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iPhone Buyer Statistics, O2 Confirmed for UK?
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Donnacha said:
I think its funny because in the week before June 29th there were endless posts from US forum members about how iPhone was never going to fly without 3G: no, no way! Then June 29th arrived, and dead silence from that crowd. I think we'll eventually see 3G on the iPhone. We may even see it in Europe before the US. We may see it by November. But if not, I think you'll see the same success for iPhone in UK as we're seeing in the US right now.
Wow, interesting.
How did they feel about that? Did they think Apple had made a mistake in not going with them? Did they confirm the reports that able had been insanely demanding? Any hint of what the real sticking points were?
VF and TM...
Both of them sh*tcanned the iPhone which is understandable.... the Vodafone guy started going on about how great Vodafone LIVE is and that Apple wouldn't allow VF LIVE to appear on the iPhone... I don't know if you've seen Vodafone LIVE but its bad, real bad. They add in about 38 links to get to the football scores because they charge by the MB... so the more you download the better for them... its just stupid...... the Vodafone guy then started going on how great Nokia is and showed me his N95 (thats the new one yeh ? with GPS)... he shows me the GPS which of course didn't work because we were inside a hotel ! then he showed me web browsing and how he would select the part of the page he wanted to view to have it magnified on the screen... it was woeful... I told him I hadn't seen the iPhone but wouldn't that be easier with your finger ? and not to keep having to leave the page your browsing to move the field of view across ? He thought not..... so it appeared both T-Mobile and Vodafone lost on charges (as in per MB) and wanting their own krap on the phone.......
Both of them sh*tcanned the iPhone which is understandable.... the Vodafone guy started going on about how great Vodafone LIVE is and that Apple wouldn't allow VF LIVE to appear on the iPhone... I don't know if you've seen Vodafone LIVE but its bad, real bad. They add in about 38 links to get to the football scores because they charge by the MB... so the more you download the better for them... its just stupid...... the Vodafone guy then started going on how great Nokia is and showed me his N95 (thats the new one yeh ? with GPS)... he shows me the GPS which of course didn't work because we were inside a hotel ! then he showed me web browsing and how he would select the part of the page he wanted to view to have it magnified on the screen... it was woeful... I told him I hadn't seen the iPhone but wouldn't that be easier with your finger ? and not to keep having to leave the page your browsing to move the field of view across ? He thought not..... so it appeared both T-Mobile and Vodafone lost on charges (as in per MB) and wanting their own krap on the phone.......
Wow, thanks WBT, that's the closest think we've had to real info in this thread so far.
It's always breath-taking when you come guys who, in the interests of their careers, have had to brainwash themselves to actually believe that whatever crap their boss wants to foist on the public is actually the best technology. It's like talking to an evangelical Christian - it simply doesn't matter what you say or how patently ridiculous their claims are, it's like they're hypnotized.
It's always breath-taking when you come guys who, in the interests of their careers, have had to brainwash themselves to actually believe that whatever crap their boss wants to foist on the public is actually the best technology. It's like talking to an evangelical Christian - it simply doesn't matter what you say or how patently ridiculous their claims are, it's like they're hypnotized.
Does this apply to other European countries as well? For example, T-Mobile, vodafone and o2 exist in Germany too. And there were rumors that T-Mobile got the contract there. Is it possible that T-Mobile might carry the iPhone in Germany but not in the UK?
What I didn't mention that these were relative senior guys..... it was an 800 pound per seat lunch..... so not just anyone was going to be sitting there..... they were only talking of the UK and not Europe..... O2 is fairly strong in Europe through the Orange arm and have a good presence in eastern Europe which apple see as a key to growth.... look into the Russian market if you want to see what mobiles have done to that country.... they love it...... another key about the Eastern European market is their infrastructure.... basically eastern european countries built their modern day phone and mobile networks from 1991 onwards... therefore they don't have the issues of backward capability and merging networks etc. In addition you have very progressive thinking parliaments... look at Estonia... the average age of politicians is 27 !!! These countries are 4-5 years ahead of the UK and US in terms of mobile infrastructure....
Anyway off track..... so in short they confirmed that they didn't win the deal for the UK only..........
iPhone
Those figures are interesting to see how many people have already left their existing network. I presume these are people who either terminated their contract early or their contract had expired. It would be interesting to see how many more will convert after a period of time when other people's contract is up.
