Apple to Break O2 iPhone Exclusivity in the UK, But Not for the 3GS?

MacRumors · Jul 15, 2009, 03:34 PM

Mobile reports that Apple will begin offering the iPhone 3G to wireless carriers Orange and T-Mobile in the UK later this year, while retaining exclusivity for the new iPhone 3GS for longtime partner O2.

Quote:

The move is set for as early as September and will end Apple's two year exclusive deal with O2.

Crucially, the manufacturer will continue to give O2 exclusivity for the new, faster 3GS version, but will grant distribution of the older 3G handset to another network.

Orange and T-Mobile are known to have already begun pitching for the handset. T-Mobile's call centres have also started telling customers it may stock the iPhone.

O2 is reportedly "furious" about the move and fears that new entrants to the iPhone market will undercut its prices for the older iPhone 3G.

T-Mobile and Orange both have existing relationships with Apple, as they offer the iPhone in a number of other countries.

Article Link: Apple to Break O2 iPhone Exclusivity in the UK, But Not for the 3GS?

Macjames · Jul 15, 2009, 03:38 PM

would not like to be o2 now

Steve Jobs=God · Jul 15, 2009, 03:43 PM

Hmm, interesting

I work for Orange, in a fairly high up role but not heard anything about this, though it certainly is a mouth watering prospect!

spillproof · Jul 15, 2009, 03:46 PM

Good for Apple. Competition is a good thing.

Compile 'em all · Jul 15, 2009, 03:47 PM

uhmm...how?

time to read the article

moabon.rob · Jul 15, 2009, 03:48 PM

Depends where you are I guess... o2 have nothing to worry about in Southampton, where T-Mobile signal is a bit hit-and-miss and Orange signal is sub-sub-par...

GezDaFez · Jul 15, 2009, 03:52 PM

O2 reception in my house is non existent, so going back to T mobile would be a major plus for me.

plus my contract runs out in November. good timing

alhasa · Jul 15, 2009, 03:54 PM

this is great news!

its about time some other carriers were given the chance to undercut o2's ridiculously high pricing on the iPhone.

BRING ON THE COMPETITION!

mike3410 · Jul 15, 2009, 03:56 PM

My contract ended with vodafone a month ago and to try make me stay the guy on the phonesaid that they are likely to have the iphone in the next 6 months. I didn't believe it at the time but does sound likely even though vodafone weren't mentioned there.

raggedjimmi · Jul 15, 2009, 04:01 PM

Quote:

O2 is reportedly "furious" about the move and fears that new entrants to the iPhone market will undercut its prices for the older iPhone 3G.

Oh so you mean we won't be gouged for iPhone prices with other networks? Great! Bring it on.

What I don't understand is why O2 charge ~£400 for a "pay as you go" iPhone yet you have to top up £10 per month. That isn't pay as you go. PAYG is letting me top up however much I friggin want. Hope these other networks let us do that.

yetanotherdave · Jul 15, 2009, 04:01 PM

Why oh why oh why would they miss off vodafone from that list. Dammit apple I want an iPHone on vodafone.

mcmonkiez · Jul 15, 2009, 04:05 PM

O2 is CRAP O2 3G speed is so slow i am using Orange Uk sim on iPhone 3G S campare with my mrs 3gs speed on o2 is so slow..

Orange is the best, paying 25 a month 1200 min, unlimited text, unlimited landline calls and unlimited internet usage. orks perfect on orange speed perfect 3g coverage perfect never see GPRS or E sign on iphone only 3G.. sound quality perfect plus u have music calling tones too lol

alexph · Jul 15, 2009, 04:06 PM

Given that where i live Vodafone is the only option, i really really hope that VF get a look in.

tiiim · Jul 15, 2009, 04:12 PM

bring on the competition and break the monopoly.

kas23 · Jul 15, 2009, 04:17 PM

OK, we need something like this in the states. This is excellent news for Apple and their customers, bad news for O2.

djellison · Jul 15, 2009, 04:22 PM

It's about damn time.

Of course, the idiots who were happy to pay £30 for the crappest contracts in the country will start bleating and moaning when O2 are forced to improve their offerings once other suppliers undercut them.

windywoo · Jul 15, 2009, 04:24 PM

To be fair to O2 I get a decent service from them... on a different phone altogether. I won't pay their huge prices for an iPhone when I can get tethering and internet access much cheaper elsewhere.

