Free UK iPhone for Existing O2 Customers?

Wow, now that's a deal if confirmed! Too bad AT&T weren't like that.

Blimey. Shame I'm with Vodafone.

£269 penalty for me in effect.

I don't think this is correct. As I read it 'pre-announcement' O2 customers can move to the iPhone tariff without penalty whereas 'post announcement' customers (i.e. still within their contract period) will have to pay an additional £219. In both cases you have to buy the iPhone as well...

calculus said:

I don't think this is correct. As I read it 'pre-announcement' O2 customers can move to the iPhone tariff without penalty whereas 'post announcement' customers (i.e. still within their contract period) will have to pay an additional £219. In both cases you have to buy the iPhone as well...

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Considering Apple was pretty adamant about phone companies not subsidizing the cost of the iPhone with discounts and other gimiky because it would 'diminish the perceived value of the iPhone', I doubt this is really a free iPhone offer as well.

Of course, Apple did diminish the perceived value of the iPhone itselfe when they slashed the price $200, so who knows...

calculus said:

I don't think this is correct. As I read it 'pre-announcement' O2 customers can move to the iPhone tariff without penalty whereas 'post announcement' customers (i.e. still within their contract period) will have to pay an additional £219. In both cases you have to buy the iPhone as well...

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Well that makes two of us who can read. You can change your pre-existing contract tariff to an iPhone contract tariff without penalty, if you signed the contract on that tariff prior the iPhone announcment. No, Virginia, there is no Santa Claus: no free iPhones. This is an irrelevant concept for AT&T customers in the States as you can change your iPhone plan up or down any time you wish -- save dropping the data plan -- at no penalty.

Read Free contract upgrade, not free iphone of course !

sanford said:

Well that makes two of us who can read.

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It's a rare talent...

Whoa, that's a bit awesome! Shame I didn't have an O2 contract before, shame I've had no contract phone before!

sanford said:

Well that makes two of us who can read. You can change your pre-existing contract tariff to an iPhone contract tariff without penalty, if you signed the contract on that tariff prior the iPhone announcment. No, Virginia, there is no Santa Claus: no free iPhones. This is an irrelevant concept for AT&T customers in the States as you can change your iPhone plan up or down any time you wish -- save dropping the data plan -- at no penalty.

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I still can't believe that there is a facet of the US cell industry that is superior to something overseas (I would say the rest of the world, but the Canadian data prices seem to be the worst of element of all).

Definitely not a free iPhone, just an opportunity to switch to an iPhone contract without a penalty.

Oh well.....at least the prospect was exciting for about 10 seconds.

Yes, it's a shame.

sanford said:

Well that makes two of us who can read. You can change your pre-existing contract tariff to an iPhone contract tariff without penalty, if you signed the contract on that tariff prior the iPhone announcment. No, Virginia, there is no Santa Claus: no free iPhones. This is an irrelevant concept for AT&T customers in the States as you can change your iPhone plan up or down any time you wish -- save dropping the data plan -- at no penalty.

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Has this been confirmed? O2 are saying that there will be free iPhone upgrades for existing O2 customers before Sept 19th?

I'll believe it when I see it....

Free o2 iPhone hopefully!

I hate to add to the speculation but just yesterday I was looking into reknewing my contract with o2 which falls a week after the iPhone is released. Now although I have no proof of it, I distinctly remember reading in the 'Exsisting customers' section under 'availability' on the 02.co.uk website, it read

"customers with an exsisting contract who upgraded before September 18th 2007 will be able to switch to an iPhone contract and recieve the iphone without any payment or incurring any charges for leaving your current contract" or something more or less along those lines - either way confirming the rumor. However the page has now been re-edited.

But I guess we will just have to wait to see! It would be a great deal as I'd definitely consider switching, however the current iphone and contract price is a bit to steep for a none 3G phone.

jamjoe1 said:

I hate to add to the speculation but just yesterday I was looking into reknewing my contract with o2 which falls a week after the iPhone is released. Now although I have no proof of it, I distinctly remember reading in the 'Exsisting customers' section under 'availability' on the 02.co.uk website, it read

"customers with an exsisting contract who upgraded before September 18th 2007 will be able to switch to an iPhone contract and recieve the iphone without any payment or incurring any charges for leaving your current contract" or something more or less along those lines - either way confirming the rumor. However the page has now been re-edited.

But I guess we will just have to wait to see! It would be a great deal as I'd definitely consider switching, however the current iphone and contract price is a bit to steep for a none 3G phone.

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Well that page does not say it now.... and given O2 have supposedly confirmed it..... then it should say it now. I have spoken to O2 multiple times re the iPhone and have been made some amazing offers on my contract none of which got me a free iphone

eenu I really believe there is nothing, O2 will be able to do regarding subsidising the iPhone. They may give you some extra bolt-ons for free or some kind of tariff discount. But no matter which way you approach it you are going to have to pay £269 for the handset.

As an O2 customer who upgraded July I'm over the moon to hear that I can switch my contract to one of the iPhone contracts without penalty, seems an extremely smart move, especially for Apple who I'm sure will shift more handsets because of it.

Considering the lockdown the 1.1.1 firmware has enabled I would be a lot more hesitant to try unlocking to work with my current SIM.

Considering the facts: I'm already in contract, all providers data rates are very expensive and the unlocking complexity; an 'official' tariff seems really beneficial and the definite way to go.

I've been offered 600mins and 1000 texts with Unlimited data for £35 a month and then i have to pay £269 for the iPhone

sick!!

lets hope rogers will do the same in canada!!!

eenu said:

I've been offered 600mins and 1000 texts with Unlimited data for £35 a month and then i have to pay £269 for the iPhone

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working this out over the cost of nine months i will still end up positive.

so the real winners here are the people who got new contract phones from o2 in early september, but now want an iphone as they essentially get a free phone...

nice, i got mine in about april, but im happy.
the iphones become alot more tempting, now if only they'd reverse that top tariff from mins to texts and drop it to £45

£55 is too steeeeeeeep.

thecritix said:

....they essentially get a free phone...

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This is not going to happen. There is no real incentive for o2 to give away a £269 phone to people who are already tied into a contract with them.

Come on folks: Stop dreaming and read it carefully.

yzp said:

sick!!

lets hope rogers will do the same in canada!!!

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This is just part of the story on cbc.ca about Canadian carriers and why you pay so much. This used to go to the government now the carriers just keep it.
The increase is for the access fee - something all cell phone users pay to gain access to a network. All cell phone users used to pay a standard fee, $48 a year. But as of February 1, Rogers' fee will be $75. Telus will jump to $83 a year. Competitors Fido and MTS say there are no plans to pass on the increase - for now.

thecritix said:

so the real winners here are the people who got new contract phones from o2 in early september, but now want an iphone as they essentially get a free phone...

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Yes, but the free phone is not the iPhone - it's the one they got when they first took out their contract...