O2 Stock This Week & Unlocking

I had this email from O2 today, though some of you may be interested.
I'm holding out for a white one, but if it isn't soom I'll get my friend in Italy to get one and then buy out the contract:

Enjoy:



hank you for emailing us about the new 3G iPhone.

I understand your concern that you want to purchase the new 3G iPhone. Please note that you won't be able to unlock the new 3G iPhone to use it with other network provider SIM card even if you pay for your full contract period.

As you've probably seen, there's been a huge demand and we've now sold out. We're working closely with Apple to get additional iPhone 3Gs. These will be coming in on a weekly basis. We've limited availability of iPhone 3G 8GB in O2 retail stores as at opening time Wednesday 16 July 2008. You can visit one of our O2 stores mentioned in the list of O2 store having the iPhone 3G 8GB to take out an iPhone contract.

You can visit the link below that will show list of O2 stores that have the iPhone 3G stock as at opening time Wednesday 16 July 2008:

http://shop.o2.co.uk/info/?cm_re=HeroBanner-_-Shop-_-iphone3GLaunch#shopTable

This list will be updated daily. The amount of iPhone 3G 8GB stock these stores have is still very limited and will therefore sell out quickly. Please note that currently there is no stock of iPhone 3G 16GB version.

We currently don't have a date when the new iPhone will be available in White. We'll keep you posted on specific details by regularly updating our iPhone page: o2.co.uk/iphone.

Should you need any information on our products and services, please visit our online Help Centre at:

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

When you email us please provide: your date of birth, postcode and mobile number as it helps us answer your query faster.

Kind regards,

O2 Customer Service.

Getting your query right the first time you email us is very important to us. If your query has not been resolved this time, please reply to this email with the words 'Need More Help' in the subject field and we will deal with your response as a matter of priority.

Telefónica O2 UK Limited, Registered Office: 260 Bath Road, Slough, Berkshire SL1 4DX. Registered in England No 1743099.

 

In addition to the above, here is the email I sent them originally:


I actually don't have an account with O2 as yet.

My query relates to joining as a new customer. I am wondering, are the following steps possible:

1) Go to O2 Retail store and connect new 3G iPhone
2) Pay FULL contract period line rental (18 months times £35 line rental = £630)
3) Close the account
4) Have the iPhone unlocked for use on alternative networks, for example when abroad

I am questioning if this is a possibility. Also do you know if there white version will be at the same cost as the black? What's the expected release date for the white one. I understand there are some in the UK already.

Once the handset is unlocked will the unlock survive any future software updates from Apple?

Many thanks

 

lol

Thanks, I've been happily using mu 1st Gen iPhone since November, on Orange UK.

I was trying to find out if O2 are offering an unlock solution at a cost. It seems odd that I can do as proposed with a Nokia N95, but can't do it with an iPhone.

I don't want to have to wait for the Dev Team each time there is new software, but I'd rather not join O2 as a customer (I'm an Orange employee!!) - but at the same time I have no objection to paying for the handset and the £630 for contract charges (18 months at £30 per month) - but once I've bought out I want it unlocked like in Hong Kong and Italy.

Very annoying.

I guess I'm off to Italy.

 

I'd rather pay and get the software updates from Apple.

More money than sense you might say.

I'm just wary of having features locked down, even with the excellent Dev Team working as hard as they do.

Apple could very easily say "right, no more App Store without a registered phone number" (for example)