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Wouldn't apple be better off if they gave their wireless provider a better deal, thus allowing them to improve their network infrastructure and therefore their service quality and public image?

If O2/Telefonica need this kind of help from a handset manufacturer something is terribly wrong.
 
Wouldn't apple be better off if they gave their wireless provider a better deal, thus allowing them to improve their network infrastructure and therefore their service quality and public image?

What makes you think they would do that? The extra money would go the pockets of Shareholders.

You should threaten to leave. Do this and you'll get most stuff for free. That's what I did. I got a +£300 phone for free, the week it came out.

Right, so like I said in my first post, you got a great deal and are in the minority. The fact is most people spend double that per month. As we just pointed out, the APRU is over £40 a month.
 
Well, it sure looks like O2 is allowed to subsidise the phone a little bit (especially if they're sharing 40% of tariff income).

I'm going for £199 for the Edge 8GB iPhone, starting at £30 a month with unlimited data, 100 minutes, 200 texts. I may just be convinced at those prices.

That's the same price of the Touch, but with the Touch you don't need a subscription making a firm difference between the products. Also £199 is around the same price of the US phone to keep everyone happy!
 
I'm going for £199 for the Edge 8GB iPhone, starting at £30 a month with unlimited data, 100 minutes, 200 texts. I may just be convinced at those prices.

Are you INSANE? That's a pathetic tariff for £30, you'd rather pay about £100 less for your iPhone and end up paying hundreds upon hundreds of pounds more than you should on your tariff? Madness.
 
Id pay £35 for unlimited data, 400 texts, 400 minutes. Possibly £40 as the unlimited data would be a huge selling point for me.
 
Id pay £35 for unlimited data, 400 texts, 400 minutes. Possibly £40 as the unlimited data would be a huge selling point for me.

Again, you people are crazy. I pay £19 for 300 mins and 500 texts. The current O2 £30 contracts have 1,000 texts and 400 minutes and that's with a subsidised phone (which the iPhone wont be).

Considering you have to buy the phone at full price I'd say the tariff should be the about 400 mins, 700 texts and unlimited data for £30.
 
Perhaps Europe will get all upcoming models of iPhone first, just so they can remain secret for longer. They can't secretly launch them in the US, they have to disclose the details six months in advance to the FCC.

Nope, not going to happen. The US is Apple's "home" market, and Apple always releases new products in the US first, or at the same time as other markets. I'm sure the EU has similar disclosure rules like the FCC (in fact, they're probably stricter and more demanding than ours;)).
 
Again, you people are crazy. I pay £19 for 300 mins and 500 texts. The current O2 £30 contracts have 1,000 texts and 400 minutes and that's with a subsidised phone (which the iPhone wont be).

Considering you have to buy the phone at full price I'd say the tariff should be the about 400 mins, 700 texts and unlimited data for £30.


So an extra 300 texts makes you not crazy? Give me a break.

I would gladly pay my £35 if it meant unlimited data. Because right now on O2 it costs about £10 for 20MB.

Now that, is crazy.
 
Considering you have to buy the phone at full price I'd say the tariff should be the about 400 mins, 700 texts and unlimited data for £30.

One of the reasons I like the iPhone is the ease that one can type. I've always hated typing on a 12 key digital keyboard, and have used a stylus style phone for years (P900). When I used the iPhone recently, it was so damn easy to type that I'm sure I'll be using texts far more often.

Why hasn't texting caught on in the 'States like it has in Europe?
 
That maybe in the u.s, but in the UK I think a lot more people know what unlocking is and the benefits of ; people in the UK are generally more knowledgeable than say, the states regarding this. A lot of people I know in the UK have had their phones unlocked purely for the benefit of being able to use a non-uk SIM card when they travel.

In fact, OFCOM often recommends that you don't use roaming when going abroad on your cell phone, instead, buy a local SIM card to reduce cell phone charges.
Just a word of warning then, you will void your warranty or AppleCare plan, and if your provider wants to they can brick your phone instantly. Doesn't sound worth it to me. Also I like all the features that the legitimate provider will give that the alternate can't. i.e. visual voicemail
Seems like a big risk for so little gain.
 
So an extra 300 texts makes you not crazy? Give me a break.

I would gladly pay my £35 if it meant unlimited data. Because right now on O2 it costs about £10 for 20MB.

Now that, is crazy.

Yeah it is. I think the networks are slowly heading towards unlimited data, I keep seeing adverts from T-Mobile, Vodaphone et al about mobile internet. They realise that as phones become more and more powerful and like computers the internet is going to be more and more important.
 
Why hasn't texting caught on in the 'States like it has in Europe?

Oh, just ask any teenager, and they'll give you a texted response. Frankly, that's what some people view texting as: an immature habit (in the US). I personally find it useful only when I can't get enough reception, or when I have to be quiet. Otherwise, I'd prefer talking to the person. Text just doesn't have the ability to portray emotions and tones as well as the human voice.
 
