Apple Unable to Find iPhone Partner in Europe?

[MacSamurai]

GUYS DONT WORRY!!! There is loads of time for apple to make the iPhone european friendly/3G capable before the european relase date 😛.There is no way that the iPhone won't be released in europe,so just sit back relax,and wait.Apple might have put less attention in it's european market before,but with Europe being one of the biggest,if notthe biggest, cellphone market in the world,europe can no longer be the bonus but must now be considered the bulk.If apple can make it in europe they can make it anywhere😀

 

[emotion]

I think the UK has shown time and time again that it doesn't give a toss about 3G. Every attempt to bring it to the mainstream has failed miserably, and it's still only techno-geeks that know what it is even. .

...and that is because data packages are stupidly expensive (aside from maybe t-mobile). Simple as that.

The iPhone is very data centric and for that reason the networks would more than likely swallow Apple's demands if this was an HSDPA phone. As it is, without this, I don't see the device doing well at all.

Only time will tell.

 

[surferfromuk]

Maybe we won't need to use a mobile carrier much longer:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6755829.stm

Skype on the iPhone anyone? 😉

Very cool..If Apple will sell sim unlocked for £350 and allow an internet VOIP client I'll definitely buy one!.


but the burning question is will they finally support the London Stock Exchange Widget on the iphone ?

Perhaps that's why there is a delay???😉

 

[totolad]

There seems to a lot of talk about how T mobile are going to be offering the iPhone. I really hope they don't as they are probably the worst network within the UK. Orange always want to brand their phones and Apple won't let them, so thats a no no. O2 has never really recovered after the ill fated problems they had in 2002. That leaves Vodafone. Are they the biggest provider within Europe?

 

[Philsy]

Very cool..If Apple will sell sim unlocked for £350 and allow an internet VOIP client I'll definitely buy one!.


but the burning question is will they finally support the London Stock Exchange Widget on the iphone ?

Perhaps that's why there is a delay???😉

I guess it's down to a developer producing a suitable widget - can't be that hard. I'm surprised no one does one for the Mac, considering how important the LSE is.

 

[Stella]

Its obvious Apple don't understand the cell phone market.

Apple should learn from this experience and adapt. I can believe that Apple are being so arrogant, its their style.

The yanks may think the iPhone is worth the hidously locked down phone, but thats not how things work in Europe. Contracts aren't typically years, instead, 12 months.

 

[emotion]

There seems to a lot of talk about how T mobile are going to be offering the iPhone. I really hope they don't as they are probably the worst network within the UK. Orange always want to brand their phones and Apple won't let them, so thats a no no. O2 has never really recovered after the ill fated problems they had in 2002. That leaves Vodafone. Are they the biggest provider within Europe?

I'd suspect it might go to Vodafone too. Shame, even their new data packages suck.

Yeah we know Apple is arrogant, but the data packages the phone networks offer are a sign of greater arrogance.

It's a bit like the situation before broadband (and unmetered internet access) became popular (I speak with a UK bias, sorry). Once they sort out decent HSDPA access and rates people will flock to using 3G in droves. Until that time 3G will be seen by some to be unecessary.

 

[thecritix]

I think it may be that in Europe the phone companies are used to ripping the users off, they don't seem to like having to do what they're told. 😀

I just hope Apple don't get too big headed about this. There will be other copy cat phones out soon, and with the way the publicity on this is going the public will think it's Apple over charging and choose one of those copy cats and say I got it cheaper.

yeahhh
we always get ripped off over here....
especially in the uk.

iphone'll go really well in the states, and all our companies (vodafone, o2, tmobile, orange, virgin, 3 etc) will all be begging for it.
my guess is vodafone, vodafone is generally the 'apple' of phones, more expensive but typically very good reliable service.

 

[Philsy]

Surely Apple doesn't need a Europe-wide partner? It's more a case of doing deals with mobile providers in individual countries?

 

[emotion]

Its obvious Apple don't understand the cell phone market.

The yanks may think the iPhone is worth the hidously locked down phone, but thats not how things work in Europe. Contracts aren't typically years, instead, 12 months.

There are a lot of contracts for 18 months these days.

As I say, there are signs (relatively low 3G adoption) that the phone networks don't understand their market either.

