Apple iPhone Launches in Germany and UK on November 9th

[MacRumors]

Apple will be launching the iPhone in the UK and Germany this Friday, November 9th.

A press release details the launch details for Apple, O2 and Carphone Warehouse. The iPhone will be available from more than 1,300 Apple, O2 and Carphone Warehouse retail locations across the UK starting at 6:02pm. O2 has hired and trained hundreds of new iPhone specialists who will be in all 450 O2 stores. The UK iPhone will be sold for £269 and require an 18 month contract with O2. Only two iPhones may be purchased per person.

Despite some early comments indicating that there would be a data cap on the O2 network for EDGE-data, a recent Telegraph.co.uk article states that O2 has scrapped plans to limit web usage on the iPhone -- instead allowing users to download as much as they like.

''Customers find 'unlimited with limits' confusing, plus most people don't speak in megabits or understand what they equate to," said O2 UK chief executive Matthew Key. ''So we've taken the decision to remove the fair usage cap so that 'unlimited' really does mean 'unlimited' – this is a market first."

The iPhone is also launching in Germany on November 9th through Telekom Shops of Deutsche Telekom as well as the T-Mobile web shop starting at midnight. The German iPhone requires a new 2-year T-Mobile rate plan and will be available for €399.

We've reopened our iPhone Purchaser Meetup forum to allow MacRumors in coordinating with others.

Existing iPhone users should also find interest in the the UK/German iPhone launch as it will likely coincide with the release of the 1.1.2 iPhone Firmware which is said to offer a number of bug and security fixes along with international language support.

Article Link

[KD7IWP]

Do any of the UK countries have laws against locked phones?

[DCRa]

3rd Party Apps > bug fixes.

[ventro]

Is there any chance we might see 802.1X support with this update?

[caliguy]

Why is it 6:02pm?

[eenu]

Originally Posted by caliguy

Why is it 6:02pm?

The same reason ze germans get it at 00:01 on the 9th

[arn]

Originally Posted by caliguy

Why is it 6:02pm?

O2 is the carrier. (as in 6 Oh 2)

arn

[David G.]

If I was a random person from the general population I would probably find "unlimited with limits" confusing too. It's good they're changing it.

[MarlboroLite]

Don't these launches in Europe (and the eventual ones in Canada and Australia later this year or early next) kind of kill the idea what we will see iPhone 2.0 unveiled at MWSF? If a new iPhone is announced it will pretty much kill the current iPhone sales in the rest of the world where it has just been introduced.

I think Apple will wait till at least May or June to announce a new version to be sold starting in Q4 2008 all simultaneously across the world.

[Willis]

Originally Posted by KD7IWP

Do any of the UK countries have laws against locked phones?

Im not too sure what you mean. But this is what I can tell you.

Most contract phones are actually unlocked. I believe it's only Vodaphone and 3 who have their phones locked now. But even then, it depends on what model of phone.

PAYG phones are mostly LOCKED.

Now, for laws... I dont believe there is one. If we want our phones unlocked, we can go out to a shop/stall on a market and get it done for about £10. Obviously, iPhone will be different. End of the day, I think most iPhone owners here would be happy with what they get. I do think there will be some consumer confusion though. General non Apple English people with Apple technology really isnt that good.

[kis]

Originally Posted by MarlboroLite

I think Apple will wait till at least May or June to announce a new version to be sold starting in Q4 2008 all simultaneously across the world.

that would be my assessment as well. Also, they can't announce anything that they don't have a release-date for - I seriously doubt they can have a 3G version ready before Christmas 2008.

[kis]

Originally Posted by KD7IWP

Do any of the UK countries have laws against locked phones?

no - but you can buy the French version. As 1.1.2 obviously has all the supported languages pre-installed, you can simply buy an unlocked version in France and set it to English (or whatever language you need).

You'll still be depending on semi-legal methods to activate it, though: while the French phones come un-locked, they can only be activated for the Orange network in France.

kis

[igazza]

great for the uk and germany. 2 days wait , here in oz we have to wait til early next year .

[lazyrighteye]

Originally Posted by MarlboroLite

Don't these launches in Europe (and the eventual ones in Canada and Australia later this year or early next) kind of kill the idea what we will see iPhone 2.0 unveiled at MWSF? If a new iPhone is announced it will pretty much kill the current iPhone sales in the rest of the world where it has just been introduced.

I think Apple will wait till at least May or June to announce a new version to be sold starting in Q4 2008 all simultaneously across the world.

Agreed.

I could see them trying to "tide us over" until a fall '08 iPhone v2 with a spring 08 tablet.
I know, crazy talk.

But it would be more Apple of them if the iPhone v2 is merely a storage size increase to 16 GB and we don't see the 3G iPhone until MWSF '09.
Crazier talk?

