]

I rang Optus World yesterday and stated that the XDA II website
( http://www.myxda.com/XdaII/personal/template/WhereToBuy.vm ) actually listed them as selling the phone. I was put on hold and told that ....Yes they (Optus) were selling the phone. I was quoted $700 up front on a $99 plan (i am presuming 2yrs contract), or $1360 outright. I was told that someone from Optus would ring me back today as they would have to order it in but this could be done in a few days. No one has rung me back as of yet. I can't get my head around why Optus are going to great lengths not to sell this great phone.

[Kev_in_oz]

After working with them for 2 years, I've come to discover that Optus, like all huge corporations has it's share of good staff, and bad staff, and it's pot luck to have the good staff in the right places.... They guy/gal who thought of YES time... Good staff+Right place=Product implimented. The guy who chooses the Mobile phone stocks... Maybe I shouldn't be saying, but XDA II's aren't in the Optus world stores yet.

[Andrew - Sydney Australia]

Got the XDA II at Burwood Optus World this month. They ordered it in for me as they don't stock it. (eh!) but it only took a few days. At $729 upfront on the $99 plan it's no bargain but still very happy with the purchase.

[Kev_in_oz]

Contrats, Optus Finally got it in for you. Look out for those backpacks though (if you ever want to use the compact flash port, and extra battery life)... my second one died on me, but I haven't been bothered to send it for warranty repair yet.

[Andrew - Sydney Australia]

The only thing that ticks me off is that how can O2 make such a good product the XDAII and supply it with the worst headphones ever. They just fall out of my ears like the originals did. Who's ears do these headphones fit?

[Minidisc]

Optus has been rather slow with the XDA II, I ordered a set in early April and received it during May. $849 on a $55 Optimiser plan, split over 24 months of handset repayments.

Amongst the mobile providers, it actually makes quite a lot of financial sense to purchase an XDA II with Optus, it's more costly to buy an iMate at Telstra, or the XDA II at Vodafone. I think with Telstra, an iMate costs over $1000 with a minimum of a $150 plan, unless you purchase it outright.

With Optus, I appreciated the flexible Safeguard insurance plan for replacements in case of accidents like damage, theft or loss. Especially when the XDA II is quite expensive to replace, I don't think I would like to fork out $1200-$1300 to buy a new set if I should drop it on the floor, "touch wood".

Also, with the possibility of rollback (3 to 9 months reduction), both the contract length and number of repayments could be substantially reduced depending on my usage variations.

All in all, a very happy experience so far. :D