New UK Launch Details

[Johnpartridge]

Hello all, Just thought id report back on what I was told today.

I visited an o2 Store in the midlands, to enquire about the UK launch, and if there would be accessories available to purchase on launch.

I ended up speaking to a very plesant and helpfull young man, who spent around 15minutes calmly discussing the iPhone and O2 partnership.

Here are the facts that he told me,

1, There was an O2 conference yesterday to discuss O2's operations plan for the iPhone 3G launch in the Uk, they really want It to be a very successful and painless launch.

2, The main point he told me was this, From July 1st All O2 stores in the UK will offer pre registration Credit checks, You can come in store, have your contract setup for you, and a unique registration code given to you. The contract will simply be "paused" and wont be activated. No details are taken about which model phone you are going to be purchasing.

You can then turn up on July 11th and quote the registration code and then make a standard purchase of the phone and then the contract will become activated.

*addition* He also made it clear that, NO iPhones will be leaving any O2 store without a Credit check and Contract being signed for, this point was raised strongly by Apple this year to O2, they want to really crack down on Unlocking in the UK, and to stop the UK being a hub for distribution of Unlocked iPhone 3G's.

3, The opening times are still not fixed, but the time proposed at the conference was 7am July 11th 2008.

4, Each O2 store will receive ready for launch day, 5000 iPhone units. (same amount as the original iPhone launch)

5, Apple Retail stores will only be selling the Pay as You Go Tariffs in Store.

6, And Finally Not quite sure what he meant by this but, O2 have spent alot of time and money, sending messages and marketing to other network providers such as Orange, Tmobile and 3, with regards to the iPhone launch on 11th July.

Thank you for Reading.

[FarSeide]

Hello all, Just thought id report back on what I was told today.

I visited an o2 Store in the midlands, to enquire about the UK launch, and if there would be accessories available to purchase on launch.

I ended up speaking to a very plesant and helpfull young man, who spent around 15minutes calmly discussing the iPhone and O2 partnership.

Here are the facts that he told me,

1, There was an O2 conference yesterday to discuss O2's operations plan for the iPhone 3G launch in the Uk, they really want It to be a very successful and painless launch.

2, The main point he told me was this, From July 1st All O2 stores in the UK will offer pre registration Credit checks, You can come in store, have your contract setup for you, and a unique registration code given to you. The contract will simply be "paused" and wont be activated. No details are taken about which model phone you are going to be purchasing.

You can then turn up on July 11th and quote the registration code and then make a standard purchase of the phone and then the contract will become activated.

3, The opening times are still not fixed, but the time proposed at the conference was 7am July 11th 2008.

4, Each O2 store will receive ready for launch day, 5000 iPhone units. (same amount as the original iPhone launch)

5, Apple Retail stores will only be selling the Pay as You Go Tariffs in Store.

6, And Finally Not quite sure what he meant by this but, O2 have spent alot of time and money, sending messages and marketing to other network providers such as Orange, Tmobile and 3, with regards to the iPhone launch on 11th July.

Thank you for Reading.

I could actually see this happening here in the US as well. Pre-registration will definitely resolve some of the paperwork issues you will see on iDay.

[JBaker122586]

6, And Finally Not quite sure what he meant by this but, O2 have spent alot of time and money, sending messages and marketing to other network providers such as Orange, Tmobile and 3, with regards to the iPhone launch on 11th July.


I'm sure he meant to subscribers of those networks, trying to get them to switch for the iPhone.

[Reiger]

It would be nice, if other carriers al over the world would follow this routine. However, for instance T-Mobile in the Netherlands will only release the details of the three iPhone plans (which will have some sort of combination of voice, sms and data) on the 3rd of July. So I guess no pre-registration in the Netherlands :(

[mattpreston11]

thank you very much for your post, very informative

interesting about the pre sdigning up thing, that sounds good, then i can go in and out on july 11th.

7am though, thats a touch early but better than waiting till 6 i suppose.
cheers again


now all we are waiting for ia the pay and go price i suppose.

[bigcol1983]

did he say anything about existing non-iphone 02 customers?

[Johnpartridge]

thank you very much for your post, very informative

interesting about the pre sdigning up thing, that sounds good, then i can go in and out on july 11th.

7am though, thats a touch early but better than waiting till 6 i suppose.
cheers again


now all we are waiting for ia the pay and go price i suppose.

