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3G iPhone for UK Customers?

I really hope this does happen. I so badly want my iPhone in the UK. O2 would have been my preferred network, Vodafone ain't bad i guess.
 
While I don't think that it will be announced on Monday, it does make sense that Apple would wait to release a 3G version of the iPhone in Europe. After all, don't most European countries prohibit the sale of SIM locked 2G phones?
 
dalvin200 said:
Apple announced the iPhone in Jan and made US customers wait 6 months before it came to market.. so why wouldn't they announce it in europe and make us wait 5-6 months, which would tie in with their Q4 release to market.
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...because the development of the iPhone was being kept secret as best Apple could do... but once Apple submitted FCC documents and started AT&T network testing they felt they needed to announce it so they could control information release as much as possible since info would leak anyways.
 
I hope so! All the ads for Vodafone's mobile internet confuse me though... Why would clocks be dropping from the sky.. whats that got to do with the internet..
 
What are people really expecting from the UK iphone? I mean at the end of the day, they have 2 to choose from, 2G or 3G. They have not 2.5G here, as EDGE doesnt exist (only on orange, but 3G is alot more reliable and popular).

At the end of the day, they would be extremely stupid to make it 2G. That means it will be connecting to the internet at a measly 48kbps, compared to the 236kbps or so of edge, or 348kbps of 3G, or even 3.6mbs of HSDPA!

Being such a internet orientated phone, they really have no choice but to make it 3G.
 
I don't think the article is anything more than speculation - but some of it makes sense.

I can imagine Vodafone will pull out all the stops to carry the iPhone, particularly if it's as popular as it looks it going to be in the UK. Apple & the iPhone don't sit comfortably with Vodafone's business model, but loosing the iPhone deal to a competitor wouldn't be something they'd put up with. They're the biggest and they throw their weight around and adapt when they need to. Now they need to.

edesignuk said:
Although Vodafone have recently revamped their data tariff is is still a huge rip-off. £7.50 for 130MB of usage. Morons.
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Agreed. They know they'll have to go to a flat rate model before too long - they're just milking the customer whilst they still can.

T-mobile, on the other hand already offer a very reasonable unlimited Internet access plan - web 'n' walk for £7.50/month. This would be very compatible with the iPhone - and being one of the smaller players (in the UK at least), they'll have less to loose by toeing the Apple line.

I'm surprised to see Carphone Warehouse in there (as an MVNO - did I read that correctly)? That'd be interesting.

I don't know if the iPhone will be available in the UK on more than one network - but from a consumer point of view, I bloody hope it will be.

And as for 3G, I'm sure Apple will put it in as soon as the weight, battery life and reliability issues come within acceptable limits.

SL

EDIT: I hope Vodafone don't release the iPhone on Monday. I just sold Vodafone stock and took out a 1 year contract on a N95.
 
Firmware Update to 3G????

I've heard speculation that the new iPhone may be firmware upgradeable to 3G. Any credibility to that. I also heard that via software and/or firmware upgrades that other features, like video, might be enabled. What kinds of hardware features might this include? Please advise.
 
Fatgadget said:
Hi Guys

After a bit of further investigation, one UK online mobile retailer has posted details of the iPhone with a Vodafone contract, and they have now changed their website and taken this information off.
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the info is in goggles cache :)

http://209.85.135.104/search?q=cach...ree&hl=de&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=de&client=firefox-a

Personally I think its wishful thinking. Ive seen a few vodafone shops websites in Germany over the last few months have teaser adds like this.
 
Why 2 carriers?

Vodafone has European coverage right? So why would T-Mobile get a share of the pie as well? And neither of them uses EDGE, so unless you want to use the phone at GSM speeds :p it has to be a 3G model. Which is why I think this rumor is pure bs.

Here in The Netherlands Vodafone is the #2 carrier with fine coverage and good data speeds. As for prices though, I think AT&T is quite reasonable. My plan is EUR 35 + EUR 9,50 for 'fair use' data (no limit set) and 350 minutes. So that's EUR 44,50 - or $60. And with all the extra charges for specific SMS services and certain phone numbers, my bill is almost $140 a month. That's the fun of owning a Nokia N95 I guess.

So in terms of cost, bring it on. But could someone explain to Apple that 1 EUR is not 1 USD? That is their current pricing policy, delivering a nice 30% extra profit.
 
Not to hijack the thread but is it possible that later versions of the American iPhone will support 3G. Just a thought and might make the iPhone worth waiting for.
 
iMaki said:
I've heard speculation that the new iPhone may be firmware upgradeable to 3G. Any credibility to that. I also heard that via software and/or firmware upgrades that other features, like video, might be enabled. What kinds of hardware features might this include? Please advise.
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Slim to no chance. 3G phones use different hardware all together, and it would be so pointless of apple to implement the hardware in the iphone, and then limit it to EDGE only.
 
phones2U are very dodgy, do not do any business with them!

almost as bad as Datakits UK....


These poeple are clever, they see the same stories we do and try and take advantage of it to con people out of money for products while some poeple think they 'must' be ligit as they posted this info early as a leak...
:rolleyes:

get wise poeple
 
jay-t said:
Why should apple bring a new version into the market right after start selling the first revision???!!!???

the customers would definitely be verry "disappointed" :mad:

Gizmodo published also an article regarding the EU-iphone rumor:

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/rumor/3g-iphone-monday-uk-announcement-is-bollocks-273518.php
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If Apple is going to make a 3G version it will still need to go through the EU type approval, and as with the FCC info will leak. So if this procedure is about to start, it could well be 3G and a pre announcement could be made including the chosen carrier(s).

I wouldnt rule out anything, but I also wouldnt expect anything!
 
Wow I just noticed this article was written by Guy Kewney. He's reliable I guess. I read his stuff in PCW every month.
 
superleccy said:
I don't know if the iPhone will be available in the UK on more than one network - but from a consumer point of view, I bloody hope it will be.
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The article says that both Vodafone and T-Mobile Germany will be carriers for the iPhone, but this doesn't necessarily mean that the iPhone will be on both networks in the UK.

So, let's take an educated guess:

Vodafone = exclusive carrier in the UK
T-Mobile Germany = exclusive carrier in Germany

That's the way we should interpret this article, imho.
 
RMD68 said:
Not to hijack the thread but is it possible that later versions of the American iPhone will support 3G. Just a thought and might make the iPhone worth waiting for.
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No that will never happen. We will be stuck with 2.5G forever :D
 
Mac-Addict said:
I hope so! All the ads for Vodafone's mobile internet confuse me though... Why would clocks be dropping from the sky.. whats that got to do with the internet..
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I absolutely can't stand phone adverts here. They're getting as pointless as car or beer adverts. Take away artistic merit - I want to know about the product and how awesome it is!

chaslam said:
Being such a internet orientated phone, they really have no choice but to make it 3G.
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Exactly. 2G or 3G, it's always going to be 3G.
 
Just an idea about battery power and 3g. Couldn't it be possible for apple to implement a system which uses 3g when internet use or video calls are used and switched back to gsm for standby use??? That's what I do to mantain my Samsung's battery alive for a few days...

Oops, maybe the switch wouldn't be fast enough for receiving the video calls :eek:

Well, just a thought...
 
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