Gutted! I'm a vodaphone user. With no O2 coverage where i live
Same here. I can only get Voda... bollocks
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Apple to Partner with O2 for iPhone UK? Orange in France?
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Same here. I can only get Voda... bollocks
If reports about the sloth-like performance of EDGE in the States are to be believed, then if the iPhone is released in the UK with only GPRS support there is no way they can advertise it as a "Revolutionary Internet Communicating Device", especially given the lack of free Wi-fi hotspots over here.
I just can't see it not having 3G support. The arguments about space and power just don't sit well with me, given that other manufacturers have overcome these to create very slim and sexy 3G handsets.
I just can't see it not having 3G support. The arguments about space and power just don't sit well with me, given that other manufacturers have overcome these to create very slim and sexy 3G handsets.
I think the article got quite a few of the finer details wrong, including this crap about it being limited to 3 countries. Nonsense. There is no way there are going to miss out on on some of the world's richest territories (the Benelux countries, NL, Ireland etc) and, if they don't stake their claim in time for this Christmas, Apple will blow their head-start in those markets.
Trust me, there will be a lot of arm-twisting and bargaining between now and September but, by November, iphones will appear on the store shelves of all the developed European countries but not Eastern Europe and Italy.
O2? Yuck.
Their web bundles suck, they have a bad image (imo) and I couldn't wait to get off them.
Orange has great coverage here and sweet contracts for SMS. O2 seems to dislike messaging.
Also why do some people call it 02? Surely it's a reference to oxygen?
Their web bundles suck, they have a bad image (imo) and I couldn't wait to get off them.
Orange has great coverage here and sweet contracts for SMS. O2 seems to dislike messaging.
Also why do some people call it 02? Surely it's a reference to oxygen?
Yeah, if Jobs' recent comments are anything to go by, a 3G iPhone in Europe will be fat and have crap battery life. But give us the current iPhone on a non-EDGE network and we will have unusable internet on GPRS. Which, for an internet communications device is kind of defeating it's purpose.
Something doesn't really add up. I just can't see how they could release an iPhone here without 3G. But if they do, then why wasn't it done in the US in the first place?
However, I don't think we should be too concerned with the network's current data rates. As they proved with AT&T in the States, we are bound to see special iPhone data plans announced that aren't too ridiculous.
I'm just getting fed up with waiting for an announcement. I hate myself for getting so eager for the release of a bloody phone, but every mobile I've ever had has been a massive crock of s hite and I know I'm going to love this thing. Plus, I'm afraid the iBug got me years ago. I've always been a PAYG customer - never had a contract phone in my life but I know I will signup with whoever on the spot just so I can have one. Damn you
Something doesn't really add up. I just can't see how they could release an iPhone here without 3G. But if they do, then why wasn't it done in the US in the first place?
However, I don't think we should be too concerned with the network's current data rates. As they proved with AT&T in the States, we are bound to see special iPhone data plans announced that aren't too ridiculous.
I'm just getting fed up with waiting for an announcement. I hate myself for getting so eager for the release of a bloody phone, but every mobile I've ever had has been a massive crock of s hite and I know I'm going to love this thing. Plus, I'm afraid the iBug got me years ago. I've always been a PAYG customer - never had a contract phone in my life but I know I will signup with whoever on the spot just so I can have one. Damn you
I'm on Virgin (T-Mobile network), £10 per month 300 roll-over minutes (including international calls!) and 300 texts.
It's a monthly contract but I'm not locked in, can quit and see out the month, no penalties. I chose that deal because I knew the iphone was coming and I might need to drop Virgin quickly
My prediction: 3G, same size, same battery, 20% less battery life.
Also, 16GB flash will be available to Apple at the right price but they won't launch the Euro iphone as both 3G and 16GB for fear of enraging their American customers.
I'm absolutely up for one too but I'm afraid that it does have to be 3G, no point otherwise.... Plus, I'm afraid the iBug got me years ago. I've always been a PAYG customer - never had a contract phone in my life but I know I will signup with whoever on the spot just so I can have one. Damn you
I'm also hoping that, with 3G, they'll also get rid of the pass-through restriction and allow us to use our iphones as Bluetooth modems for our laptops. I'd certainly be willing to pay a higher tariff for that functionality.