The success of rubbishy devices like the blackberry suggest that people are crying out for internet (or just email) access from their phones the phone companies just haven't embraced that yet.

 

[Philsy]

There are a lot of contracts for 18 months these days.

As I say, there are signs (relatively low 3G adoption) that the phone networks don't understand their market either.

The success of rubbishy devices like the blackberry suggest that people are crying out for internet (or just email) access from their phones the phone companies just haven't embraced that yet.

I think what is needed to make 3G fly is a really good device that allows you to surf the real internet and get HTML emails. Er, a 3G iPhone in other words...

 

[Stella]

There are a lot of contracts for 18 months these days.

As I say, there are signs (relatively low 3G adoption) that the phone networks don't understand their market either.

The success of rubbishy devices like the blackberry suggest that people are crying out for internet (or just email) access from their phones the phone companies just haven't embraced that yet.

Yes, networks don't tend to give the customer what they want either - crippling VOIP, bluetooth etc, so the networks don't lose $$.

18 months is too long.

Fido is great - month to month contracts and they are almost as good as the multi year contracts AND far better than prepaid. I'm wondering how long until Rogers remove this option too... Fido used to have very good internet options.. unless they got bought out my Rogers, and now its a complete rip-off.

 

[emotion]

I think what is needed to make 3G fly is a really good device that allows you to surf the real internet and get HTML emails. Er, a 3G iPhone in other words...

Precisely my point.

Apple are probably aware of this. A 3G iPhone would be a watershed in how people view mobile devices. The networks could potentially then gain back the huge licensing costs they paid for 3G.

 

[totolad]

I'd suspect it might go to Vodafone too. Shame, even their new data packages suck.

I think it is is not going to be about the data packages that we have at the moment, as I feel that they will change them to meet the higher data rate that would be needed with this kind of device. When they bought out Blackberrys, most networks in Europe came up with Data plans that were specific to these devices. I think that we are going to see this in Europe, when the iphone gets over here. I do think that they are going to have to offer the phone sim free, or something as we have started to see the Networks now start making 18 month contracts, this is almost likely to double with the iPhone. I think that people will see buyingt he handset only as an investment rather than another phone, like they do at the moment.

 

[FleurDuMal]

...and that is because data packages are stupidly expensive (aside from maybe t-mobile). Simple as that.

I don't think so. I think it's honestly because people don't care about video calls. OK, if the price because so cheap that its more or less the same price as 1G/2G (whatever) phones, then it'd be picked up. But I think very, very few would be willing to pay any sort of premium just for what 3G offers.

 

[edesignuk]

I don't think so. I think it's honestly because people don't care about video calls. OK, if the price because so cheap that its more or less the same price as 1G/2G (whatever) phones, then it'd be picked up. But I think very, very few would be willing to pay any sort of premium just for what 3G offers.

No one gives a monkeys about video calls, that's not what the real and useful use of 3G is about for most people IMO. It's about having a mobile internet that is actually bearable. GPRS is completely useless!

 

[gnasher729]

Verizon[/url] is reported to have rejected Apple's deal due to the terms of the agreement.

What you have to realise is that Apple needs only _one_ partner, not two. A second partner wouldn't add more than ten percent to the revenue for Apple. On the other hand, having an exclusive like AT&T is very, very valuable for that company, because people will _switch_ from other providers to AT&T.

That means Apple is indeed offering the iPhone to everyone, and it will end up with the single highest bidder. Verizon wasn't the highest bidder. So what do you think will the say? "We wanted the iPhone, but AT&T made a better offer", or "We rejected the iPhone due to Apple's demands"? Of course they are saying that they didn't want the iPhone, because saying otherwise means losing face.

In Europe, exactly the same thing will happen: One company will be selling the iPhone, and all the others will swear that they had no interest whatsoever.

 

[whooleytoo]

Just to add some balance to this thread:

Do we know that this story is true?
Even if it came from a reliable source, couldn't it be the networks wiggling for a better negotiating position?
Do we know why there's disagreement? Couldn't it be Apple is pushing for lower data rates for iPhone customers?
Do we know if the iPhone will be locked over here?
Do we know if it'll only be available with a contract?
Do we know if the model we see will still be 2.5G?