Thank you, gave me alot to think about on my way home from work, Do remember that the release time hasn't been decided yet. They are trying to find a time where all O2 stores can open simultaneously, and some shopping centres wont allow 7am openings for example, so there having difficulty, but the store I spoke to, was convinced it would be a 7am launch.

Cheers

[Johnpartridge]

did he say anything about existing non-iphone 02 customers?

He didn't sadly no, Im not a current O2 user so it wasn't on my mind to ask him, though i'm sure O2 will come up with a plan to streamline the transition quickly and speed up the transaction time on July 11th. (there expecting big queues)

Cheers

[bigcol1983]

great info cheers, just wish i could fast forward 19days lol

[mattpreston11]

great info cheers, just wish i could fast forward 19days lol


21..

[bigcol1983]

ah yeh, its late lol

[sneeks]

I have serious doubts that each store will receive 5000 iPhone units each but the pre registration sounds likely. O2 hinted as much when they said they would contact us at the beginning of July.

[MacScho]

awesome post, really hope point 2 is true.

[Johnpartridge]

I have serious doubts that each store will receive 5000 iPhone units each but the pre registration sounds likely. O2 hinted as much when they said they would contact us at the beginning of July.

I did question the 5000 iPhones to him when he said to me, "what your going to sell all those on launch day!?" He laughed and replied saying that they got one shipment of 5000 on launch day last time, and that lasted them till about a month ago. (all remaining stock was cleared during the price drop a few months ago)

Cheers

[redgaz26]

I take it doesn't have to be the same o2 shop to register and then buy?
I'm down south on the 11th but would register in Glasgow???????


and does this include iphone 1 owners like myself and many others on here????

[Johnpartridge]

I take it doesn't have to be the same o2 shop to register and then buy?
I'm down south on the 11th but would register in Glasgow???????

Im guessing that your pre registration details will be stored on O2s main computer system so in theory you would be able to purchase and begin contract at any other store. But I didn't ask him about that, and that's just an educated guess by myself.

[tiguk]

Awesome news!

Did you get an answer about any available accessories?

[Hustle]

5000 iPhones is not true. o2 stores will not store that many iPhones. It would be a keen place to rob, having £200k worth of iPhones. Also, there's o2 stores EVERYWHERE in the UK, so I doubt they'll be shipping out 1 million+ iPhones on the first day of launch in the UK a lone. Apple's goal is 10 million iPhones. I doubt 1 million is going to be aimed at launch day.

[sk8mash]

5000 iPhones is not true. o2 stores will not store that many iPhones. It would be a keen place to rob, having £200k worth of iPhones. Also, there's o2 stores EVERYWHERE in the UK, so I doubt they'll be shipping out 1 million+ iPhones on the first day of launch in the UK a lone. Apple's goal is 10 million iPhones. I doubt 1 million is going to be aimed at launch day.

Didn't read this post?

I did question the 5000 iPhones to him when he said to me, "what your going to sell all those on launch day!?" He laughed and replied saying that they got one shipment of 5000 on launch day last time, and that lasted them till about a month ago. (all remaining stock was cleared during the price drop a few months ago)

Cheers

[Cherimoya]

Well that's not true either - all the gen 1 iphones are week stamped in the serial number. If you buy one they are rarely more than two-three weeks old. They certainly haven't been sitting around in an O2 store since launch day.

Don't you remember the issues about different firmware versions in OTB phones?

[MacsAttack]

*addition* He also made it clear that, NO iPhones will be leaving any O2 store without a Credit check and Contract being signed for, this point was raised strongly by Apple this year to O2, they want to really crack down on Unlocking in the UK, and to stop the UK being a hub for distribution of Unlocked iPhone 3G's.


That isn't going to stop it. The PayG iPhones will be the ones flying to other countries.

[Johnpartridge]

Awesome news!

Did you get an answer about any available accessories?

Cant belive I didnt include this into my original post, it was what I originally wanted to know about!, he said that they will have a wide variety of accessories available on lauch day in all O2 stores. Not sure what a "wide variety" means but im guessing the usual mixture of cases and cable based accessories.

Cheers

[tjcampbell]

I wonder if the CarPhoneWarehouse will pull their "you have to buy insurance or we won't sell you an iPhone" scam all over again?

I'm going to pick up my 3G at the apple store this time.