Shookster · Jul 15, 2009, 04:38 PM

I wonder if they'll support features like Visual Voicemail.

moabon.rob · Jul 15, 2009, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raggedjimmi

What I don't understand is why O2 charge ~£400 for a "pay as you go" iPhone yet you have to top up £10 per month. That isn't pay as you go. PAYG is letting me top up however much I friggin want. Hope these other networks let us do that.

You don't have to top up... but if you don't, then you get charged for your internet usage...

Saying that, o2 PAYG on any iPhone (if you text a lot or call a lot, or both) is quite extortionate - one reason I'm planning to get a Simplicity SIM soon.

mogzieee · Jul 15, 2009, 04:43 PM

This is probably just Apple angry that O2 managed to secure exclusivity to the Palm Pre and a plethora of other smartphones.

Also, hasn't this multiple-carrier stuff happened in France or some other European country already? I seem to remember there was some case about it.

Bakey · Jul 15, 2009, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yetanotherdave

Why oh why oh why would they miss off vodafone from that list. Dammit apple I want an iPHone on vodafone.

Because they're pap! Everyone I know who is on Voda can't wait to move on to other providers... Even considering the likes of 3

And as mogzieee has already mentioned; isn't this likely to be nothing more than Apple stamping their authority and reminding O2 that securing the Pre has consequences?

sibruk · Jul 15, 2009, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shookster

I wonder if they'll support features like Visual Voicemail.

I really can't imagine Apple wanting to work with a carrier that does not support the "user experience" they strive for. Visual Voicemail, unlimited internet, and now newer stuff like MMS... I would say they are all required for Apple to be interested.

andysmith · Jul 15, 2009, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcmonkiez

O2 is CRAP O2 3G speed is so slow i am using Orange Uk sim on iPhone 3G S campare with my mrs 3gs speed on o2 is so slow..

When I tested tethering on my 3G, the download speeds I got were comparable with my Three and Vodafone mobile broadband dongles. I've never had an issue with speed on o2, just coverage.

Stig McNasty · Jul 15, 2009, 05:44 PM

Excellent news - and I've only just gone to O2 with the 3GS. Orange is the best for reception here (halfway between Worcester and Kidderminster), then it's a long way to O2. Voda and the rest are utter, utter pants.
At least it may kick O2 enough to *gasp* compete.

BlizzardBomb · Jul 15, 2009, 05:49 PM

O2 are furious. Oh boo hoo. The only reason to be furious is that you know you haven't been providing customers a good deal. Competition is a great thing.

Jul 15, 2009, 03:38 PM	#2
Macjames macrumors 6502a Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: York, North Yorkshire, England	would not like to be o2 now __________________ Macjames MacBook Air 1.6Ghz 80GB HDD, MacBook Core 2 Duo 2.2Ghz 2GB RAM iPhone 16GB 3GS!, iPhone 3G 8GB, iPhone 8GB, iPod Touch 16GB

Jul 15, 2009, 03:46 PM	#4
spillproof macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Florida, USA	Good for Apple. Competition is a good thing. __________________ I don't know what to put here.

Jul 15, 2009, 03:47 PM	#5
Compile 'em all macrumors 68020 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: 127.0.0.1	uhmm...how? time to read the article __________________ Apps: Facebook a Quote Site: http://www.madebypharaohs.com

Jul 15, 2009, 03:48 PM	#6
moabon.rob macrumors member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Southampton, UK	Depends where you are I guess... o2 have nothing to worry about in Southampton, where T-Mobile signal is a bit hit-and-miss and Orange signal is sub-sub-par... __________________ MacBook Pro, 2.2GHz, 2GB RAM, 160GB HDD, NVIDIA 8600 GT (128mb)  Final Cut Studio 2  LaCie 500GB d2 quadra  iPod 5th G. 60GB  iPhone 1st G. 8GB

Jul 15, 2009, 03:54 PM	#8
alhasa macrumors member Join Date: Jul 2008	this is great news! its about time some other carriers were given the chance to undercut o2's ridiculously high pricing on the iPhone. BRING ON THE COMPETITION! __________________ MacBook 2.2 C2D SR iPhone 3GS 16gb black

Jul 15, 2009, 03:43 PM	#3
Steve Jobs=God macrumors 6502 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Plymouth, UK	Hmm, interesting I work for Orange, in a fairly high up role but not heard anything about this, though it certainly is a mouth watering prospect!

