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Apple to Partner with O2 for iPhone UK? Orange in France?
- Thread starter needthephone
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alternatives
Since it looks like Apple doesn't want our European money, I am looking at alternatives too. So yes, the Sony looks quite nice, and the P1 seems to be very interesting.
I am still curious about the samsung i600 which looks very nice (not like competing full keyboard phones) and even offers HSPDA.
My only concern is is I'll be able to use ISync with those phones. Apple has always been very lazy in updating their list of supported phones, and they are certainly not to include possibly better competition products in their list. There are third party solutions out there... only time will tell. But don't all Windows Mobile devices Sync with Apple Address book with some extension software?
Since it looks like Apple doesn't want our European money, I am looking at alternatives too. So yes, the Sony looks quite nice, and the P1 seems to be very interesting.
I am still curious about the samsung i600 which looks very nice (not like competing full keyboard phones) and even offers HSPDA.
My only concern is is I'll be able to use ISync with those phones. Apple has always been very lazy in updating their list of supported phones, and they are certainly not to include possibly better competition products in their list. There are third party solutions out there... only time will tell. But don't all Windows Mobile devices Sync with Apple Address book with some extension software?
I've have a read through this thread and apologies if it has been brought up already (I don't think it has), but everyone has been caught up with the debate over Edge and 3G to decide which operator gets the iPhone in Europe, or more specifically the UK. However, I haven't seen any mention of other features of the iPhone which are network dependant. Namely Visual Voicemail. This will require a system to be developed or in place will it not? I don't know about any other operators but I know mine does not have this system in place. So I guess it depends on who can add this feature as well. Probably doesn't take a lot of time to develop.
I take it the O2 new story is just speculation? I have a feeling it will be O2 in the UK, but it wouldn't surprise me if in the coming days/weeks, we see more stories claiming "insert operator name" has clinched the deal with Apple.
Wake me up when the facts are out.
I take it the O2 new story is just speculation? I have a feeling it will be O2 in the UK, but it wouldn't surprise me if in the coming days/weeks, we see more stories claiming "insert operator name" has clinched the deal with Apple.
Wake me up when the facts are out.
Interestingly however there does seem to be some contrary views floating round the net as to whether it is Vodafone or O2 in the UK, have a look at the attached.
http://www.trustedreviews.com/mobil...5/iPhone-Contains-T-Mobile-Vodafone-Images/p1
http://www.trustedreviews.com/mobil...5/iPhone-Contains-T-Mobile-Vodafone-Images/p1
No operator had this feature before Apple came up with it. So any carrier that Apple partners with will have to setup such a system, which I assume is quite easy.
These little pictures can easily be updated, it is just a simple matter of software update by apple. Apple would've also had to have known who the europe carriers were before they released the iphone in the states
A cunning plan, but only if you can get an iPhone without taking out another contract.
I'll just buy one from the apple store assuming the sales are handle the same way as in the states.
Last Weekend Changed Everything
The US launch of this device was a unique event. By all accounts they sold the best part of a million units in 4 days.
Its unprecedented. The similarly-priced PS3 has only just crawled up to a million US sales. (lol) They are not just buying a phone, customers are migrating to AT&T to switch.
Last Friday afternoon, Apple had no power. No track record, Nothing but a few samples. It just had two hole cards.
After the weekend, Apple was a player. Suddenly, the European carriers are eager to talk. Apple is sitting on a straight flush.
I am pretty sure that there are no deals yet. Because Apple has only just arrived at a position where it can negotiate from a place of strength.
The 3G networks are keen to get the iPhone, because it finally justifies their investment. And the iPhone WAS DESIGNED FOR 3G.
The 2.5 Networks might want to spoil that by securing it for themselves.
I bet Jobs is having a ton of fun right now.
C.
The US launch of this device was a unique event. By all accounts they sold the best part of a million units in 4 days.
Its unprecedented. The similarly-priced PS3 has only just crawled up to a million US sales. (lol) They are not just buying a phone, customers are migrating to AT&T to switch.
Last Friday afternoon, Apple had no power. No track record, Nothing but a few samples. It just had two hole cards.
After the weekend, Apple was a player. Suddenly, the European carriers are eager to talk. Apple is sitting on a straight flush.
I am pretty sure that there are no deals yet. Because Apple has only just arrived at a position where it can negotiate from a place of strength.
The 3G networks are keen to get the iPhone, because it finally justifies their investment. And the iPhone WAS DESIGNED FOR 3G.