One of the reasons I like the iPhone is the ease that one can type. I've always hated typing on a 12 key digital keyboard, and have used a stylus style phone for years (P900). When I used the iPhone recently, it was so damn easy to type that I'm sure I'll be using texts far more often.

Why hasn't texting caught on in the 'States like it has in Europe?

The reason texting is so popular in Europe is because phoning on mobiles is so expensive which isn't the case in the US. They get such good rates on calls that it's probably cheaper to call and tell someone something than text them, whereas here it's the opposite.

Although with the email on the iPhone I can see myself emailing my iPhone owning friends rather than texting them.
 
The fact is most people spend double that per month. As we just pointed out, the APRU is over £40 a month.

If people are that ***king stupid, then they deserve to pay that much.

Why hasn't texting caught on in the 'States like it has in Europe?

USA obvsly aint srted. omg man, txting is like da main fing ere, rite?

It's a huge deal that people are forgetting how to spell bcoz they rite like dis all da time.
 
If people are that ***king stupid, then they deserve to pay that much.

Those are the prices that are in the shop. Its a bit much to suggest they are stupid for paying the RRP. You got a great deal. Jolly ho.

The funny thing is, its those who pay the average who subsidise the people who ring up and threaten to change networks. Everybody can't be on the deal you have. Your network are prepared to keep you on that deal because it means a competitor doesn't have your business. But that model doesn't scale.
 
Just a word of warning then, you will void your warranty or AppleCare plan, and if your provider wants to they can brick your phone instantly. Doesn't sound worth it to me. Also I like all the features that the legitimate provider will give that the alternate can't. i.e. visual voicemail
Seems like a big risk for so little gain.

If you do a lot of foreign travel then unlocking will be very very useful - cutting down a lot of expense on roaming charges.

Visual voice mail is the only service other providers can't provide
( oh, other than EDGE.. if iPhone uses EDGE instead of 3G ).
 
Those are the prices that are in the shop. Its a bit much to suggest they are stupid for paying the RRP. You got a great deal. Jolly ho.

The funny thing is, its those who pay the average who subsidise the people who ring up and threaten to change networks. Everybody can't be on the deal you have. Your network are prepared to keep you on that deal because it means a competitor doesn't have your business. But that model doesn't scale.

Actually, its because I used to be one of those people. Bills of £60 were common. How about, when people finish their contracts, they all do this... see what happens.

Here... http://www.three.co.uk/personal/index.omp you can see for £15 a great deal. Anyway, we've lost topic and are arguing about tariffs. I won't buy an iPhone.
 
Of interest, they describe that Apple pursued a "divide and conquer" strategy in partnering the iPhone in Europe, pitting carriers against each other. In the end, O2 won the deal, but at a high price:

...at the 11th hour O2 snatched the UK deal with an offer that gave such a high proportion of revenues to Apple that none of its competitors could see any way of making any return on the phone, even over three years. They believed that even if it was treated as purely a loss-leading marketing product, a better return could be had by spending the money elsewhere.

Yep, sounds like an ugly American alright.
 
Maybe o2 are giving away 40% of revenues because Apple have allowed them to subsidise the phone, as is pretty normal in the UK.

Well, it sure looks like O2 is allowed to subsidise the phone a little bit (especially if they're sharing 40% of tariff income).

am i being thick or something? because i don't understand why revenue sharing would make it more likely that the phone is to be subsidised. i would have thought it was the opposite. presumably these people subsidise the handset to induce people to sign up to a contract and the recover the cost of the subsidy from the monthly charges. so if they have a lower amount to keep from the monthly charges surely they are considerably less likely to be able to afford the subsidise the handset.
 
Launch day: When?

just asking if anyone wants to suggest launch day.

i say NOT tommorow, as they like to build hype,

possibly mid oct, giving a month to tell everyone about it

or late oct/early nov, to cash in on the christmas spending!!

any guesses?
 
Unless Apple pulls out a trump card in the form of 3G, and a decent camera that includes video, then the iPhone is not going to appeal to many UK buyers, used to higher-spec phones. Especially if it's going to be expensive.

Guys, guys, before there's too much gnashing of teeth consider the following: we (and everyone else outside Apple and, presumably, o2) know squat about what the plans etc. are going to be. Anyone who knows will be NDAed to the eyes, so the only reliable thing to do is wait until tomorrow.

Also, whatever else they may be, Apple are not stupid. They must know that a core requirement of using an iPhone the way it's meant to be used is a decent unlimited data plan. So, that's more than likely what we'll get.

I agree with earlier posters that 3G is definitely NOT necessary for the iPhone to succeed in the UK. As long as EDGE works OK, the UI and other features will swing it IMHO. As I've posted in other threads, how many people use 3G data services to their full potential on their current handset anyway? Virtually no-one, because the 'phones are so damn hard to use and the data costs so much. Given a reasonable-price unlimited EDGE plan I reckon iPhone's a winner.

Regarding O2's customer service, I reckon they're all as bad as each other TBH. Can you tell me of a 'phone company that you've never heard ANYONE complain about? Thought not.... At least with the iPhone, for all hardware issues you'll be dealing with Apple.
 
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