iPhone Launched in the UK on O2 Network

[3282872]

Hmmmm, doesn't all this sound familiar Yank's? When Apple announced using Cingular/ATT in the states along with the price points for the iPhone, everyone had the EXACT same complaints. "Too expensive", "no discount with a contract?!", "Cingular/ATT is horrible", "the plans are too limited", "it'll flop", etc., etc., etc.

...and how did the iPhone fair?

To be honest though, I do not know much about UK calling plans, but it does seem as though 02 is putting the screws to you guys juuuuust a weeee bit. If all the comments are correct, those price plans aren't that great, especially compared to ATT. I left Verizon to Cingular after ten years due to Verizon's crappy customer service and lack of respect to its customers (hello, anyone remember the Motorola v710 lawsuit and VZW's decision on taking AWAY bluetooth ObEx to charge customers for every ringtone and picture sent? All this complaining about .99 ringtones, at least it's better than Verizon). At ATT, I got the lowest minutes plan with rollover, and I have 4,000 minutes to use on my plan.

Basically, I pay $39.99 for 450 any time minutes w/ rollover, unlimited M2M, and $20 for unlimited data. My plan doesn't go over $80/month with taxes, so in comparison to what O2 is offering, I'd say someone's screwing the pooch.

 

[nja247]

did i read it right that the touch is now out in the UK?

Yea, like in the US (just in some stores). It's officially out on the 28th.

 

[metoo6000]

http://www.o2.co.uk/iphone

O2 page is up again, and it still says the iPhone will be available on 19th October 2007.

Am I dreaming now?

 

[ppnkg]

two words: no way

 

[clownshoes]

Yea, like in the US (just in some stores). It's officially out on the 28th.

The touch is available now?!?
I can't get to a phone, does anyone know if Glasgow has it??

 

[3282872]

And oh what the hell are you talking about? 8-meg is the standard now. Even if you only get five or six megs on your line, that's still WAY more than "2 to 10" times faster than dial up!

Stop glossing the issue. 3G has been the mobile standard in large cities across Europe for several years now. Fabricate it as much as you like. WiFi is faster, yes, but few and far between here, unless you spend most of your time in the city, I'm afraid.

That is true. I think Steve Jobs expects everyone to be using their iPhone in a Starbucks in the near future, after all there is one on every corner .

As for 3G, aside from battery issues, 3G is the way to go in Europe, and WiFi seems the way to go in the states. In NYC, there always seems to be an available WiFi connection to "use" (except in area's where people are computer literate and have secure wireless networks, damn those people lol).

 

[aristobrat]

booooo--no 3g...how are you UKers going to survive?

They'll get free WiFi in 7,500 locations. Wish Apple did that for the US customers!

 

[elgruga]

So - can I buy an iPhone, get it unlocked, put in my existing Virgin Mobile SIM card and still have 300 minutes and 300 texts for £10 a month like I do at the moment?

Of course you can!

For all of you that have a GPRS or GSM network sim in the UK, buy an iPhone from Apple, unlock it, thanks to the cool people at Iphone Dev, and be happy.
If you dont want the data plan, just use wifi.

Funny, the plans from O2 would be selling like wildfire here in Canada, where there is no iPhone and no unlimited data plans.

You whining Brits dont know how lucky you are - of course to get the deal you have to live in Britain.....hmmmm.

And to think I complain about Vancouver....

 

[dog299]

I went into Birmingham on my lunch break to get an iPod Touch (I can't wait until November!) and there were plenty of people stood around the tills nagging about the iPhone - 'When? Where?' etc.

Bagged myself an 8gb and 16gb Touch (one for the partner!). They are sooooo thin.

-Leemo

was this Birmingham UK you got the touch??? also isnt the Regent St branch still closed? maybe something is still happening, i am only 10mins walk away and would love the iphone or the touch to be out now!!

 

[nomad01]

For a Mac rumours site, there are certainly some grossly uninformed and miserable 'UK Apple fans ' here.
<snip>
'3G' isnt really very widespread anywhere and battery life is crap.

Erm... talking of uninformed... 3G is pretty widespread over here. I get 3G coverage in most places I go and no I'm not in the middle of the city here.

AND even with a fair bit of email and web browsing I get a couple of days battery life off a Nokia E65 using 3G.

So maybe check out your facts before you start b1tching at people? Just a thought.

 

[3282872]

They'll get free WiFi in 7,500 locations. Wish Apple did that for the US customers!

Really?! Ok, back up, they are supplying free WiFi how and where? That is awesome, I wish that was included. Sheesh, even in certain airports where WiFi is free my iPhone doesn't "play well" with others...

 

[davidjearly]

This is a fantastic price. I can't see why there are any complaints. The price of the iPhone in the UK vs. the US compares identically to the price of the 16GB iPod Touch in the UK vs the US.

The network plans should have started at £25, £35, & £45 max but again, for unlimited data/wifi £35 is a reasonable price. The only thing that lets this down is the relative lack of minutes/texts for the the £35 package, which UK customers are most used to. Unlimited data in this country is very expensive normally and not as popular as in the US.

I think these prices are very fair and that Apple will sell many iPhones here.

 

[sananda]

Really?! Ok, back up, they are supplying free WiFi how and where? That is awesome, I wish that was included. Sheesh, even in certain airports where WiFi is free my iPhone doesn't "play well" with others...

yeah...i think that's a good move on their part because otherwise the whole argument about not worrying about EDGE speed because there's wifi would fall flat because, as far as i can tell living in london, there just isn't much free wifi around. whereas i'm getting the impression, from hanging around this forum, that there is a lot of easily accessible wifi in the US.