Lush I'm with O2, definately get one now, my ipod nano (1st gen) is a bit to battered to use now... plus i hate using "mobile internet", i prefer to be sat down, preferably in wifi enabled cafes, less chance of walking into someone, so all the edge crap doesnt bother me
£300 for the cheapest model (possibly)?
oh we do love to get ripped off here
£300 for the cheapest model (possibly)?
oh we do love to get ripped off here
I thought the whole point of this thing was to give us access the 'proper' internet wherever you are. Having to find a hotspot before you can properly use the net features is ridiculous. I may as well just take my laptop with me everywhere I go Plus, the majority of hotspots I've ever come across require you to pay extortionate amounts to use them.
Plus, the majority of hotspots I've ever come across require you to pay extortionate amounts to use them.3G has the EDGE
It is my understanding that the actual power use of a mobile phone also depends on the quality of the coverage (density of base stations). In the Netherlands my 3G signal is usually 100%, so the radio in the phone doesn't need to use its full tx power.
The US situation may mean that 3G would use far more power due to the state of the network.
Maybe Nokia can show Apple how to implement 3G in a tiny phone and integrate a GPS as well?
To answer Daneoni's question: EDGE means Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution and works by implementing a new modulation scheme in current GSM networks. It's roughly GPRS on steroids. To implement it, you only need some component and software upgrades at the base stations - making it attractive to providers. Maximum theoretical speed is 384 kbits/sec, in practice 150-200 kbits/sec. The actual speed varies with quality of the connection.
Compare that to 3G HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) connections: 1800 kilobits/sec typical, 3600 kilobits/sec (or even 7200 kilobits/sec!) maximum. Comparable to cheap DSL lines. Basically, HSDPA is to WCDMA (UMTS) what EDGE is to GSM/GPRS. The whole T-Mobile network has HSDPA, the whole Vodafone network has HSDPA. Actually, there are now (as of July 2, 2007) over 70 commercial HSDPA networks in 29 European countries. More info about coverage here (free registration required).
That's why Europeans would rather see a 3G iPhone!
It is my understanding that the actual power use of a mobile phone also depends on the quality of the coverage (density of base stations). In the Netherlands my 3G signal is usually 100%, so the radio in the phone doesn't need to use its full tx power.
The US situation may mean that 3G would use far more power due to the state of the network.
Maybe Nokia can show Apple how to implement 3G in a tiny phone and integrate a GPS as well?
To answer Daneoni's question: EDGE means Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution and works by implementing a new modulation scheme in current GSM networks. It's roughly GPRS on steroids. To implement it, you only need some component and software upgrades at the base stations - making it attractive to providers. Maximum theoretical speed is 384 kbits/sec, in practice 150-200 kbits/sec. The actual speed varies with quality of the connection.
Compare that to 3G HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) connections: 1800 kilobits/sec typical, 3600 kilobits/sec (or even 7200 kilobits/sec!) maximum. Comparable to cheap DSL lines. Basically, HSDPA is to WCDMA (UMTS) what EDGE is to GSM/GPRS. The whole T-Mobile network has HSDPA, the whole Vodafone network has HSDPA. Actually, there are now (as of July 2, 2007) over 70 commercial HSDPA networks in 29 European countries. More info about coverage here (free registration required).
That's why Europeans would rather see a 3G iPhone!
This is really informative and made me very happy indeed.
Out of curiosity, did any of the UK networks ever make any profit on the ~£20bn they spent on 3G licenses? I thought 3G had been somewhat of a flop here.
Pardon my American ignorance, folks, but what are the major features that distinguish 2G vs 3G? I've played with iPhone thrice already, and find that it's beyond awesome. Anyone care to list a few major features that aren't available in 2G over 3G? Thanks!
