I went to every CPW and O2 store in my area (6 of them!) to try and get some info that was actually correct. I figured that if I tried every store then I would take the most common answers as being correct. As it was, they all said the same thing. With this in mind I am assuming the below to be correct, but don't quote me! Cos they all could have been wrong.
Firstly, stock allocation.
O2 has told all stores that they will be overstocking on 3GS's to avoid the problems they have previously had. There is going to be a plentiful supply of contract phones. However, not one store knew what it's PAYG allocation was going to be. They said they will be arriving on Thursday and only then will they know.
Secondly, tethering.
O2 do not have any technology to know whether you are tethering or not. How they will know is purely by high data usage. If your data usage appears high, they will get in touch with you to say it is, and that they assume this is likely to be as a result of tethering without the bolt on. You will be sent two more messages if you do not stop, and after the third, they will begin to charge you for every MB used. It seems the bolt on is merely a marker on your account to say that you are allowed to use as much data as you want. I guess unlimited doesn't mean unlimited as per usual!
And lastly, uptake.
Every staff member I spoke to said they had taken a huge amount of calls/emails/queries for stock and that the majority of people were going to be starting a new contract and then just ending their existing one come Jan. Lot of people willing to change their number seemingly. They were expecting sales to be as high as they were for 3g, which is why, I expect, O2 are not budging, or indeed entertaining any complaints, re the price. They also said with this in mind that there was no plans to reduce prices.
I am in town on Friday at a convention, so will only be able to get to the shops at lunchtime, so hoping there will be PAYG ones left.
Oh, and O2 stores are opening at 9:02am on launch day, not 7:02am.
Firstly, stock allocation.
O2 has told all stores that they will be overstocking on 3GS's to avoid the problems they have previously had. There is going to be a plentiful supply of contract phones. However, not one store knew what it's PAYG allocation was going to be. They said they will be arriving on Thursday and only then will they know.
Secondly, tethering.
O2 do not have any technology to know whether you are tethering or not. How they will know is purely by high data usage. If your data usage appears high, they will get in touch with you to say it is, and that they assume this is likely to be as a result of tethering without the bolt on. You will be sent two more messages if you do not stop, and after the third, they will begin to charge you for every MB used. It seems the bolt on is merely a marker on your account to say that you are allowed to use as much data as you want. I guess unlimited doesn't mean unlimited as per usual!
And lastly, uptake.
Every staff member I spoke to said they had taken a huge amount of calls/emails/queries for stock and that the majority of people were going to be starting a new contract and then just ending their existing one come Jan. Lot of people willing to change their number seemingly. They were expecting sales to be as high as they were for 3g, which is why, I expect, O2 are not budging, or indeed entertaining any complaints, re the price. They also said with this in mind that there was no plans to reduce prices.
I am in town on Friday at a convention, so will only be able to get to the shops at lunchtime, so hoping there will be PAYG ones left.
Oh, and O2 stores are opening at 9:02am on launch day, not 7:02am.
Very helpful.