As I'm in the UK using Orange, it's a bit annoying that it has gone to O2, but I'm not that bothered except that my contact is up in January. Orange have been OK so far, but they did annoy me when they wanted £300 to upgrade my 'phone for any other 'phone (even pay as you go 'phones which are a fraction of the price) and I had never upgraded before and my existing 'phone wouldn't work any more. That and also they keep dropping my calls all the time, it seems. I checked out O2's site and their prices seem a lot more reasonable than Orange's.
Not that I am going to do it but I am curious, how much does Orange charge to leave them before the contract has expired?
Those figures are interesting to see how many people have already left their existing network. I presume these are people who either terminated their contract early or their contract had expired. It would be interesting to see how many more will convert after a period of time when other people's contract is up.
As I'm in the UK using Orange, it's a bit annoying that it has gone to O2, but I'm not that bothered except that my contact is up in January. Orange have been OK so far, but they did annoy me when they wanted £300 to upgrade my 'phone for any other 'phone (even pay as you go 'phones which are a fraction of the price) and I had never upgraded before and my existing 'phone wouldn't work any more. That and also they keep dropping my calls all the time, it seems. I checked out O2's site and their prices seem a lot more reasonable than Orange's.
Not that I am going to do it but I am curious, how much does Orange charge to leave them before the contract has expired?
Shame to see it go to O2 because i'm on T-Mobile (with 1/2 price contract for life) so wouldn't move just for the iPhone but i really really really want one :'(
How big is O2 anyway? i know T-Mobile is the 6th biggest in the world with 100+ million subscribers so O2 must be bigger then that for Apple to run with them
How big is O2 anyway? i know T-Mobile is the 6th biggest in the world with 100+ million subscribers so O2 must be bigger then that for Apple to run with them
I think Apple will have a BIG say in how the winner of the UK use the iPhone in marketing, Apple will do everything to protect their image and sticking Michael Owen next to the iPhone just won't work.
O2 huh? Well thats *another* nail in the coffin of the idea of me ever getting an iPhone - I just left them after 5 years after the service quality dropped through the floor, plus the data rates are *hideous* - on T-Mobile I pay the same amount of money for the same credit, but also get 3gig of data at up to HSDPA speeds.
More details?
I received a phone call from a friend who has a relative with Orange as one of his clients currently. He seems completely adamant that it definitely is O2 to get the iPhone in the UK and that they are set to release it at Christmas time.
He also gave me some other pretty specific details, such as pricing.
iPhone to cost £150-£200
Minimal 18 month contract (baring in mind we don't get 2 year contracts...yet...in the UK, but do get a lot of 18 months now)
Contract prices £55-£75
Take this with a pinch of salt if you want, by all means, I thought I'd just pass on the information I was given.
I guess the pricing could change at the last minute, and probably will.
I popped into my local O2 store today to chat to the people there to see if they've heard anything from the grape vine, (not that they can tell me, but always worth a shot!) The guy wouldn't confirm O2 definitely have it and said that Vodafone are still in it, but said that O2 would be releasing it at Christmas, if they did confirm it that is. He had no ideas on pricing though.
I received a phone call from a friend who has a relative with Orange as one of his clients currently. He seems completely adamant that it definitely is O2 to get the iPhone in the UK and that they are set to release it at Christmas time.
He also gave me some other pretty specific details, such as pricing.
iPhone to cost £150-£200
Minimal 18 month contract (baring in mind we don't get 2 year contracts...yet...in the UK, but do get a lot of 18 months now)
Contract prices £55-£75
Take this with a pinch of salt if you want, by all means, I thought I'd just pass on the information I was given.
I guess the pricing could change at the last minute, and probably will.
I popped into my local O2 store today to chat to the people there to see if they've heard anything from the grape vine, (not that they can tell me, but always worth a shot!) The guy wouldn't confirm O2 definitely have it and said that Vodafone are still in it, but said that O2 would be releasing it at Christmas, if they did confirm it that is. He had no ideas on pricing though.
Yes the iPhone prices do seem fairly tastey to be honest, but maybe the contract makes up for it. O2 seem to be reluctant to do unlimited Internet on their contracts like T-Mobile do and Vodafone seem to be starting to do partly, so maybe the high price is from O2 which gives you unlimited Internet.