[andyhargreaves]

I'm guessing the credit checks will be more stringent this time, as the iPhone is being subsidized by the networks. I also wonder how, if at all, different this procedure will be for current O2 iPhone customers??

Great OP, by the way, Johnpartridge.

Andy

[badgerman]

3, The opening times are still not fixed, but the time proposed at the conference was 7am July 11th 2008..

This also fits in with what they told me last week (at the Trafford Centre which normally opens at 10am) and what else I have read. Should mean, no need for camping. :D

good post. Anyone else heard this?Will pop into O2 today.

[OllyW]

Well that's not true either - all the gen 1 iphones are week stamped in the serial number. If you buy one they are rarely more than two-three weeks old. They certainly haven't been sitting around in an O2 store since launch day.

Don't you remember the issues about different firmware versions in OTB phones?

A few people posted on here that the iPhones which O2 sold off at £169 a few weeks ago were manufactured in the same week as those sold at the UK launch.

[Jowl]

That certainly would make sense - thanks for the info.

Hope it works out light that - I would love to walk in and collect my iPhone. I fear I'm going to be there at 7am. That annoys me a bit - not that I'm embarassed that I may look a sad geek in a queue.....but the feeling the Steve Jobs has got me exactly where he wants me :D

In short, I've become a fan boy :D

[badgerman]

In short, I've become a fan boy :D

Me too. ;) I fear it will be 7.02 am and I am there at 6.59am and my N95 will be on ebay at 7.04am via cloud and my iphone. :D

[Jowl]

Wait for stage 2


7.10 am: iBore
:D

[CD3660]

A few people posted on here that the iPhones which O2 sold off at £169 a few weeks ago were manufactured in the same week as those sold at the UK launch.

I can vouch for this from personal experience.

I bought a week 43 on launch day.

Member of my family bought a £169 special in April, and that too was a week 43!

[Johnpartridge]

Well that's not true either - all the gen 1 iphones are week stamped in the serial number. If you buy one they are rarely more than two-three weeks old. They certainly haven't been sitting around in an O2 store since launch day.

Don't you remember the issues about different firmware versions in OTB phones?


Im just posting what I was told, you cant start accusing me of posting something which is untrue without being able to positivly prove that the infomation I have is wrong, Which I welcome you to do, Ive never said that my information is definately positive, just posting what I was told, but looking back there have been many examples of iPhones which have been recently sold and have a launch day week date stamp on them.

Cheers

[fastbite]

Im just posting what I was told, you cant start accusing me of posting something which is untrue without being able to positivly prove that the infomation I have is wrong, Which I welcome you to do, Ive never said that my information is definately positive, just posting what I was told, but looking back there have been many examples of iPhones which have been recently sold and have a launch day week date stamp on them.

Cheers
Hey Johnpartridge! great stuff! good that you are sharing your info with all of us. I'm particularly very interested in what you have to say -- and obviously things will get further clarified as we approach the 11th. Thank you!

[Libitina]

I'm going to pick up my 3G at the apple store this time.You can't.

[onthetiptips]

^ I thought they were teaching Apple Stores how to do credit checks etc.

I'm jus gonnna wait and get a PAYG iPhone wherever its easily available. If that means goin to London so be it...

[punitnaker]

www.o2.co.uk (http://www.o2.co.uk/iphone) down for anyone else?

Maybe updated information coming up

[netdog]

I can reach the site just fine.

[punitnaker]

Sure? Try clearing the cache and go onto the iphone page. Doesn't work for me

[badgerman]

Sure? Try clearing the cache and go onto the iphone page. Doesn't work for me

Yep, fine for me ;)

[philgilder]

Yep, fine for me ;)
its been up and down all day for me (i was emailing o2 and had to wait a few minutes each time before pressing next to ensure i didnt have to start all over again) and its down for me atm

[sunfast]

Thanks a lot for posting that. The pre-release checks are a great idea - can go in and get all the hassle out of the way before popping in to collect my phone. :)

[philgilder]

i just emailed o2, response i got:
(only the bit in bold/italic is interesting)

Thanks for emailing us about the new iPhone 3G.

I've checked your account and I can see that you're currently eligible to upgrade your contract. Your current 12 month contract term will complete on 28 June 2008.

To upgrade your contract please call our upgrades team as our upgrades team deals with all the queries related to upgrades.

