Orange Announces Plans to Offer iPhone in UK

[MacRumors]

Wireless carrier Orange today issued a brief announcement revealing that it has struck a deal with Apple to offer the iPhone 3G and 3GS in the United Kingdom, ending rival carrier O2's iPhone exclusivity in that country. Details on pricing and a launch date will be announced at a later date.

Orange, which has the largest 3G network covering more people in the UK than any other operator, will sell iPhone in all Orange direct channels including Orange shops, the Orange webshop and Orange telesales channels, as well as selected high street partners. A pre-registration site for customers to log their interest has been launched at www.Orange.co.uk/iPhone

Several reports surfaced in recent months claiming that Apple would be ending its exclusive arrangement with O2 and that Orange and T-Mobile would most likely be the primary bidders to begin offering the iPhone there.

Article Link: Orange Announces Plans to Offer iPhone in UK

[ditzy]

This is great news, I'm looking forward to moving to orange.

[MacUser09]

Damn! I was really hoping Vodafone UK would be next on the list to get the iPhone.
As much as I would like to get one, I am very happy with Vodafone, and will not change airtime providers.
Sigh! Maybe in the future.

[paulcdb]

If I though orange would be able to unlock my 3gs I'd move when my contract ends in December but I bet o2 are the only ones who can and doubt they will change there policy

[crazytrain]

The phrase "out of the frying pan..." springs to mind. My experience with Orange is pretty atrocious to say the least. Was also hoping for anyone other then them to replace O2. Ah well, at least it might drive prices down....

[Porco]

Great news for me because I'm already on Orange and haven't got an iPhone yet... this might be the last thing that finally gets me to buy one. Also, if the merger of Orange and T-Mobile in the UK goes ahead it should mean the coverage is pretty decent, hopefully.

I still think Apple should let everyone sell them, but at least it's some kind of progress.

[fastbite]

Choice! Weird...

[fabian9]

Originally Posted by MacRumors

Wireless carrier Orange today issued a brief announcement revealing that it has struck a deal with Apple to offer the iPhone 3G and 3GS in the United Kingdom, ending rival carrier O2's iPhone exclusivity in that country. Details on pricing and a launch date will be announced at a later date.Several reports surfaced in recent months claiming that Apple would be ending its exclusive arrangement with O2 and that Orange and T-Mobile would most likely be the primary bidders to begin offering the iPhone there.

Article Link: Orange Announces Plans to Offer iPhone in UK

So glad to hear this. Hopefully it'll come to fruition before my contract runs out in March 2010 as it should push contract prices down significantly.

[Dagless]

Maybe if this was about the Zune or Eminem it would have made the front page. It's fairly major news after all .

I hope this event brings prices down, and I hope it winds up on Vodafone too. Good times ahead!

[julianna1973]

I wonder if it means it will be available on Tmobile since Orange is supposed to be merging with them or will that be way down the line?

[Fruiteatingbear]

Anyone know if it will be possible to move UK iPhone's currently locked to O2 to Orange? (without the nearly monthly upgrade re-jailbreak, re unlock routine)

[ukcolinr]

I was also hoping for Vodafone! I hope that future handset releases will at least be on o2 and Orange and not exclusive to Orange. Orange's coverage (and T-Mobiles also) in my area is appalling, poor 2G and no 3G, I was an Orange customer for about 6 years being told every year at renewal that they had plans to install a new mast in my area, that mast still is not present!

Please Don't make the iPhone exclusive to Orange lol

[Willis]

This could be interesting... I will move providers if they offer a lower contract or more for my money. I guess its wait and see. My current iPhone contract expires in January '10 so I'll hold off till the next version anyway. Let the dust settle and go from there

[NightFox]

Originally Posted by Willis

This could be interesting... I will move providers if they offer a lower contract or more for my money. I guess its wait and see. My current iPhone contract expires in January '10 so I'll hold off till the next version anyway. Let the dust settle and go from there

Have to say, I think us O2 contract customers in the UK get a pretty good deal already compared to much of the rest of the world, and on the two occasions I've had to use O2 customer service, it's been nothing short of excellent.

