Czech Carrier Dumps iPhone Over Apple's 'Business Terms'

[joneill55]

No big deal.

Eastern-Blockers

 

[acidfast7]

and has more population.

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well you must be in a weird place on earth cause the iPhone 4S sold in ONE weekend alone what the Galaxy 2S has sold in over 3 months.

Just cause you don't see people carrying them does not mean that the galaxy is selling more. You may just be confusing them, since 90% of android phones look the same.

According to Samsung, the Galaxy S2 has officially hit 10 million in sales all of five months after the device's worldwide launch this past April. Sales in South Korea take the lion's share of the total at 3.6 million, with European markets close behind at 3.4 million. Sales of the smartphone in Asia hit a total of 2.3 million.

I'm not saying it's faster than iP4s ... but your statement makes no sense.

 

[voonyx]

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According to Samsung, the Galaxy S2 has officially hit 10 million in sales all of five months after the device's worldwide launch this past April. Sales in South Korea take the lion's share of the total at 3.6 million, with European markets close behind at 3.4 million. Sales of the smartphone in Asia hit a total of 2.3 million.

I'm not saying it's faster than iP4s ... but your statement makes no sense.

The S2 is more or less done. It's not going to continue to grow exponentially. Remember people here were saying the S2 would be the iPhone killer (something that rarely gets said ) once it reaches the US? The S2 is a joke in the US. Barely any kind of ad campaign, and sales aren't remarkable.

The S and S2 combined took a year and a half to get 30M total. iPhone does that in a little over a quarter.

 

[iObserver]

2. As others have pointed out, the whole BS with US carriers screwing the customers is due to the bundling that Apple does with the carriers. In the mainland europe the subsidies are small, leading to a large up-front cost, but thereafter competition amoungst the service provider keeps them in line better, because it's much easier to swap out the SIM (especially as the GSM frequencies are unified across europe)

how on earth do you say just because Apple gets a large subsidy from US carriers that the carriers would voluntarily lower what they charge if they're not paying the subsidy?

please explain to me how often ATT, Verizon, Sprint works in their customers' favor?
i'll give a couple examples of how they don't:
1. they charge you incredible amounts for text messages when it actually saves them bandwidth for us to use them because it's a hell of a lot more data to transmit than a 60-minute long continuous conversation. (kind of screwed up, it's like how banks charge ATM fees. but for each ATM banks save money by not needing to hire bank tellers).

2. for text overages or call-time overages they charge you thousands times the amount it costs them to provide that service. THOUSANDS.

3. they claim 14+MB download speeds for 3G but throttle you to 2MB at best on speed tests (screw 4G give me my damn 3G).

4. bandwidth costs incredibly little to produce compared to what they charge. they won a suit against net-neutrality about 1-2 years ago which allowed them to limit a user's bandwidth (cable companies can't legally do this with their service... yet...).

...and on and on...

so you think that if they save a couple hundred bucks per phone on a contract worth thousands (that customers are willing to pay even for cheaper phones so telcom knows we're willing to pay these prices anyway) they'll decrease the ludicrously high price they charge customers??? you're insane, they'll just pocket more profits.

please

 

[divinox]

The timing does seem puzzling. I'm guessing it's the high subsidies. I'm surprised they mentioned Symbian, since even Nokia is abandoning it, though I have heard that the Lumia 800 Windows Phone device is getting some good press in Europe.

I seriously doubt Telefonica will drop the iPhone in other markets like the UK, though.

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Does the Czech Republic have any LTE networks yet? There are only 35 operating worldwide, and the largest is in the US (Verizon).

Nokia isnt dropping Symbian for like... 5 more years, at the very least... They still need a low-end OS, a role WP7 isnt ready to take atm. Think contract with Accenture runs out 2016 or something like that.

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I guess it depends on different regions.

I'm here in Singapore at the moment and all I'm seeing on the MRT is iPhone's, LOTS of them.

Noticed it in Bangkok too on the BTS, but only wealthier people use it. MRT is much more common in Singapore so I felt it was more significant.

Sporeans are a whole lot richer "in general" than Thais though :- )

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In Stockholm, I don't see so many. That's probably because of the other options available.

Seeing the same shift up north too. In fact, i havent seen anyone sporting a 4s yet. In fact, i havent even heard anyone really talking about it either. A massive change compared to the launch of the iphone 4.