You can contact them free of charge on the following phone numbers:

1. 8001 313 136 from O2 phones.
2. 08001 313 136 from Fixed line phones.
3. 08706 007 102 from your O2 Pay Monthly phones. They're open:

-Monday to Saturday between 08:00am and 08:00pm.
-Sunday between 10:00am and 06:00pm.

Our upgrades team offers all upgrade deals and they'll be able to tell you about the various upgrade options available.

You don't need to visit the O2 store to activate the iphone you can activate your iphone via iTunes.

You can also register your interest to upgrade to the new iPhone 3G by using the link below:

http://iphone.o2.co.uk/registeryourinterest/

After you've registered your interests, we'll contact you in early July to tell you about the new 3G iPhone.

I hope you find this information useful and many thanks for your keen interest in the iPhone 3G.

Please visit our website using the link www.o2.co.uk/iphone for the most up to date information on iPhone.

Should you need any information on our products and services, please visit our online Help Centre at:

http://www.o2.co.uk/help

[tiiim]

6, And Finally Not quite sure what he meant by this but, O2 have spent alot of time and money, sending messages and marketing to other network providers such as Orange, Tmobile and 3, with regards to the iPhone launch on 11th July.

Thank you for Reading.

This will be true, I have a friend who is not on o2 and he received a text from o2 the other day advertising the iphone.:)

[tiiim]

i just emailed o2, response i got:
(only the bit in bold/italic is interesting)

Thanks for emailing us about the new iPhone 3G.

I've checked your account and I can see that you're currently eligible to upgrade your contract. Your current 12 month contract term will complete on 28 June 2008.

To upgrade your contract please call our upgrades team as our upgrades team deals with all the queries related to upgrades.

You can contact them free of charge on the following phone numbers:

1. 8001 313 136 from O2 phones.
2. 08001 313 136 from Fixed line phones.
3. 08706 007 102 from your O2 Pay Monthly phones. They're open:

-Monday to Saturday between 08:00am and 08:00pm.
-Sunday between 10:00am and 06:00pm.

Our upgrades team offers all upgrade deals and they'll be able to tell you about the various upgrade options available.

You don't need to visit the O2 store to activate the iphone you can activate your iphone via iTunes.

You can also register your interest to upgrade to the new iPhone 3G by using the link below:

http://iphone.o2.co.uk/registeryourinterest/

After you've registered your interests, we'll contact you in early July to tell you about the new 3G iPhone.

I hope you find this information useful and many thanks for your keen interest in the iPhone 3G.

Please visit our website using the link www.o2.co.uk/iphone for the most up to date information on iPhone.

Should you need any information on our products and services, please visit our online Help Centre at:

http://www.o2.co.uk/help

I might be well wrong but it sounds like the rep have used a pre-prepared iPhone v1 email template and added the 3g blurb to it... i have a feeling that may not be 100% accurate. Im guessing if you email them a few days before July 11th you might get a different email back... i might be wrong though! (hopefully!):)

[alFR]

i just emailed o2, response i got:

<snip>

You can also register your interest to upgrade to the new iPhone 3G by using the link below:

http://iphone.o2.co.uk/registeryourinterest/

After you've registered your interests, we'll contact you in early July to tell you about the new 3G iPhone.

I hope you find this information useful and many thanks for your keen interest in the iPhone 3G.

Doesn't this imply that the first part of their email was just a canned response referring to the gen. 1 iPhone?

[luckygyrl83]

thank you very much for your post, very informative

interesting about the pre sdigning up thing, that sounds good, then i can go in and out on july 11th.

7am though, thats a touch early but better than waiting till 6 i suppose.
cheers again


now all we are waiting for ia the pay and go price i suppose.

I can make it to the store, buy the phone and go to work by 9am. But then, I gotta wait alllll day to play with it :( I cant wait to get the rest of the details. Why are they making us wait so long.

2ISH MORE WEEKS!!!!!

[adom]

4, Each O2 store will receive ready for launch day, 5000 iPhone units. (same amount as the original iPhone launch)

Thank you for Reading.

I hope im reading this wrong, but each store receiving 5k units?? Even the largest stores only hold approx <1000 phones in them. :confused:

[notsofatjames]

I hope im reading this wrong, but each store receiving 5k units?? Even the largest stores only hold approx <1000 phones in them. :confused:

Yeah, 5000 iPhones would take a hell of a lot of storage space. Even the largest stores would struggle with that. If the current box size is used 5000 iPhones would take up a HUGE space... and this would be a huge security risk. Imagine the losses (5000 * £300 = £1,500,000!). I think its going to be more like 500 phones, but then depending on store size! Wasnt there a stock checker (at least in american apple stores) to say when the next iPhone delivery was?