 

[kingtj]

Seriously....

This seems like the best solution, really. Why be all worked up over your ability to use *either* a sluggish EDGE network, or a less-sluggish 3G network, when you could be on a wi-fi network at greater speeds than either of the other options offer?

I've seen several cellphone tower installers and engineers comment before that things would be better off for everybody if the cellular network just stuck to carrying the voice calls and SMS messages, and everything else went over wi-fi.

It sounds like in the U.S., the first "baby steps" towards embracing this are already taking shape. "Femtocells" are being implemented in a couple cities by Sprint, and AT&T is filling out the initial paperwork to do the same on their network. Basically, this amounts to them setting up special wi-fi repeaters in areas where their traditional cell towers are giving people poor or no reception. Then things are configured so you can do both your voice and data over the wi-fi link when you come into range of it. (Details on how it will handle transferring between a wi-fi and a standard cellular link as you move around vary by provider's implementation - but some of that is defiinitely possible too.) This will let them do things like keep your cell working reliably in underground locations or inside office buildings that previously killed off your signal.

They'll get free WiFi in 7,500 locations. Wish Apple did that for the US customers!

 

[elgruga]

So unlock it, you UK whiners!

http://modmyiphone.com/wiki/index.php/IPhone_unlock_OS_X_Part_1

 

[Project]

Really?! Ok, back up, they are supplying free WiFi how and where? That is awesome, I wish that was included. Sheesh, even in certain airports where WiFi is free my iPhone doesn't "play well" with others...

There is a service in the UK called the Cloud which has over 7,000 hotspots. There are hundreds in the main cities at various bars, pubs, hotels, universities and airports etc. It usually costs £11 ($22) per month to have unlimited access to this, so its pretty nice that its included in the package.

 

[elgruga]

Erm... talking of uninformed... 3G is pretty widespread over here. I get 3G coverage in most places I go and no I'm not in the middle of the city here.

AND even with a fair bit of email and web browsing I get a couple of days battery life off a Nokia E65 using 3G.

So maybe check out your facts before you start b1tching at people? Just a thought.

Actually, I wasnt 'bitching', just stating that, for the most part, we have a crowd of UNINFORMED whiners on here. Again.
After the recent spate of whining forums, its getting old, quickly.

TRY the iPhone before you whine. Thats all.

As for the Nokia, its most amusing that you are comparing it, in ANY way, with the iPhone.

 

[dicklacara]

I believe steve announced the iPhone with £269 not 269 euro...

For me, iPhone itself is fantastic. Just wish I can have a PAYG option.
Well... probably I will unlock it when I get it.
Can't wait!!!

Whoa... GPB 269 (including VAT) = US$ 537.34

vs US Apple Store $399 + Sales Tax $32 = US $ 432

You pay a 25% premium.

That is quite a difference.

Is this representative of all technology goods, or just Apple products?

An acquaintance from the UK, in the US to teach soccer to kids, just bought one here, and unlocked it. I am sure he is happy to have it sooner and for US$ 100 less!

 

[jicon]

Horrible...

I can't be bothered to read more than a few pages of complaints, but the price of the phone coupled with a high monthly fee with only 30% coverage? Awful.

I have a feeling O2 isn't all to blame on the price. Apple reportedly signed an agreement for a rediculous 40% of monthly fees that O2 collects. O2 still needs to keep its margins if more EDGE towers are required.

 

[Stella]

Please explain why Nokia high-end phones can't be compared to the iPhone?

As for the Nokia, its most amusing that you are comparing it, in ANY way, with the iPhone.

 

[Project]

Whoa... GPB 269 (including VAT) = US$ 537.34

vs US Apple Store $399 + Sales Tax $32 = US $ 432

You pay a 25% premium.

That is quite a difference.

Is this representative of all technology goods, or just Apple products?

An acquaintance from the UK, in the US to teach soccer to kids, just bought one here, and unlocked it. I am sure he is happy to have it sooner and for US$ 100 less!

Well sales tax (VAT) here is 17.5% on pretty much everything but food and kids clothes. It always bumps up the price.

 

[nomad01]

As for the Nokia, its most amusing that you are comparing it, in ANY way, with the iPhone.

Oh give it up, please.

Jeez. I was talking about battery life on a 3G network. Not comparing the phone features.

I'm gonna be first in line to ditch my Nokia and get an iPhone but the fact is that while you're *criticising* us for being uninformed, you're proving yourself to be equally uninformed. Battery life doesn't have to be awful on 3G and the UK has pretty good 3G coverage... contrary to your post!

 

[morespce54]

Curious here too. I want to know the limit in megabytes, not averaged web page views. They're probably basing this on plain text websites, wouldn't surprise me

I agree... Pages number doesn't tell anything...
It's like saying "I can go twice the distance at a fairly good speed"...

(okay, maybe I haven't sleep enough but you get the point... of nothing means nothing )

 

[Philsy]

Well sales tax (VAT) here is 17.5% on pretty much everything but food and kids clothes. It always bumps up the price.

Worth pointing out that the tax is included in the price you see in the shops - unlike in the US when it is added at the point of sale.

 

[owen-b]

Okay people, a question: how can I import a US 8GB iPhone to the UK this month for £270 or less?