Apple Unable to Find iPhone Partner in Europe?

[emotion]

Also, as much as I like Apple and the Iphone, it won't be long before some companies will pick up on the concept and produce something very similar, if not better. If an operator allows revenue sharing with Apple, they will be losing to all the competition that will be able to pick up the new phones without revenue sharing.

There are some Chinese companies already producing some interesting copies. Not the same functionality yet but similar philosophy and in some cases higher resolution.

Depends on your faith in Apple's ability to produce a slick user interface.

ie. there's plenty of PCs out there so why bother buying a mac? It can be more expensive, is slightly less compatible and even has lesser features than the PC (laptop graphics cards anyone?). Apple still sell because OSX is very good (not perfect but good).

The same applies to phones.

The wrinkle for Apple is having to deal with the very competitive phone market and it's players.

 

[wackattack]

they'll come around. especially if it does good here in the US

Guess you should know what is going on in europe before you say that. My bet is, and read carefully now :

Apple is looking for one carrier that covers the whole of europe. Well such a carrier doesn't exist in europe. So my bet is that Apple is forcing some telecoms to merge. This is the only way Apple can get one carrier in whole europe.

Then another thing. In my country (Belgium) it is even forbidden by law to sell a phone together with a subscription so Apple is asking things that just can't be done.

 

[emotion]

Guess you should know what is going on in europe before you say that. My bet is, and read carefully now :

Apple is looking for one carrier that covers the whole of europe. Well such a carrier doesn't exist in europe. So my bet is that Apple is forcing some telecoms to merge. This is the only way Apple can get one carrier in whole europe.

Then another thing. In my country (Belgium) it is even forbidden by law to sell a phone together with a subscription so Apple is asking things that just can't be done.

If you're aware of this then Apple sure as hell are. I doubt they planned their whole business strategy on some false assumptions about the market that they would find hard to change. Y'know this is Apple here, they might be cocksure but they aren't that daft.

 

[lamadude]

Guess you should know what is going on in europe before you say that. My bet is, and read carefully now :

Apple is looking for one carrier that covers the whole of europe. Well such a carrier doesn't exist in europe. So my bet is that Apple is forcing some telecoms to merge. This is the only way Apple can get one carrier in whole europe.

Then another thing. In my country (Belgium) it is even forbidden by law to sell a phone together with a subscription so Apple is asking things that just can't be done.

Eum yeah apple is really going to tell huge telecom companies to merge because of their phone... Do you honnestly believe what you are saying?
And yup, as many fellow Belgians in this posts had allready stated, we will get the phone unlocked, or not at all, there's no other option.

 

[wackattack]

Eum yeah apple is really going to tell huge telecom companies to merge because of their phone... Do you honnestly believe what you are saying?
And yup, as many fellow Belgians in this posts had allready stated, we will get the phone unlocked, or not at all, there's no other option.

A iPhone that doesn't work in Brussels the capital of europe sounds to me more ridiculous then Apple being arrogant to european telecoms and saying they should merge. Well Apple sure believes it because they want one carrier and that doesn't exist! So who's the fool me or Apple?

And huge telecoms? Our telecoms are as huge as Apple so why not?

 

[emotion]

Well they sure believe it because they want one carrier and that doesn't exist? So who's the fool me or Apple?

Who's saying Apple have this unrealistic view?

 

[wackattack]

Who's saying Apple have this unrealistic view?

They do?! They said "one carrier for europe" is it so hard to really think? If no such carrier exists, why would apple even say they would use only one? They sure will have even known that there is no such carrier before they even made the phone.

 

[lamadude]

A iPhone that doesn't work in Brussels the capital of europe sounds to me more ridiculous then Apple being arrogant to european telecoms and saying they should merge. Well Apple sure believes it because they want one carrier and that doesn't exist! So who's the fool me or Apple?

And huge telecoms? Our telecoms are as huge as Apple so why not?

I really shouldnt bother responding to this but
Jeeez calling Brussels the capital of Europe THAT's arrogant, apple could learn quite a thing about arrogance from you. Just because it is home to some of the EU institutions does not make it the EU-capital, much less the capital of the whole continent

My prediction is that apple will launch in the countries where it will be able to agree with the telecom companies, and where their strategy is legal (so not belgium and finland). Similar to their iTunes store strategy, launch in a few countries and expand when possible.