I think this is just some smart-alec salesman trying to be all nice so that you come back and see him and line his pocket with commission.

[I am Sampson]

That would be great. My local o2 shop said a while ago they were opening at 07:02 to sell the iPhone and I probably can't make it until 12:45ish, but if you can register before hand, thats kinda like reserving one right?
Unless they only have 8Gbs left by then of course, but if its true they are getting 5000 each (sounds unliekly to me, but then I didn't realise that happened last time) then there should be tons left by 12:45. :rolleyes:

[sjw]

Very interesting! Thanks for posting... as others have noted, it adds up.

If they're going on sale at 7am I will definitely pick one up before work but god knows how I will make it through the day knowing I have a shiny new iPhone sitting in my bag just waiting to be switched on... argh.

[badgerman]

That would be great. My local o2 shop said a while ago they were opening at 07:02 to sell the iPhone and I probably can't make it until 12:45ish, but if you can register before hand, thats kinda like reserving one right?
Unless they only have 8Gbs left by then of course, but if its true they are getting 5000 each (sounds unliekly to me, but then I didn't realise that happened last time) then there should be tons left by 12:45. :rolleyes:

Yep O2 at the trafford centre said that KO was 7.02am.

[CD3660]

Yep O2 at the trafford centre said that KO was 7.02am.
Excellent! :)

[Willis]

I think shopping centres with 02 store in them will open early if needed. When the iPhone launched last time, the 02 store in Lincoln usually closed at 5pm along with the Waterside Shopping centre. Because of the launch, they remained open till 10/11pm! I think we bought ours around 9.30pm :)

[adom]

Yeah, 5000 iPhones would take a hell of a lot of storage space. Even the largest stores would struggle with that. If the current box size is used 5000 iPhones would take up a HUGE space... and this would be a huge security risk. Imagine the losses (5000 * £300 = £1,500,000!). I think its going to be more like 500 phones, but then depending on store size! Wasnt there a stock checker (at least in american apple stores) to say when the next iPhone delivery was?

I think this is just some smart-alec salesman trying to be all nice so that you come back and see him and line his pocket with commission.

Come to think of it, when I worked there, I never remember us - or any of the branches I monitored having more than about 40 phones of one particular model. Obviously, for the iphone, it might be a bit different...but not massively. I think more like there is approximately 5k iphones (probably a few k more) in the company in the first shipment.

Think there's around 250 stores last time i knew? The majority of which are small...so 20 per store? less for the smaller, more for the larger? Probably what that salesman was getting at.

[TonyHoyle]

5000 in the first shipment sounds more realistic but a bit low - they've got 130,000 registered wth the website (according to O2). 5000 would say they expect less than 4% of that number to turn into sales, which is a bit pessimistic IMO. Maybe 5000 per region?

The other possibility is they're going to 'do a Nintendo' and make sure they sell out for a while to generate buzz.

[Johnpartridge]

Hello all, interesting discussion we have going on here. And i'm with you lot on this one, 5000 phones on launch date would take up masses of storage space. However like ive stated before, I was just quoting what he told me. (this is called macrumors after all).

Perhaps he meant that during the last iPhones year of sales, they received 5000 units into the store?

I spoke to another store aswell on my way home from work and they told me a few things, O2 are selling the phone from 7.02am, 11th July.

Apple will only be selling the Pay as you go Tarrif, he went on to tell me that Jailbreaking and unlocking has cost O2, £7million this year, so will be clamping down on this greatly.

Just noticed, my information is on the front page, very happy to have helped.

Cheers

[CD3660]

.....he went on to tell me that Jailbreaking and unlocking has cost O2, £7million this year, so will be clamping down on this greatly.

I'd really like to know how they quantify this.

In my mind any losses they sustained were a direct result of their greed and Apple's restrictive practices.

[entwife]

Well that's not true either - all the gen 1 iphones are week stamped in the serial number. If you buy one they are rarely more than two-three weeks old. They certainly haven't been sitting around in an O2 store since launch day.