Apple do take earnings from the monthly contract, so maybe a high priced contract means the iPhone is slightly more cheaper.
As I say, pricings will probably change, but my source seemed adamant that these were the current details as it stands.
Apple do take earnings from the monthly contract, so maybe a high priced contract means the iPhone is slightly more cheaper.
As I say, pricings will probably change, but my source seemed adamant that these were the current details as it stands.
thank god it was confirmed by some spanish paper yesterday that it would be coming via 02! lets hope that they dont screw this one up and somehow not give the europeans 3g. it would be a travesty cuz there are some americans who have been clamoring for it.... I still love my iPhone anyways..
I agree with you. If the contract has gone to O2 then it is probably the worst decision that Apple could have made.
Their rates are steep, the service is poor in the best part and the staff in my local shop really couldn't appear less interested if they tried. Add into that the fact that I can't get a signal at home, one place where I need it a lot and it means that I am going to have to think very long and very hard about how much I really want an iPhone.
Oh and on a seperate note, when are we going to get an announcement on who the contract went with? Are we ever going to hear anything????
Come on Apple, we are waiting over this side of the pond.......
But steep rates are good for Apple as they're taking a cut.
Apple won't care 'casue they know people will buy it anyway on hype alone.
This is true. Personally my service has been great with O2, with the other networks in my area falling short with my other friends etc. When it comes to steep prices, you just have to know how to handle them. I've never paid full rates for my contract for years. I have a £55 for about £40.
Personally I think O2 need the iPhone, and ofcourse I hope they get it as I am with O2...
My experience of 02 ain't good - takes ages to send text messages, reception is terrible when you leave a built up area....
I'm really not happy it's gonna be on 02... don't like that company...
I'm really not happy it's gonna be on 02... don't like that company...
In terms of the carrier, I doubt the UK market will be unanimous in applause of whoever it goes to - each area of the country appears to have varied degrees of reception for each carrier. For example, where I live o2 are by far the best for reception, whereas T-Mobile have a horrendous reception. My parents 100 miles away experience the exact opposite.
It's a shame really that the iPhone has to be tied to a carrier at all - and personally I could quite happily do without visual voicemail. Leave it sim-free and let consumers pick their own carrier - the carriers will soon enough bring out plans that attract iPhone users, and competition among the carriers is never a bad thing.
Finally, if the carriers brought out a PAYG plan with data, the iPhone would fly off the shelves over here.
It's a shame really that the iPhone has to be tied to a carrier at all - and personally I could quite happily do without visual voicemail. Leave it sim-free and let consumers pick their own carrier - the carriers will soon enough bring out plans that attract iPhone users, and competition among the carriers is never a bad thing.
Finally, if the carriers brought out a PAYG plan with data, the iPhone would fly off the shelves over here.
You know what TheChillPill? I think you're right.
Personally I have this feeling that the iPhone won't quite be the same hit immediately that it is in the US. We're a little more fussy and hard to please at times...other times a little slow to catch on to the new phones. Generally I think we see phones differently, at least in some way. Don't get me wrong, I think it will still be a success over here, but it may take a little longer, or perhaps not the same overwhelming success it appears to have in the grand scale of things in the US. This make sense to anyone, or am I just talking crazy?!
Opening it up would be great...it's what US people wanted as well...but for now with it being a G1 device, we have to put up with 1 carrier.
Personally I have this feeling that the iPhone won't quite be the same hit immediately that it is in the US. We're a little more fussy and hard to please at times...other times a little slow to catch on to the new phones. Generally I think we see phones differently, at least in some way. Don't get me wrong, I think it will still be a success over here, but it may take a little longer, or perhaps not the same overwhelming success it appears to have in the grand scale of things in the US. This make sense to anyone, or am I just talking crazy?!
Opening it up would be great...it's what US people wanted as well...but for now with it being a G1 device, we have to put up with 1 carrier.
It'll be interesting to see if the Office of Fair Trading have anything to say on the subject. Apple will have found that the market in Europe is very different to that in the US, in fact it differs across Europe country by country. Here they won't be able to offer anything longer than 12month contracts, in Belgium I believe it's 6months.