Etisalat has announced a significant reduction of up to 22 per cent from the initial prices on the two models of iPhone 3G packages for both Wasel and postpaid subscribers.

The new rates will become effective from Tuesday, according to a statement from Etisalat.

As per the new price plans for Wasel Package, the iPhone 3G 8GB device will be available in black colour for Dh2,680 ($730), while the 16GB device will be available in both white and black colours for Dh3,055 ($832) without any additional monthly fee.

Etisalat is also offering a free 250 MB monthly data package for six months and one free Wasel SIM Card with every device, providing lucrative return benefit of over Dh2,000, effectively bringing down the device cost to a little over Dh600.

Customers can choose to activate their subscription on their current SIM or on the new SIM, being offered free by Etisalat.

Customers keen on upgrading the free data package of 250 MB can subscribe to any of the current Etisalat data packages, and the free bandwidth (250 MB /per month) will be added to their selected package automatically, the statement added.

For postpaid packages, customers can choose from 4 convenient iPhone plans ranging from zero upfront cost to Dh2205 for 8GB and from Dh375 to Dh2575 for 16GB device, respectively.

Both the 8GB and 16 GB devices are available as a bundle package which includes the device, data, voice and SMS. Customer will be charged on their postpaid line monthly rental of Dh20. This Applies for Plan 4 only, the statement said.

iPhone 3G combines three products integrated in a single device — a revolutionary phone, a widescreen iPod, and a breakthrough Internet device with rich HTML email and a desktop-class web browser.

iPhone 3G gives users fast access to the Internet and email over their mobile network with quad-band GSM and tri-band HSDPA for voice and data connectivity around the world, it said.

 iPhone 3G supports Wi-Fi, 3G and EDGE networks and automatically switches between them to ensure the fastest possible download speeds.

The new iPhone 3G also makes it easier to multi-task with simultaneous voice and data communications, so with iPhone 3G you can browse the web, get map directions, or check your email while you are on a call.

iPhone 3G includes the new App Store, providing iPhone users with native applications in a variety of categories including games, business, news, sports, health, reference and travel.

The App Store on iPhone works over Wi-Fi and customers can download applications wirelessly and start using them instantly. Some of these applications are free and the App Store notifies customers of the application updates.

Apple recently announced that the iPhone OS 3.0 version will be made available to the current and new customers this summer.

The new software will include over 100 new features like cut, copy and paste the texts; MMS; message forwarding, search function and new language tools. Etisalat customers will be able to upgrade their software to OS 3.0 for free, the statement added.-TradeArabia News Service