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Seems they have picked their demographic. Most people buy an Android phone over an iPhone for one reason; price. By choosing to concentrate on Android handsets they are targeting the 'budget conscious' customer. I can't understand the mention of Symbian though. Symbian is dead and buried.
Its s decision I expect someone will get the sack for.

No, its not. Symbian is very much alive and kicking.

 

[slplss]

Right decision o2

Only a fool would buy an overpriced iphone from carrier or anything from APR when we already have apple online store..

Local price comparison for unlocked 4s 16gb w/o contract
Apple online store: $791
T-Mobile: $873
Vodafone: $882

 

[voonyx]

Why do people say "i don't see a lot of iPhones"...do people really walk around staring at other people's cell phones?

 

[divinox]

Why do people say "i don't see a lot of iPhones"...do people really walk around staring at other people's cell phones?

I, for one, actually do. Didnt use to, really, but ever since i started doing research on mobile platforms, well... i sorta did. :- )

 

[acidfast7]

Why do people say "i don't see a lot of iPhones"...do people really walk around staring at other people's cell phones?

On the subway (tunnelbana), most people are watching movies/paying games on their phones. Usually between 25-50% are actively using their phone.

I find it very interesting the Americans are always taking on their phones, whereas the Swedes are always texting/gaming but almost never talking. I don't see the Germans using their phones so often for either, even though they don't get a free newspaper (e.g. Metro, which I miss very much) on the subway like in Stockholm.

 

[something3153]

Why do people say "i don't see a lot of iPhones"...do people really walk around staring at other people's cell phones?

You do notice what phones people have out and use. At least, I do. I also notice what cars are driving down the street, what TVs are in people's living rooms, and so forth. Are you really that inattentive?

 

[samcraig]

You do notice what phones people have out and use. At least, I do. I also notice what cars are driving down the street, what TVs are in people's living rooms, and so forth. Are you really that inattentive?

I think we can safely predict that if the comment was "I don't see many Nokias" the issue wouldn't have been questioned

 

[acidfast7]

I think we can safely predict that if the comment was "I don't see many Nokias" the issue wouldn't have been questioned

I usually see a fair bit of Nokias, like I said before, a fair amount of N- and E-series phones. And some weird SE ones that never made it to the states.

 

[Mad-B-One]

LOL, when will Americans realize that one doesn't need an operator to have an iP4s outside of the US (unlike in the Us where one can't really get a prepaid uSIM card from any major carrier).

Most people will just buy an unlocked/unbranded/unsubsidized iP4s directly from Apple and drop in any prepaid uSIM that they want to use from any carrier.

Why is this even news?



I don't know, I see many more Samsung Galaxy S2s than I do iP3/4s. I also see many people wanting and willing to pay for 4G/LTE.

And what does that have to do with Americans? The article is about Czech Republic. Yes, there might be people buying the phone full-price and just go with their carrier, but there is a significant number of people who only buy phones if they are cheaper through contract. The latter ones will not go with O2 if they want an iPhone and that is the market share they will loose. The competitors also offer the same range of models of Androids, Nokias, Win7 phones, and RIMs. If someone doesn't understand why there might be a disadvantage to someone here, it will be you, not any American you try to bash here.

 

[apolloa]

LOL, when will Americans realize that one doesn't need an operator to have an iP4s outside of the US (unlike in the Us where one can't really get a prepaid uSIM card from any major carrier).

Most people will just buy an unlocked/unbranded/unsubsidized iP4s directly from Apple and drop in any prepaid uSIM that they want to use from any carrier.

Why is this even news?



I don't know, I see many more Samsung Galaxy S2s than I do iP3/4s. I also see many people wanting and willing to pay for 4G/LTE.

Actually, it's not as easy as you make out. You see the iPhone 4 and 4S use the new micro sim, and I changed from my PAYG to a 30 day rolling contract with Orange, I struck the deal then stated it was for my iPhone 4, and that was a problem as Orange are like the other carriers, they offer limited deals on iPhones, luckily as the agent I spoke to had already put it in the computer her manager authorised the deal.
But it does show you it's not half as easy as you think. If all phones used micro sims then no problem. Or you could always cut up an your existing sim.

 

[rkahl]

Gasp! How will I fall asleep tonight after hearing this dreadful news??