[KPlayer]

Alright People?

Just a quick one, I was thinkin of getting the iPhone this friday in the UK but im aware the software has been updated to 1.1.2. I want to unlock the phone so should i buy it and just keep it in the box until someone releases an unlocker for 1.1.2? Any ideas on whats the best thing to do?

Cheers!

[AndyR]

Originally Posted by KPlayer

Just a quick one, I was thinkin of getting the iPhone this friday in the UK but im aware the software has been updated to 1.1.2. I want to unlock the phone so should i buy it and just keep it in the box until someone releases an unlocker for 1.1.2? Any ideas on whats the best thing to do?

Yeah this is exactly what you'll have to do. Shouldn't be too long before an unlocker comes out. I'm doing the same but am picking one up from the States in December to take advantage of the exchange rate

[metoo6000]

Originally Posted by AndyR

Yeah this is exactly what you'll have to do. Shouldn't be too long before an unlocker comes out. I'm doing the same but am picking one up from the States in December to take advantage of the exchange rate

You are lucky...
I may just wait until an unlocking tool comes out...

[fastbite]

Originally Posted by MarlboroLite

Don't these launches in Europe (and the eventual ones in Canada and Australia later this year or early next) kind of kill the idea what we will see iPhone 2.0 unveiled at MWSF? If a new iPhone is announced it will pretty much kill the current iPhone sales in the rest of the world where it has just been introduced.

I think Apple will wait till at least May or June to announce a new version to be sold starting in Q4 2008 all simultaneously across the world.

Maybe not an iPhone 2.0 but a mini or alternative lower cost one. I feel that will be the angle.

[machatch]

Originally Posted by MarlboroLite

Don't these launches in Europe (and the eventual ones in Canada and Australia later this year or early next) kind of kill the idea what we will see iPhone 2.0 unveiled at MWSF? If a new iPhone is announced it will pretty much kill the current iPhone sales in the rest of the world where it has just been introduced.

I think Apple will wait till at least May or June to announce a new version to be sold starting in Q4 2008 all simultaneously across the world.

dident no about a new iphone.
coolhopes it comes to europe where i live

[Dembo]

Hmmm, Germany will be an interesting launch: USD 70,- for 100mins, 40 texts and throttled data if you go above 200MB/month is by far the worst contract bundled to an iPhone. It made me and many people I know give up on the iPhone which is just sad...

If T-Mobile gets through with those prices carriers in other countries like Canada or Australia will be even greedier.

[casjohnr]

If I buy a iPhone from the Apple Store and don't break the seal on it can I return it within 14 days for a full refund?

As I'm thinking of buying 2 as my friend was after one but without it being unlocked they would find it useless.

[koobcamuk]

Originally Posted by O2

People don't speak in megabits

haha

[cal6n]

Originally Posted by KPlayer

Alright People?

Just a quick one, I was thinkin of getting the iPhone this friday in the UK but im aware the software has been updated to 1.1.2. I want to unlock the phone so should i buy it and just keep it in the box until someone releases an unlocker for 1.1.2? Any ideas on whats the best thing to do?

Cheers!

Don't update your iTunes beyond 7.4.2 as it breaks the Independence app. There's a (admittedly rather slim) possibility that 1.1.2 may respond to a rapidly updated version of Independence. It is only a x.x.1 update, after all.

[cal6n]

Originally Posted by casjohnr

If I buy a iPhone from the Apple Store and don't break the seal on it can I return it within 14 days for a full refund?

As I'm thinking of buying 2 as my friend was after one but without it being unlocked they would find it useless.

Don't buy until an unlock is confirmed. It's not like there's going to be a shortage...

[samh004]

Originally Posted by kis

I seriously doubt they can have a 3G version ready before Christmas 2008.

There was an article posted here just the other day about Broadcom I think integrating a 3G chip and some other components with a price of $23 and available now. It was said to lower power and space requirements while also increase other things, like support for a 5-megapixel camera.

I could perhaps see a 3G version come out in a few months for launch in Australia, and other markets in the US/UK/Germany/France if need be too... without changing too much else (like keeping the camera the same and design the same etc...) therefore it'd be more like a 1.5 update rather than a version 2.

Originally Posted by kis

no - but you can buy the French version. As 1.1.2 obviously has all the supported languages pre-installed, you can simply buy an unlocked version in France and set it to English (or whatever language you need).

You'll still be depending on semi-legal methods to activate it, though: while the French phones come un-locked, they can only be activated for the Orange network in France.

kis

I believe it's only unlocked after 6 months, so does that mean in 6 months time you can buy one, or you have to use it for 6 months before you can unlock it, I don't know, but it's 6 months from whenever it's released regardless.