Don't you remember the issues about different firmware versions in OTB phones?


thats not completely true, i work for o2 and at launch every single store in uk had a minimum of 50 iphones (which is amazing considering things such as the viewty and n95s generally get 3-5 each week on store deliveries), so if you work in a quiet store like me those 50 iphones took a while to go down and we had some from UK launch up untill the 169 price drop then they totally went. so all our stock was 1.1.2 from launch, all of it.


this isnt the case for busier branches obviously as they had queues and it sold out etc.


and in regards to it costing them revenues, im 50/50 on the subject as obviously no contract no revenes but then again every iphone sold in any country bar the ones that got it legit is profit, as every iphone in canada for example has given apple handset money which they technically shouldnt have got, well thats my 'laymans' thinking behind it.

[trevreyno]

Apple will only be selling the Pay as you go Tarrif, he went on to tell me that Jailbreaking and unlocking has cost O2, £7million this year, so will be clamping down on this greatly.

.

Cheers
I'd really like to know how they quantify this.



number of phones sold minus number of phones not activated on o2 network maybe?;)

[CD3660]

number of phones sold minus number of phones not activated on o2 network maybe?;)

I'm sure that they would like to quantify it that way, but that would be artificial because those people who bought to unlock were catering for individuals (themselves included) who never had any intention to sign up for an official iPhone contract with O2 come what may.

[bushido]

i pre-ordered mine like 2 weeks ago on the german T-Mobile page and they even guarantee a HOME delivery on july 11 for the first 1.000 ppl

[CD3660]

i pre-ordered mine like 2 weeks ago on the german T-Mobile page and they even guarantee a HOME delivery on july 11 for the first 1.000 ppl

There has been some talk that O2 may promise a home delivery on the 11th of July for U.K. upgraders. I hope that this is so.

[sneeks]

If instore upgrades are not allowed then guaranteed delivery on the 11th better be available or i'll be a bit :mad:

[Piarco]

There has been some talk that O2 may promise a home delivery on the 11th of July for U.K. upgraders. I hope that this is so.

Fingers crossed! I'm going to be away for that weekend from early afternoon on Friday, and would love to be taking the new iPhone with me :D

[captain kaos]

I hoping the fact that each store has 5000 iphones doesn't mean it sells out fast, as its been reported that this time around O2 has had over 135,000 people signing up their interest this time around as opposed to approx 35,000 for the 1st gen.

Although having said that people have also stated that a 1st gen iphone purchased when O2 dropped the price had a serial number from an old original shipment, so maybe we'll be ok!

And as a teaser for people in Brighton, UK i spoke to my friend last night who used to work for the O2 store on western road (opposite churchill square) and apparently the store is closed for refurbishment, just in time for the 11th i presume!

Its all fun and games!:D

[badgerman]

Blimey spreading like wildfire the original rumour from the OP...

http://www.product-reviews.net/2008/06/25/iphone-3g-release-o2-opens-7am-and-early-signups/

I hope it pans out ;)

[Smog]

3, The opening times are still not fixed, but the time proposed at the conference was 7am July 11th 2008.


i can vouch for this. I live near sheffield and i just phoned the o2 store in meadowhall and talked to the manager. He said the actual release time is 7AM, but it is not certain if they can sell it at this time, as the meadowhall center doesnt open until 10AM. So basically, if they can get the center to open early, the release will be 7 AM in the meadowahll store. He also sai all other non center o2 stores will be open at 7AM.
heres our dualog on the phone:

Me:Hi

Manager: how may i help you?

Me: I just wondered if you knew what time the iPhone 3G will launch?

Manager: Its definatly 7 AM, but its a bit up in the air.

Me: What Do You Mean?

Manager: Well, the centre usually opens at 10AM, so we are working with the managers to get it to open early for us. If not then it will be 10AM.

Me: SO its the same time nationwide. 7AM

Manager: Yes. Although some centre stores may be affected.
posted by me at www.BuyMeAniPhone.com (http://www.buymeaniphone.com/)

[sneeks]

From the o2 forum. I have my doubts about the 16gb iPhone 3G not been sold from launch day.

Hey guys

I work in an o2 store, and we have been advised of the following procedures for the iphone launch.

- iPhone customers can only upgrade direct through online/customer services NOT INSTORE

- iPhone will launch at 7:02 am

- The black 8gb version will be the only version to launch on the 11th

- Version 2.0 for existing iPhones will also be available as of the 11th

[badgerman]

From the o2 forum. I have my doubts about the 16gb iPhone 3G not been sold from launch day.