The 2.5 Networks might want to spoil that by securing it for themselves.
I bet Jobs is having a ton of fun right now.
C.
I wasnt sugesting that Three was an option - just making the point that more or less every carrier has been linked to the iPhone!
This was always going to happen but it would be nice not to have contradicting rumors day in day ie T-Mobile Monday, Voda Tues o2 Wed...
I guess that it all adds to the hype!
**Just wishing some facts would come out as my current contract is up for renewal**
Are you serious??? Yeah right, Steve of Calcutta...
No offence, but I personally think the only reason they aren't selling the phone unlocked and in their own stores, is for the simple fact that they want in the subscription cake... I'm quite surprised they didn't start their own mvno(maybe too much of a gamble for a 1gen unproven product)...
We'll see what happens and if indeed customers are happy to get "raped" yet again, but by a new company, or if they will demand more for less...
This story looks very believable - Kewney is well respected over here - and I'd certainly be happier with Vodafone:
http://www.newswireless.net/index.cfm/article/3505
Nigel
http://www.newswireless.net/index.cfm/article/3505
Nigel
me too, im with o2 at the moment but it finishes in 2 months, i really hope its not with o2 because they arent compatible with me...how do i explain what i mean?...hm..ok heres my 16 months of bills:
Code:
Moto RAZR cost - 29.99
mar - 46.71
apr - 39.21
may - 50.92
jun - 51.40
jul - 38.23
aug - 71.98
sep - 54.10
oct - 94.12
nov - 109.58
dec - 87.86
jan - 96.32
feb - 64.07
mar - 76.95
apr - 210.28
may - 100.76
jun - 57.93
------------------
total - £1279.86
average cost per month - £78.12
so 18 months ~ £1436.10see what i mean now? i need a new provider with a more 'me compatible' plan. i think its mainly data charges which drive my bills up, checking macrumors rss etc. oh and the £210 was when i visited new york for 2 weeks and used my phone as a modem.
comparatively heres what i expect from the iPhone:
Code:
Contract per month - £35 (with unlimited data hopefully!)
My average spend per month - £40
Cost of iPhone 8GB - £379
so over 18 months contract total cost = 379 + (40*18) = £1099and £1099 for the iPhone sounds great to me in comparison to ~ £1436.10 for a RAZR(which broke so I'm on a PEBL!!!)
so in conclusion i hope it goes to vodafone as i can get a good contract through my dads work with them.
Crikey, Steve must be absolutely loving the fever pitch atmosphere surrounding his new baby! Talk about a coup for Apple!
I'd certainly be happier with Vodafone, also - in terms of the network infrastructure the future would just be far more rosy.
I'm not saying he's doing it out of altruism, I'm saying that he sees the short-sightedness of the telcos as a road-block between where he is and where he wants to go, he's trying to blast that road-block out of his way.
By charging so much for data, the telcos are shooting themselves in the foot because they are preventing a mass market from emerging. In the long-run, they will make a lot more money by making 3G mainstream but, right now, they are focused entirely on their next quarter's results and are unable to stand back and see the big picture.
Jobs has a big stick, the iphone - both the technology and the hype-machine. The thought of one of their competitors getting the iphone is just about the only thing that will force the telcos to consider dropping their prices to a level at which mainstream consumers will buy in.
If mainstream consumers don't buy into 3G, the iphone has no future, just as the ipod would have had no future if consumers hadn't bought into the concept of broadband and downloading music.
From that perspective you are right, the networks are taking way too long in bringing the data prices down... The change seems to be happening though, voda just droped their prices and t-mob had done it a few months back, but like you say, there's still work to be done. Saying that, I mantain that the only reason apple isn't selling the iphone solo, is because they want in a subscription based service. We'll also have to see if they can get away with those 2 year contracts...
on another line of thoughts though, I think apple should start marketing at least, as the other players are flooding europe with new advertising of their new stuff. I just came bach from central London, and the tube is flooded with HTC's touch, Nokias and Samsung posters... I know the press is helping them out with US news for free, but if indeed the iphone isn't coming for 4-6 months, they need to keep it hot around here...
I could put a tail on you and call you a weasel
I've been thinking about it some more and i could actually make money out of this because i have a K800 i can sell which are prorbaly worth about £80-120 and an 8Gb nano which again is probably worth at least £100 on ebay. So combine this with the P1 or N95 sales gives a grand total (bargain hunt style drum roll) of somewhere between £400 and £500. Brilliant.