Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
O2 to Drop UK iPhone Prices in May?
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I think the reference to the handset being £500 in the link provided a few posts back is actually a reference to the cost to O2 not the customer. It's already been stated Apple wanted in excess of $500 per handset from any operator in China. It's likely they have similar deals with the existing providers, including O2.
O2 will be subsidizing the handset cost massively, as they do with all handsets on contract. They make the money back through call charges.
Do we think O2 will retail the new handsets for the same prices on their release, i.e £99 for a 16GB and £160? for a 32GB,
O2 will be subsidizing the handset cost massively, as they do with all handsets on contract. They make the money back through call charges.
Do we think O2 will retail the new handsets for the same prices on their release, i.e £99 for a 16GB and £160? for a 32GB,
no surprise, demand over here for iPhone has been dismal to say the least...at least since Xmas.
A better tariff and better carrier would help...
A better tariff and better carrier would help...
no nothing linkable.
I have friends at O2 and they have been very disappointed with demand and sales post Xmas.
Other handsets seem to be holding up well.
There just no value to the contract, I wouldn't mind forking out £35 (i'm not atm, waiting for iphone 3) if there was more texts and minutes. I know that the internet is thrown in, but still, 500 texts on a £35 contract? No ta.
well personally, I can't understand how anyone could use that many texts per month but each to their own I guess.
I just think its an average handset on an average tariff with a p!ss poor carrier.
I'm not sure its an 'average' handset. I know it's popular to be an iPhone basher but I think it's a great handset. Sure, it's got some minor flaws and some 'Apple-isms' but everyone in the smartphone market is trying to copy and beat it right now.
Carrier - well, customer service wise O2 are much better than almost all other carriers I've been with. However, I think their 3G/Edge coverage lets them down.
Carrier - well, customer service wise O2 are much better than almost all other carriers I've been with. However, I think their 3G/Edge coverage lets them down.
the development of iphone safari usage share tracked by net applications has been good indicator of the development of iphone sales. take 7 days moving average from that data (the usage pattern changes according to the day of the week) and you can see that after the holiday season there hasn't been significant change in usage share.
There could be more to this than just stock clearance. There has been rumors suggesting the iPhone may be moving to Orange for UK customers, and some strong alleged evidence to point to this move are Orange not chasing any of the new smart phone handsets coming out this year, and O2 signing up to sell the new Palm, which is set to be the iPhones biggest competitor handset yet.
This could be good news, as Orange do have a stronger network in the UK, and already sell the iPhone for Apple in most European countries. They also offer better price plans, and customer service in general...
This could be good news, as Orange do have a stronger network in the UK, and already sell the iPhone for Apple in most European countries. They also offer better price plans, and customer service in general...
so if the iPhone moves to Orange, would all current O2 contract holders be shifted over to the Orange network. I left Orange to get an iPhone
I really hope your wrong.
Legally, they can not do that. It is for this reason I think its BS. That said, they could give Orange the rights to sell also - which 02 are going to be pissed off.
Well, it might just be case of Orange being licensed to sell the new iPhone v3 to new customers, and O2 will only be allowed to to sell any remaining 3Gs they've got left in stock, but once they're gone, they're gone.
O2 will have a legal obligation to support all iPhone users until their contracts come to a natural end. Just in the same way they would with any people on a discontinued Nokia handset for example. Unless they chose to allow people to cancel early - but I cannot see O2 doing this. Nor can see both Orange and O2 operating side by side with a new iPhone handset.
O2 will have a legal obligation to support all iPhone users until their contracts come to a natural end. Just in the same way they would with any people on a discontinued Nokia handset for example. Unless they chose to allow people to cancel early - but I cannot see O2 doing this. Nor can see both Orange and O2 operating side by side with a new iPhone handset.
I don't see why we can't have 2 operators side by side. Surely Apple will have to do this eventually if they want to grow their market?
And it happens in other countries doesn't it?
I don't want to move (back) to Orange for a number of reasons. Customer service and My O2 broadband being 2 of them!
And it happens in other countries doesn't it?
I don't want to move (back) to Orange for a number of reasons. Customer service and My O2 broadband being 2 of them!
If they're bringing down the contract prices for the iPhone, then they'll update the tariffs people are already on. I started on the £45 tariff, but then when they reduced it to £35 for the same minutes and I was automatically updated to the £35 tariff.
Wonder if they'll update it again.
Wonder if they'll update it again.
well unless Apple has changed the terms of the deal then I don't see who..in the current climate would want to do any sort of deal with Apple on the same terms as the O2 deal.