I too originally thought "great" when I saw Orange were also getting the iPhone, but I don't think it's actually going to make any difference for me personally, unless they undercut O2 massively on the contracts which I don't see them doing. Still, a bit of competition maybe...

[Pagemakers]

Thank god.

I can’t wait to buy myself out of my 6 month old o2 contract.

They are well and truly awful

The worst phone operator I have ever been with.

[Jowl]

The competition can only be good - even if Orange's customer service sucks.

If they offer me (some) free tethering, they could well tempt me over in January.

Although I'll probably wait for the next iPhone model before upgrading me thinks.

[Bevz]

I wonder if this means O2 will have to unlock your phone when your contract expires.. They've been using the excuse that they're the exclusive carrier to refuse to unlock....

[KP Nuts]

Originally Posted by MacUser09

Damn! I was really hoping Vodafone UK would be next on the list to get the iPhone.
As much as I would like to get one, I am very happy with Vodafone, and will not change airtime providers.
Sigh! Maybe in the future.

Work for Vodafone much?

[mattyb240]

WOOOOHOOOOO thank god hopefully my discounts will rollover when they announce it! Bring on may when my current runs out.

[OllyW]

Originally Posted by ukcolinr

...Orange's coverage (and T-Mobiles also) in my area is appalling, poor 2G and no 3G...

A lot of people say exactly the same thing about O2. More people will now be able to get 3G coverage with an iPhone, let's hope they can get the iPhone on all the UK networks and make everyone happy.

[ukcolinr]

My personal opinion is o2 are OK... Nothing more... I very much dislike how they charge for everything abroad, I travel a lot with work so this is an issue for me...

They charge if you don't answer to re-direct your call to your voicemail (even if no message left) - Vodafone don't do this...
They charge you to disable your voicemail outside the UK despite the recorded greeting saying there is no charge for this call (no need to do this on Vodafone as not charged for voicemail in first place)
They charge you to call Customer Services outside the UK (again, Vodafone don't do this)
Their customer service agents on the phone seem to have a no can do attitude! I've found you always get a better result emailing, but obviously there is a delay involved in contacting them that way.

Personally I don't see that the iPhone going to Orange is going to resolve any of my above complaints because none of them are issues exclusive to the iPhone but o2's product offering as a whole

In their favour they have the best coverage in my area (except Vodafone haha!)

Just a few more of my thoughts

Colin

[Bevz]

The Orange website says tariffs to be issues soon.... If they offer unlimited texts on a £35 a month contract they've got my money... I can't see them offering the same as O2, they'll want to undercut them to steal all their existing customers (that's the yard stick most mobile phone companies measure themselves against), so fingers crossed....!

[ibosie]

Originally Posted by NightFox

Have to say, I think us O2 contract customers in the UK get a pretty good deal already compared to much of the rest of the world, and on the two occasions I've had to use O2 customer service, it's been nothing short of excellent.

I too originally thought "great" when I saw Orange were also getting the iPhone, but I don't think it's actually going to make any difference for me personally, unless they undercut O2 massively on the contracts which I don't see them doing. Still, a bit of competition maybe...

I'm with you. O2 has been an excellent partner for Apple, adopting every new feature from the word go, providing the username bypass to avoid image compression, having some of the best plans in the world, and, for a mobile phone outfit excellent customer services. The network is congested now so I'm looking forward to Orange having some of it.

[cervaro]

Have to say I was hoping for Vodafone too as they are the only network that I've had near perfect coverage from.

[j_maddison]

Originally Posted by Pagemakers

Thank god.

I can’t wait to buy myself out of my 6 month old o2 contract.

They are well and truly awful

The worst phone operator I have ever been with.

They're not perfect I agree, but I've never been on a network that was a shockingly bad for customer service as Orange. Mind you I've never tried 3 lol

Still competition is always good, I just hope these phones will be unlocked. I could get an upgrade through a family member, and pop my sim (o2) into it. Happy days!