 

[emotion]

They do?! They said "one carrier for europe" is it so hard to really think? If no such carrier exists, why would apple even say they would use only one? They sure will have even known that there is no such carrier before they even made the phone.

OK, if that is set on stone (which I'm not sure it is) that points to a MVNO of some sort.

You can't seriously be telling me Apple don't have a handle on this. They might not have a view that is popular with the networks but they'll have a realistic idea of a way forward with this.

I suspect something along the lines of no Belgium and Finland and then a big network like t-mobile or vodafone to cover most countries.

Edit: as is suggested above in fact.

 

[wackattack]

I really shouldnt bother responding to this but
Jeeez calling Brussels the capital of Europe THAT's arrogant, apple could learn quite a thing about arrogance from you. Just because it is home to some of the EU institutions does not make it the EU-capital, much less the capital of the whole continent

My prediction is that apple will launch in the countries where it will be able to agree with the telecom companies, and where their strategy is legal (so not belgium and finland). Similar to their iTunes store strategy, launch in a few countries and expand when possible.

I'm sorry but I think your geography is lacking somewhere. Brussels IS the capital city of Europe. I can't do anything about that, that's just how they made europe, with Brussels as it's capital city.

What's the next thing you gonna say? that washington aint the capital of the USA?

 

[emotion]

I'm sorry but I think your geography is lacking somewhere. Brussels IS the capital city of Europe. I can't do anything about that, that's just how they made europe, with Brussels as it's capital city.

Belgium is just the home of the "Central Beaurocracy" of Europe. All the cultural centres of Europe (Rome/Paris/Berlin/Barcelona/London/Amsterdam etc etc) with be grooving around with iPhones just after xmas

 

[gnasher729]

but the difference is that europe is not one country, it's a continent. i'm not even sure there is one phone company operating in all the european countries. plus, as i have learnt in this thread, there are vastly different laws in each country as to locking and subsidies.

Well, let's see. There are two possibilities:

1. Apple is run by a bunch of complete morons who can't figure out that Europe consists of more than one country, and they try desperately to find one company that sells the iPhone everywhere in Europe, and Steve Jobs commits suicide because nobody takes the iPhone.

2. Apple finds _one_ operator for each country in Europe, signing a contract with the same operator for several countries if possible.

Which one, please tell me, will happen?

 

[Compile 'em all]

I'm sorry but I think your geography is lacking somewhere. Brussels IS the capital city of Europe. I can't do anything about that, that's just how they made europe, with Brussels as it's capital city.

What's the next thing you gonna say? that washington aint the capital of the USA?

Please don't derail the thread off topic. Thanks .

 

[wackattack]

OK, if that is set on stone (which I'm not sure it is) that points to a MVNO of some sort.

You can't seriously be telling me Apple don't have a handle on this. They might not have a view that is popular with the networks but they'll have a realistic idea of a way forward with this.

I suspect something along the lines of no Belgium and Finland and then a big network like t-mobile or vodafone to cover most countries.

Well reading the posts of some people here i start to think people in the US are very egocentric and you might be right that Apple doesn't even know how much telco's there are in europe. Maybe they indeed are still not aware that there is no such carrier.

If i read that people even don't know that brussels is the capital of europe that says enough about how american companies see the world i guess.

And again what you suspect is not possible. Because as a european citizen i'm entitled to buy everything that is sold in the countries of the EU. So if there would no belgium and finland in the deal they would stumble into european laws.

Or i am so stupid to believe that people at Apple know what they do and know what they say or there is no hope for this world anymore

 

[ajhill]

What does this mean for Cingular

Does this mean that Apple has cut a deal with ATT/Cingular is very favorable for Apple? Certainly ATT gains in the long run with lots of new customers. And they can always raise prices after 2 years. They usually do anyway.

Just how large could Apple's cut of the monthly bill be if the Europeans are balking just as Verizon did?

We will find out in October when the first real iPhone earnings come in.

Looks to be a scary month for the other cell phone companies.

 

[emotion]

And again what you suspect is not possible. Because as a european citizen i'm entitled to buy everything that is sold in the countries of the EU. So if there would no belgium and finland in the deal they would stumble into european laws.

Is iTMS exactly the same in each country in the EU?