O2 pay 40% of their monthly revenue per customer to Apple.
Its only that reason that made Apple go with o2 in the 1st place.
Voda and Orange were the frontrunners early on but dropped out as they didn't want to pay the price.
However no one I've spoken to seems to know the length of the deal for certain so possibilities for a move.?
we'll see but I guess Orange are the only carrier out there with no exclusive phone deal. Wouldn't surprise me if o2 actually tried to get out of the deal too.
O2 pay 40% of their monthly revenue per customer to Apple.
Its only that reason that made Apple go with o2 in the 1st place.
Voda and Orange were the frontrunners early on but dropped out as they didn't want to pay the price.
However no one I've spoken to seems to know the length of the deal for certain so possibilities for a move.?
we'll see but I guess Orange are the only carrier out there with no exclusive phone deal. Wouldn't surprise me if o2 actually tried to get out of the deal too.
The revenue share deal was for the original 2G iPhone and was dropped with the introduction of the network subsidised 3G iPhone.
Great Stuff.
Currently on Orange, contracts up and rolling over each month, just anticipating the next few months...
Currently on Orange, contracts up and rolling over each month, just anticipating the next few months...
This wouldn't surprise me. There are millions of other phones out there with better deals and cheaper prices for something with nearly all the same features. Hence why I don't have an iPhone... yet.
There isn't a better carrier though. O2 have been quietly amazing with some of the best iPhone deals to be had anywhere. I still meet someone almost every week who just bought an iPhone. Unlimited internet and they even provide a user name to bypass web acceleration. I really like O2, a company which successfully runs some of the best music venues in the UK, provides some of the fastest internet to homes and continues to make improvements to the network which bodes well for future mobile devices and the types of services they can offer. The iPhone has changed O2 for the better, I'm almost certain Vodafone would have turned the affair into a stuffy, corporate event like they always do. O2 deserves its partnership with Apple.
i'll have to agree with you on that one. Orange, although comes across as the number one in uk really isn't. O2 is catching up because of their support and services offered. Orange unsigned act - who gives a sugar, O2 arena - yeah, bring it on. Their WiFi connections (albeit through other partners) are exceedingly useful - i don't see other companies offering this? Or am i off the plot
O2 don't actually own, or manage the O2 Arena. They've just leant their name, and brand. O2's relationship with the dome, is nothing more than a very huge sponsorship and marketing deal. The dome, and its facilities are owned and managed by AEG Worldwide. It's just the same arrangements as the Reebok stadium, or the Emirates Stadium, or the TRENT FM Arena.
No doubt in a few years, if someone comes along offering more cash, the O2 will become something different, but remain the same inside...
However, the thing you've identified is O2 have a very strong UK brand, the O2 name is not as strong in Europe (O2 trades largely as Telefonica in Europe), hence why other carriers have faired better in capturing more of the iPhone market share across these countries. However, the O2 UK brand does have a air of innovation about it, something which Apple may favor over Orange with innovation being a key aspect to the Apple brand.
No doubt in a few years, if someone comes along offering more cash, the O2 will become something different, but remain the same inside...
However, the thing you've identified is O2 have a very strong UK brand, the O2 name is not as strong in Europe (O2 trades largely as Telefonica in Europe), hence why other carriers have faired better in capturing more of the iPhone market share across these countries. However, the O2 UK brand does have a air of innovation about it, something which Apple may favor over Orange with innovation being a key aspect to the Apple brand.
Can someone translate to American?
How come lovely AT&T doesn't give away the iPhone for free? They should at some of their package prices...
yep and also they dont pay for incomming calls.
Softbank Japan has been doing this for a while
In Japan, the phone has been offered for free for at least a few weeks now.
It is so tempting as they were asking $800 upfront at first.
But, it also means the next iPhone will probably blow it away and they are trying to get rid of their bricks now.... think I'll just save up the $800 for the next iteration....
http://mb.softbank.jp/mb/iphone/
PS> Info is only in the Japanese version of the site, and only for the 8GB iPhone 3G.
In Japan, the phone has been offered for free for at least a few weeks now.
It is so tempting as they were asking $800 upfront at first.
But, it also means the next iPhone will probably blow it away and they are trying to get rid of their bricks now.... think I'll just save up the $800 for the next iteration....
http://mb.softbank.jp/mb/iphone/
PS> Info is only in the Japanese version of the site, and only for the 8GB iPhone 3G.