 

[divinox]

On the subway (tunnelbana), most people are watching movies/paying games on their phones. Usually between 25-50% are actively using their phone.

I find it very interesting the Americans are always taking on their phones, whereas the Swedes are always texting/gaming but almost never talking. I don't see the Germans using their phones so often for either, even though they don't get a free newspaper (e.g. Metro, which I miss very much) on the subway like in Stockholm.

Same for me, except im stuck riding the bus. Oh well, at least we have free internet on it.

 

[ade2bee]

Oooohhhh, I wonder if that is O2 worldwide? Because if it is then this WILL impact Apple's sales as O2 is massive, in the UK it's one of the most major carriers and constantly advertises, so it's actually Apple's loss. And O2 will still continue to sell, and if a group as big as them have stated Apple's business terms are not goo, then that is most certainly possibly stating something bad about Apple and it's demands, and it's not the first time we've heard that!

Not really, a lot of my friends throughout Europe are/have moved over to Vodaphone and are loving the experience a lot more.

Plus you have three and their stupidly cheap packages with 24hr, 7 days a week 'all you can eat' data.

 

[*LTD*]

Oh how will Apple survive?

 

[voonyx]

You do notice what phones people have out and use. At least, I do. I also notice what cars are driving down the street, what TVs are in people's living rooms, and so forth. Are you really that inattentive?

I'm not denying that I see ppl using their phones...in fact id probably think it strange if I saw someone without a phone haha...I just don't know how or why so many seem to notice make model etc. If I see a stranger on their phone I don't give them a second look

 

[acidfast7]

Actually, it's not as easy as you make out. You see the iPhone 4 and 4S use the new micro sim, and I changed from my PAYG to a 30 day rolling contract with Orange, I struck the deal then stated it was for my iPhone 4, and that was a problem as Orange are like the other carriers, they offer limited deals on iPhones, luckily as the agent I spoke to had already put it in the computer her manager authorised the deal.
But it does show you it's not half as easy as you think. If all phones used micro sims then no problem. Or you could always cut up an your existing sim.

I use a prepaid SIM from a third-party (online only and no stores) and I cut it with scissors. I know it's really hard and all, but seriously.

 

[Rodimus Prime]

They don't realize that Apple handles iPhone support and saves carrier money.

Yeah like the carriers handle much support of the other phones (give you a hint they do not) They still have to field the calls from iPhone users so the support savings might be at most pennies.

You're saying that not selling an iPhone isn't going to affect O2 negatively?

You are confusing two different things. It not if it will hurt them but how much. If Apple agreement requirements hurt more than the lost by not carrying the iPhone then yes dumping the iPhone is the better choice to make as selling the iPhone hurts a lot more.

I am willing to bet a lot of the carriers are going to watch how this plays out and could easily turn against Apple putting the same agreements they have with other manufactures. In this US this would mean an over right increase of the iPhone cost by at least $100 to bring it in line with the subsidies they give other phones.

 

[voonyx]

Yeah like the carriers handle much support of the other phones (give you a hint they do not) They still have to field the calls from iPhone users so the support savings might be at most pennies.



You are confusing two different things. It not if it will hurt them but how much. If Apple agreement requirements hurt more than the lost by not carrying the iPhone then yes dumping the iPhone is the better choice to make as selling the iPhone hurts a lot more.

I am willing to bet a lot of the carriers are going to watch how this plays out and could easily turn against Apple putting the same agreements they have with other manufactures. In this US this would mean an over right increase of the iPhone cost by at least $100 to bring it in line with the subsidies they give other phones.

Yeah we already went through this. O2 is not sprint betting the farm on iphones. Whatever savings they make would probably be menial compared to waht they could make (of course I could be completely wrong but history dictates that the iphone will be their most successful phone...it always is).

Sounds more like o2 trying to call a bluff. As for other companies, especially in the us following suit? No...not a chance.

 

[apolloa]

Oh how will Apple survive?

With a bit of luck without you making comments on MacRumors?

Although Apple will need to think more about what it does as it's lost it's chief.

 

[lukaszsw]

The state of Florida is larger than England and has more population.

Unless wikipedia is wrong England has a population of 51 million and the state of Florida has a population of 18 million.

 

[SoGood]

They are entitled to choose. Customers will too. LOL