Why not just unlock it
Hi every one
I really can't understand apple. I love their computers and software and I really thought that they want their products to be used be everyone. So why not unlock the iphone so everyone can buy it and use it, no matter what carrier they have. I particularly don't mind not having "visual voice mail" and what ever "3G, 2.5G, EDGE, GPRS" each one is using.... they could just release different iphones, ones that support EDGE, others 3G, others 2.5G what ever and the customer would just choose which one would work with their network and we would all be happy, all over the world, and not this exclusivity deal of having to change networks just to use a phone. The price of the iphone I think is very reasonable considering what it does.I think like this apple would sell more than the 10 million they expect. much,much more.
Just my 2c
Hi every one
I really can't understand apple. I love their computers and software and I really thought that they want their products to be used be everyone. So why not unlock the iphone so everyone can buy it and use it, no matter what carrier they have. I particularly don't mind not having "visual voice mail" and what ever "3G, 2.5G, EDGE, GPRS" each one is using.... they could just release different iphones, ones that support EDGE, others 3G, others 2.5G what ever and the customer would just choose which one would work with their network and we would all be happy, all over the world, and not this exclusivity deal of having to change networks just to use a phone. The price of the iphone I think is very reasonable considering what it does.I think like this apple would sell more than the 10 million they expect. much,much more.
Just my 2c
Edge is enhanced GPRS. I don't have the speeds handy, but IIRC Edge is maybe twice as fast as GPRS. 3G can be 4X or 8X Edge. (again off the top of my head).
Update: Again, though it might be useful to pin down the numbers, al of this is effectively profoundly by one's distance to the cell tower: this may be the biggest factor. However, everything else equal or if you're very close to a cell tower, you'll get better speed on 3G than Edge than GPRS.
Pardon my American ignorance, folks, but what are the major features that distinguish 2G vs 3G? I've played with iPhone thrice already, and find that it's beyond awesome. Anyone care to list a few major features that aren't available in 2G over 3G? Thanks!
Its like 56K Dialup vs T1/T2 Broadband. Oversimplifying though....
Hi every one
I really can't understand apple. I love their computers and software and I really thought that they want their products to be used be everyone. So why not unlock the iphone so everyone can buy it and use it, no matter what carrier they have. I particularly don't mind not having "visual voice mail" and what ever "3G, 2.5G, EDGE, GPRS" each one is using.... they could just release different iphones, ones that support EDGE, others 3G, others 2.5G what ever and the customer would just choose which one would work with their network and we would all be happy, all over the world, and not this exclusivity deal of having to change networks just to use a phone. The price of the iphone I think is very reasonable considering what it does.I think like this apple would sell more than the 10 million they expect. much,much more.
Just my 2c
Jesus, do people really not understand that Apple are using the the iphone as leverage to force the telecoms business to stop raping their customers. Apple realizes that it must do this because, left to their own greed and stupidity, the telcos will spend the next decade stunting innovation and new market growth.
Have you ever met a telco executive - absolute, dribbling morons. Unless that entire industry gets it's act together, there is no point in Apple trying to do anything. Steve Jobs realizes that he has ONE chance, one opportunity to use the clout the ipod's success has given him to break down the walls and play the telcos off against one another. These bastards don't want to give away so much power but they are terrified that, if they don't, their competitors will.
The end result, if the gamble pays off, will be a true mass market for mobile broadband and telcos that are far more customer-oriented.
size, heat and power consumption (and expense) are all connected. Europe has better 3G coverage which could justify the all of the costs of current generation 3G chipsets for Europe when the justification doesn't quite work for the US. However, it may be that Apple wants to build one hardware product for Worldwide distribution. We'll see. It may be that carriers are anxious to sell the iPHone and get in with Apple now so that when the 3G comes out they'll be ready. As we saw in the US, some will gladly buy an iPhone for its other cpaibilities (including WiFi access) even if its not 3G.
The European 3G is basically the same as the AT&T US 3G. The US has other 3G networks from SprintPCS and Verizon, but in terms of Jobs comments on 3G chipsets it refers to the same 3G as that found in Europe.
Sorry Donnacha, but I don't understand. What has this got to do with the rest of us. Some of us don't live in America or Europe, and we would also like to buy and use an iphone. That's all. What have we got to do with with what you are talking about???
All we want is to have an iphone and use it, where ever we are and with what ever telcom we currently have...
All we want is to have an iphone and use it, where ever we are and with what ever telcom we currently have...
