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Forums - Sony - Aussie JB HiFi refused to sell Vita 3G version

Galaki on 12 January 2012

source

Aussie retailer JB HiFi will not be selling 3G PS Vita's; cancels pre-orders

Tuesday, 10 January 2012 10:02 Tash

Bad news for those of you who had placed their 3G PS Vita pre-order with JB HiFi - the Aussie company will not be stocking the 3G versions of the handheld. The 3G version of the PS Vita comes with a Vodaphone SIM and since JB HiFi has an exclusive contract with Telstra to only sell their products, this means they cannot stock nor sell the 3G PS Vita. Looks like it's only the Wi-Fi version that can be stocked by the retailer.

Because of this exclusive deal with Telstra, JB HiFi has had to cancel any pre-orders of the 3G PS Vita, sending an email to all customers who ordered this version explaining the reason for the cancellation and that the PS Vita 3G will not be stocked at the retailer.

And how exactly do phone companies tie in to video games consoles? Seems Sony decided to partner with Vodaphone to supply their 3G services in Australia and as a result of this, the handheld will come equipped with a Vodaphone SIM. Given their exclusivity deal with Telstra to only stock and sell Telstra products - this leaves JB HiFi unable to offer the Vodaphone powered 3G PS Vita to customers.

Whilst the PS Vita does not explicity stop those purchasing the handheld from choosing another carrier for their 3G capabilities, JB HiFi has decided to err on the side of caution and not stock any 3G PS Vita's. When contacted by kotaku au for comment, a JB HiFi rep seemed confident that their decision not to stock the $100 more expensive 3G version of the Vita wouldn't "make too much of an impact."

An interesting situation for JB HiFi to be placed in. Do we have any readers affected by this decision? Let us know in the comments section below.

Source: Kotaku Au (via CVG)

Looks like the people running JB HiFi knows a thing or two about technology.

Stuffing 4G in it would actually make more sense.



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ladyumbra on 12 January 2012
spurgeonryan said:
Isn't this the second country we have heard about this happening now? They should probably just give this version a rest.

Kotaku!

 Pretty sure you're getting article details confused.

France : Lowered their initial order and shifted it to have less 3g units but is still getting them.

Australia:  One of several retailers cannot stock the 3g version becuase that vita comes with a simcard from a company that is not the one  the retailer is exclusively aligned with.



Panama on 12 January 2012

And nothing of value was lost. Honestly 3G won't sell all that much, so it's of no hindrance to JB. If anything they might be able to convince Sony to take in more Wi-Fi shipments.



hatmoza on 12 January 2012

Nobody I know who's getting the Vita wants the 3G version.



I am the black sheep     "of course I'm crazy, but that doesn't mean I'm wrong."-Robert Anton Wilson

nanarchy on 12 January 2012

Gotta ask, of all companies to partner with for 3G, why the hell would sony pick vodaphone. With all the bad press, poor Australian coverage and even lawsuits vodaphone has been facing I would have thought partnering with them would be just asking for trouble.



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ironmanDX on 12 January 2012

It'll be more the price it will sell for than anything else. It's Australia.... We pay the most or gaming anything in the world and JB obviously knows what happened with the psp here.... It went on sale for $400...... The psp had no 3g. I'm not implying that the vita will cost $500 but for a handheld, even $400 is a joke.



Cobretti2 on 12 January 2012

teaming with vodaphone is a stupid idea in Australia.

Anyway the 3G network is so crap no matter which it is gaming on it would suck. This should have been a 4G tech next generation.