- The black 8gb version will be the only version to launch on the 11th
[/I]

No way, it was in the keynote that both 8GB & 16GB were to be released on the 11th.

[sneeks]

The only possible scenario I can see where that may be true is that the o2 stores will initially only stock the 8gb model and the online store will have both. I reckon it's not true.

[tiiim]

- iPhone customers can only upgrade direct through online/customer services NOT INSTORE


I hope they advertise this clearly for existing iPhone customer or they might be some annoyed people after queing a long time to be turned away and advised to ring CS:confused:

o2 better start a mass text message alert to all existing iphone customers informing of this:)

[cartel1]

- The black 8gb version will be the only version to launch on the 11th


That would seem a bit odd as I would have thought the 16Gb would be the one most people would go for. As with the launch of the original iphone, the smaller (4Gb) model was pretty unpopular and was eventually discontinued.

[CD3660]

That would seem a bit odd as I would have thought the 16Gb would be the one most people would go for. As with the launch of the original iphone, the smaller (4Gb) model was pretty unpopular and was eventually discontinued.
I agree. It seems clear to me, if members of Mac Rumors are a reliable indicator, that the 16GB model is likely to be the more popular model.

[sjw]

- The black 8gb version will be the only version to launch on the 11th

I hope this is complete and utter BS or I am gonna be hella mad. After waiting so long for the launch only to be told "Sorry, not today!"... no, doesn't make sense.

[Johnpartridge]

Wow, I've just had a look around the net. My info is now on many tech Websites and forums. Apparently someone rang o2 themselves and they have denied it.

[Aravintht]

Wow, I've just had a look around the net. My info is now on many tech Websites and forums. Apparently someone rang o2 themselves and they have denied it.

the power of the interweb and cut&paste

[GAS]

I went to an o2 store in a shopping centre today, they said they weren't opening early and they expect to get about 60 - 80 iPhones.

Went to a Carphone Warehouse in another shopping centre as well, they weren't opening earlier either and they said they would be getting about 50 iPhones in.

[tiiim]

I went to an o2 store in a shopping centre today, they said they weren't opening early and they expect to get about 60 - 80 iPhones.

Went to a Carphone Warehouse in another shopping centre as well, they weren't opening earlier either and they said they would be getting about 50 iPhones in.

But dont forget shopping centre shops may not be able to open early due to the actual shopping centre conracts/agreements.

[MojoWill]

I'd really like to know how they quantify this.

In my mind any losses they sustained were a direct result of their greed and Apple's restrictive practices.

is a company not allowed to try and make money? It's their product they decide how it is sold the world has no right to demand anything from apple or O2 they are selling a product if you don't like the selling practices then don't buy one.

It seems half this forum is in love with Apple the other half just want to piss and moan all the time!

[CD3660]

is a company not allowed to try and make money? It's their product they decide how it is sold the world has no right to demand anything from apple or O2 they are selling a product if you don't like the selling practices then don't buy one.

It seems half this forum is in love with Apple the other half just want to piss and moan all the time!
I wasn't moaning at all, simply commenting that the combined approach of Apple and O2 led to the first generation iPhone being a commercial failure in the U.K., and that the companies only have themselves to blame.

I actually bought in at launch in November 2007 because I am a huge fan of Apple products and I was fortunate enough to be able to afford the premium being demanded at that time, but I sympathise with those who could not or would not.

Nobody objects to a company making money, but the market will distinguish between fair profit and value for money on the one hand, and unreasonable profiteering and restrictive practices on the other.

The iPhone's performance in the markets of Europe is a classic example of the market speaking it's mind in the clearest possible terms and forcing Apple and O2 (in the U.K.) into a fundamental change of policy. As a result they are now giving value for money.

[Igantius]

...Went to a Carphone Warehouse in another shopping centre as well, they weren't opening earlier either...

I think this might vary between stores.

[sneeks]

Another post from the o2 forum which I believe to be false. If Apple were to hold back on a version of the iPhone then they would not have even announced it to the world -

from what we have heard its definately only the 8gb black that will be launching in retail stores on the 11th, went to a regional briefing last night.

Whether online or direct sales teams are offering the other handsets we dont know as its a completely different department to retail.