Genuine question. I'm not sure it is.

edit: to address the above point. Yes you'll have an option to buy it, it'll be €1500 to the people in Belgium

 

[Philsy]

Well reading the posts of some people here i start to think people in the US are very egocentric and you might be right that Apple doesn't even know how much telco's there are in europe. Maybe they indeed are still not aware that there is no such carrier.

If i read that people even don't know that brussels is the capital of europe that says enough about how american companies see the world i guess.

And again what you suspect is not possible. Because as a european citizen i'm entitled to buy everything that is sold in the countries of the EU. So if there would no belgium and finland in the deal they would stumble into european laws.

Or i am so stupid to believe that people at Apple know what they do and know what they say or there is no hope for this world anymore

I've never heard Brussels referred to as the capital of Europe. It just happens to be where the EU is based. Europe doesn't have a capital city for the simple reason that it's a continent not a country.

 

[Philsy]

Is iTMS exactly the same in each country in the EU?

Genuine question. I'm not sure it is.

I don't think it is. I'm in the UK and can't buy from iTMS in other countries.

 

[lamadude]

And again what you suspect is not possible. Because as a european citizen i'm entitled to buy everything that is sold in the countries of the EU. So if there would no belgium and finland in the deal they would stumble into european laws.

You are mistaken. Sure as a EU citizen you can go to, say, the UK and buy your phone and go back to Belgium and use it. But have fun paying huge roaming fees. It is perfectly legitimate to sell something in one EU country and not in another one.

If i read that people even don't know that brussels is the capital of europe that says enough about how american companies see the world i guess.

This is the last time I will talk about this because it's off-topic, but please. The EU does not have a capital, the EU does not equal "europe" and this has nothing to do with "american companies." I live in Brussels, please check your facts.

 

[wackattack]

I've never heard Brussels referred to as the capital of Europe. It just happens to be where the EU is based. Europe doesn't have a capital city for the simple reason that it's a continent not a country.

the arrogance!!

Do you think the only the americans can have like a union of states? It is called the United States of America just like the European Union. Well brussels is the capital of that union just like we refer to washington as the capital of america what is ofcourse not correct because America is a continent and not a country.

Just get to the facts, no iPhone in Brussels is the same as no iPhone in Washington.

 

[iDeal]

As much of a Apple fan as I am I have to say that even if the iPhone were to be offered on my current network (3) in the UK I would prefer a Nokia N95. The iPhone does not offer any features, apart from the magnificent interface, that my current Nokia doesn't have already. And yes my Nokia can browse the normal internet, not the sorta kinda internet as Jobs made out that it would, and unlike the iPhone I can do it at high-speed thanks to 3G+WLAN.

 

[emotion]

the arrogance!!

Do you think the only the americans can have like a union of states? It is called the United States of America just like the European Union. Well brussels is the capital of that union just like we refer to washington as the capital of america what is ofcourse not correct because America is a continent and not a country.

Just get to the facts, no iPhone in Brussels is the same as no iPhone in Washington.

No it's not.

Just because all the drones with suits that shuffle papers happen to be centred on Brussels does not make it anything other than the beaurocratic centre of the EU. Why this should have an influence on this discussion is beyond me.

btw. It's correct to say North America is a continent and not a country. However America (USA) is definitely one country last time I checked.

 

[gnasher729]

well here in germany O2 will carry the iphone, and to think about a non sim locked iphone is just wishful thinking.
apple doesn't care, they will do what they deem right, even if it means selling a couple of phones less in order to preserve the apple experience.
we should just lean back and wait, we have one advantage: the phone will be soon out in the us, so everyone can bash it, apple can then correct it's mistakes and hopefully give us europeans a revision 2 iphone with 3g and so on.

One possibility is that _one_ operator will supply certain goodies that make the iPhone better than other phones, but you can add any SIM card and it will be a plain mobile phone + iPod, to get around all possible legal obstacles. Internet access only if you are near to some WiFi access (like at home).

 

[Compile 'em all]

the arrogance!!

Do you think the only the americans can have like a union of states? It is called the United States of America just like the European Union. Well brussels is the capital of that union just like we refer to washington as the capital of america what is ofcourse not correct because America is a continent and not a country.

Don't do this. This thread is about the iPhone in Europe, so let's keep it this way.

 

[gnasher729]

O2 has no EDGE coverage in Germany. So no, this will not happen.

And it is absolutely, positively, undoubtedly impossible for Apple to make any changes to the iPhone, right?