Personally, I'd be astonished if Apple weren't being incredibly arrogant. Jobs is the archetypal self-made entrepreneur - headstrong, arrogant, utterly unable to delegate, micro-managing, focused and incredibly stubborn.

That inevitably rubs people up the wrong way; but in this case he might be the "good guy". If he can make the networks get their collective heads out of their collective arses regarding data pricing here, he might be doing us a favour.

 

[xUKHCx]

I don't think so. I think it's honestly because people don't care about video calls. OK, if the price because so cheap that its more or less the same price as 1G/2G (whatever) phones, then it'd be picked up. But I think very, very few would be willing to pay any sort of premium just for what 3G offers.

With my contract a video calls are the same price a normal voice calls.


If they aren't partnered with 02 then i would be immensly happy with it sim free. The only reason I would want it with 02 is that i could probably wangle it for pretty cheap.

 

[whooleytoo]

No one gives a monkeys about video calls, that's not what the real and useful use of 3G is about for most people IMO. It's about having a mobile internet that is actually bearable. GPRS is completely useless!

Agree wholeheartedly - I'd love to my 3G phone for everything, mail, internet, Google Maps, but (apart from the UI being too sluggish and awkward) it's just horribly, horribly expensive here.

After buying my current N70, I received (one month) bill of 299 euros - more than the phone cost me. Ick.

 

[Jarcrew]

I'm finding all the "An American's View Of Europe" stuff hilarious, by the way.

I reckon it'll wind up being Carphone Warehouse who get the iPhone over here - it'll be available on any network but they'll be the only ones besides Apple who can sell it.

 

[Cleverboy]

If the carriers are being too prudish to go for a partnership like this, then they'll have to deal with the lost opportunity. While THEY say that Jobs seems arrogant, I'm sure that THEY sound MUCH MUCH MUCH more arrogant to phone makers who want to make a new product that brings mobile technology to the next level. --Because they want MONEY, they don't want to just fork over features left and right, and not charge a premium for every single one of them. The iPhone is great, not simply because its a nice set, but that it marks a very significant moment in how a phone maker has partnered with a cellular network. Very very cool stuff. We'll see how it goes though, right? I'm sure the world will be watching.

~ CB

 

[MikeTheC]

What about Canada?

C'mon, we're bigger and we're on top!


Ron Prociuk

Oh man, I haven't heard that in a while. There was someone with a image in his signature over on SciFi.com's message board of a 3D map-like drawing of the U.S. and Canada, and the caption read "We're bigger, and we're on top. If this was prison, you'd be our b***h." (Only, the caption wasn't censored.)

Thanks for the laugh and the memories!

 

[kroko]

apple+iphone = locked up+acting like monopoly+destroying all that apple made apple

locked up - "because we don't want iPhone to crash". if i use iPhone (osx) out of box, i suppose that nothing crashes. if i start messing around with apps- i surelly know that potentionally something can go wrong. you write that in iphone readme.txt for americans who have that missing intelligence like "flat iron is hot, guns can kill" on packaging and it's done. but the effect is greater- i phone for me now emotionally doesn't differ from any win box.
acting like monopoly. the problem is, they are so arrogant they don't see that mobile phone market is bigger than they are. hallo apple. you are starting affecting those only good parts in our capitalist pig-consumer relations. the reason i chose you over m$, apple- OPEN and quality os, wellcome to any developer- thus giving me good&open software to use. sold everywhere under same circumstances (ok, we pay more in europe, but thats overseas market), not m$ push strategy. the iphone is like some m$ product (in terms of software) with activation key (in terms of attitude towards consumer) unlocking apple as the next empire of evil.
this is becoming control apparatus. and the life says that answer to such control is avoiding and aggressiveness. learn some sociology apple.

 

[emotion]

I don't think so. I think it's honestly because people don't care about video calls. OK, if the price because so cheap that its more or less the same price as 1G/2G (whatever) phones, then it'd be picked up. But I think very, very few would be willing to pay any sort of premium just for what 3G offers.

I agree that no-one cares about video calls.

They touted video calls as the killer-app for 3G and miscalculated the market.

What I'm saying is that data/internet is the killer app (and to a lesser extent maybe TV). Once they get with that then things will change for the better.

I also think that it's likely there could be a different data rate for an iPhone.