Jul 15, 2009, 03:52 PM	#7
GezDaFez macrumors newbie Join Date: Feb 2008	O2 reception in my house is non existent, so going back to T mobile would be a major plus for me. plus my contract runs out in November. good timing

Jul 15, 2009, 03:56 PM	#9
mike3410 macrumors newbie Join Date: Jun 2009	My contract ended with vodafone a month ago and to try make me stay the guy on the phonesaid that they are likely to have the iphone in the next 6 months. I didn't believe it at the time but does sound likely even though vodafone weren't mentioned there.

Jul 15, 2009, 04:01 PM	#11
yetanotherdave macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Weston-Super-Mare, England	Why oh why oh why would they miss off vodafone from that list. Dammit apple I want an iPHone on vodafone. __________________ yetanotherdave.com \| twitter.com/yetanotherdave Uni MacBook Pro SD \| 2.66Ghz Core2Duo \| 320Gb \| 4Gb \| 10.6.2 iPhone 3g White 16Gb

Jul 15, 2009, 04:05 PM	#12
mcmonkiez macrumors member Join Date: Jan 2009	O2 is CRAP O2 3G speed is so slow i am using Orange Uk sim on iPhone 3G S campare with my mrs 3gs speed on o2 is so slow.. Orange is the best, paying 25 a month 1200 min, unlimited text, unlimited landline calls and unlimited internet usage. orks perfect on orange speed perfect 3g coverage perfect never see GPRS or E sign on iphone only 3G.. sound quality perfect plus u have music calling tones too lol

Jul 15, 2009, 04:06 PM	#13
alexph macrumors member Join Date: Dec 2008	Given that where i live Vodafone is the only option, i really really hope that VF get a look in.

Jul 15, 2009, 04:12 PM	#14
tiiim macrumors member Join Date: Jun 2005	bring on the competition and break the monopoly.

Jul 15, 2009, 04:17 PM	#15
kas23 macrumors 68020 Join Date: Oct 2007	OK, we need something like this in the states. This is excellent news for Apple and their customers, bad news for O2.

Jul 15, 2009, 04:22 PM	#16
djellison macrumors 68000 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Leicester, UK	It's about damn time. Of course, the idiots who were happy to pay £30 for the crappest contracts in the country will start bleating and moaning when O2 are forced to improve their offerings once other suppliers undercut them.

Jul 15, 2009, 04:24 PM	#17
windywoo Banned Join Date: May 2009	To be fair to O2 I get a decent service from them... on a different phone altogether. I won't pay their huge prices for an iPhone when I can get tethering and internet access much cheaper elsewhere.

Jul 15, 2009, 04:38 PM	#18
Shookster macrumors member Join Date: Feb 2009	I wonder if they'll support features like Visual Voicemail.

Jul 15, 2009, 04:43 PM	#20
mogzieee macrumors 6502a Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Oxford, UK.	This is probably just Apple angry that O2 managed to secure exclusivity to the Palm Pre and a plethora of other smartphones. Also, hasn't this multiple-carrier stuff happened in France or some other European country already? I seem to remember there was some case about it. __________________ 15" MacBook Pro 2.4GHz, 8GB iPod touch, 1GB iPod shuffle, MobileMe. website. blog. twitter.

Jul 15, 2009, 05:44 PM	#24
Stig McNasty macrumors member Join Date: Sep 2007	Excellent news - and I've only just gone to O2 with the 3GS. Orange is the best for reception here (halfway between Worcester and Kidderminster), then it's a long way to O2. Voda and the rest are utter, utter pants. At least it may kick O2 enough to gasp compete.

Jul 15, 2009, 05:49 PM	#25
BlizzardBomb macrumors 68020 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: England	O2 are furious. Oh boo hoo. The only reason to be furious is that you know you haven't been providing customers a good deal. Competition is a great thing. __________________ Mid '09 13" MBP, Rev. B iMac G5, iPod classic 80 GB, 1st Gen iPod nano 2 GB Retired: 4th Gen iPod 20 GB

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