However it seems quite certain that it will be only the 8gb version to launch on the 11th, as Apple are doing there usual thing of holding back the later versions until they have looked at sales figures for the first release

[captain kaos]

I really hope these numbers of stock are wrong, or its going to be hell! The only reason i can think of low stock numbers per shop is if O2 is going for this posting to your address rumour that was gong around a few days ago.

[captain kaos]

Another post from the o2 forum which I believe to be false. If Apple were to hold back on a version of the iPhone then they would not have even announced it to the world -

from what we have heard its definately only the 8gb black that will be launching in retail stores on the 11th, went to a regional briefing last night.

Whether online or direct sales teams are offering the other handsets we dont know as its a completely different department to retail.

However it seems quite certain that it will be only the 8gb version to launch on the 11th, as Apple are doing there usual thing of holding back the later versions until they have looked at sales figures for the first release

WTH?

I hope this isnt true, Apple would be mental to pull this kind of trick on us in the UK!:mad::mad:

[alFR]

However it seems quite certain that it will be only the 8gb version to launch on the 11th, as Apple are doing there usual thing of holding back the later versions until they have looked at sales figures for the first release

Translation: "Hi, we're O2. We like throwing business away. Also, we are high as kites".

I'd bet all the models will launch together, there's been nothing even vaguely to suggest otherwise up to this point.

[Nicholas.C]

This means only the apple store will be selling the locked pay and go phones?

[sneeks]

Translation: "Hi, we're O2. We like throwing business away. Also, we are high as kites".

I'd bet all the models will launch together, there's been nothing even vaguely to suggest otherwise up to this point.

I agree and I do not believe the person who posted this on the o2 forum to be a credible source.

[Igantius]

I really hope these numbers of stock are wrong, or its going to be hell! The only reason i can think of low stock numbers per shop is if O2 is going for this posting to your address rumour that was gong around a few days ago.

If O2 are going to offer pre-orders and credit checks before the 11th (as the OP suggested), then stocks are going to be higher than recent posts.... but the number per store suggested in the original post will only be in stores located in cloud cuckoo land.

From what I've heard, the 8GB and 16GB models will be on sale the first day.

[captain kaos]

Translation: "Hi, we're O2. We like throwing business away. Also, we are high as kites".

I'd bet all the models will launch together, there's been nothing even vaguely to suggest otherwise up to this point.

:D


Correct, there has been nothing to suggest it, but apart from the PAYG pricing mess up O2 has been pretty much quiet on the whole thing....i wouldn't put it pass them to do something stupid!

Plus lets not forget that the iPhone has been taken off their main page now!

[sneeks]

The main o2 webpage cycles between the iPhone advert and Bluebook whenever I refresh it.

The fact that we are getting release details from Finland, Norway, Sweden etc which all include details for the 16gb handset is enough to convince me that it will be released on the 11th July.

[CD3660]

.....lets not forget that the iPhone has been taken off O2's main page now!

Yes, apparently they are not going to be selling it any more. It's gone to Vodafone! ;) :D

[captain kaos]

Yes, apparently they are not going to be selling it any more. It's gone to Vodafone! ;) :D

yeah, yeah!:)

[sneeks]

The o2 main page 5 minutes ago displaying the iPhone advert:

http://www.sneeks.co.uk/images/o2_mainpage.jpg

[captain kaos]

The o2 main page 5 minutes ago displaying the iPhone advert:

http://www.sneeks.co.uk/images/o2_mainpage.jpg

I stand corrected! :D

[razorianfly]

As stated above, the main page cycles through the 'Bluebook' and 'iPhone' flash adverts when refreshed. :rolleyes:

R-Fly

[johnwin]

I've just been into my local o2 store (Hull, UK) where they confirmed that from 1st July they will be asking anyone taking an interest in the iPhones on display (gen 1 of course) if they want to pre-arrange a new contract. Then you can just come in on or after the 11th to choose the phone (8gb, 16gb / black, white), pay for it and then activate the contract previously set up.

He specifically said it was policy to get people on board before the 11th so that the 'customer experience' on the 11th was improved.

My only caveat is that the guy appeared to be about 12 (think the Krusty Burger employee from the Simpsons) - having said that it might just be that I'm getting old and phone salesmen are looking younger!

:confused:

[GAS]

I really hope these numbers of stock are wrong, or its going to be hell! The only reason i can think of low stock numbers per shop is if O2 is going for this posting to your address rumour that was gong around a few days ago.

These shops were quite small. So it's all certain that most other stores will have more.