I finally got through to someone at Optus (Perth store) who seems to know what's going on. 
 
All those who paid the deposit (and I presume whose deposit has not been refunded) will be contacted prior to release with details of which Optus store to go to to collect their phone. Phones will be held up until about midday for people who have paid their deposit, after which any unclaimed phones will be made available to the general public. 
 
I'm relieved to finally have an understanding of how this system is going to work. I won't feel completely comfortable, though, until I'm actually contacted with details of where my pre-ordered phone will be waiting for me.

Just went into my optus store, apparently they are only getting 5 of em... I also put a deposit in for one, and i havent been refunded yet...

I don't understand Jobs' claim that the iPhone is now cheaper. Both Optus and Voda will be charging $700 for the 16gig iPhone PLUS a contract. Or PrePaid @ 16GB iPhone 3G (Black or White)= $849 
eBay has them unlocked at this price.

Just rang my local Optus store - seems that they (probably all) stores are only getting enough units to fill pre-orders. Im guessing deposits were refunded after optus ran out of units?? makes sense

I am an existing Optus customer and my $50 deposit was refunded today. No notification as to why.

Rang local optus dealer in greensborough today and they told me as long as i have a copy of my email sent from optus when i paid my deposit, i should have no problems picking one up at 7 am...yay

When Optus enabled deposits for the iPhone, i made a mistake and put myself down as a non optus customer though i called up them a few days later to find out if its important to transfer to a current customer but they replied with 'There is no special system for the iphone apart from the deposit difference'. Since i made that $100 deposit, i yet haven't been refunded. Why has some people but not everyone?

I pre ordered mine through straithfield here in melbourne i don't think that means i can rock up at lunch time and get one. I will be lining up very early in the morning to secure mine, is anyone else planning on lining up??

The deposit wasn't actually a deposit, because they said they would transfer it back to your account 6 days or so after the launch regardless of if you purchase or not and you would still pay the full price of the iPhone on the day. Perhaps they are just starting to transfer money back to peoples accounts early, but still accepting their registration number on the day. Just a thought.. 
 
If they have canceled it all together, they should be at least be held responsible for all any interest they may have earned from our money, however I'm sure the terms and conditions we agreed to would stop any actions taken against them.

I also just discovered that my deposit has been recredited. I hope Optus has good lawyers... cause I see charges of fair trading and false advertising violations in their future...

I paid a $100 deposit a while ago, and I have yet to receive a refund or any word from Optus that they have scrapped my priority queing?  
 
So confusing. And why haven't Vodafone released their pricing plans? Aren't they obligated to 7 days before the launch? Have they changed their launch date?

I work for Optus and my store will be open at 7.00 am on Friday. Customers who have registered online get priority by bringing in their activation code which was given when a deposit was left. Most stores located in shopping centres cannot open this early because they have to follow the rules and trading hours of the centre.

Ok basically its not up to optus to order as many iphones as they want, Apple allocated 40,000 iphones for all of NSW, this includes voda.. Telstra and optus. The main yes optus store will get 2000 I assume this will also be the case for vodaphone and t-life flagship stores but individual optus world stores will only get 2-10 phones. I have bn told that if you miss out next batch comes in 3 months, u have to understand on the 11th of Jul there are 22 countries launching.. So supply will be tight

I dont really understand the importance of getting your phone 2 hours ealier than anyone else.. I think with the massive demand for this unit, optus will probably be stocking a large amount of inventory.. and if stocks were to run out, im sure it would only be a matter of a week or so to get more.. in this instance, it might pay to be patient.

Thinking of? Jump now! Jump now!

http://www.myspace.com/frequenter

interesting. i am currently an optus customer and i was just refunded $50 for my deposit. 
 
however, before finding out i was refunded my deposit, i rang up optus on Friday and spoke to customer sales regarding the iphone. 
 
i was told by the guy that the plans for the iphone was isn't out yet when in fact, it was already released thursday.  
 
Strange.  
 
If priority queuing is scrapped or Optus badly manages this situation again, I would be thinking of jumping ship to Vodafone.

Considering there are six days left until the launch, optus really needs to get themselves organised. Im really hoping that a) the deposit system hasn't been scratched, and that b) priority queuing still applies. Are they refunding the non optus customers only maybe? And allowing the optus customers who paid a deposit to have the benefits previously mentioned? Who knows. I just hope this is cleared up by monday or tuesday!