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O2's iPhone Discounts Spur Sales
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You might be happy with an apology; I'm not settling for anything less than cold, hard cash.
Cheers!
Jim
Slower than expected by whom, exactly?
More than a year ago, a few Europeans posted predictions that this level of pricing would be necessary in Europe before the iPhone was accepted by the mainstream. We were ridiculed and, in some cases, treated very rudely by posters who, having no understanding of the market here, insisted that the situation would be the same as in the US.
Those posters know who they are and an apology would be nice.
Probably not worth waiting for, though...
*edit* And yes, Arn, 3G may help address it, but if the price goes back up, the sales figures will go back down.
I know exactly what you mean. I commented on some of the early iPhone threads, making the point that I thought they had got it wrong for the European market and received plenty of abuse.
I've still got the iPhone forums excluded in the forum spy to stop me getting into trouble
It's now been on sale in the UK for 5 months. O2 had to make big improvements to the price plans back in March as the original contracts were rubbish. This obviously didn't improve sales enough so now they have cut the price of the phone by over a third. Let's hope they are finally starting to get it!
Are people really so silly enough to go out and buy the iPhone now?
Why don't people do a bit of research before buying any new piece of hardware, let alone if it's being discounted.
As for the slow European sales, i can't vouch for other countries, but paying almost £300 for a mobile phone (which is essentially what it is being mass-marketed as, despite doing a whole lot more) is simply not an option for most people.
Why don't people do a bit of research before buying any new piece of hardware, let alone if it's being discounted.
As for the slow European sales, i can't vouch for other countries, but paying almost £300 for a mobile phone (which is essentially what it is being mass-marketed as, despite doing a whole lot more) is simply not an option for most people.
Judging from the posts on UK hardware forums, many of the people buying these are dyed-in-the-wool Apple haters who do not have a data plan, rendering the lack of 3G or otherwise moot, but do like the responsive user interface, abundance of apps and mediaplayer aspects and, now, the price.
The price point was judged to be fine at £169, not at £269. I did not notice a single post that mentioned that the contract was being bought. Every phone was jailbroken. If this is an O2 subsidy, then unless O2 is contractually obliged to shift a certain volume of iPhones, this will cost it dearly.
One or two buyers posting already owned the N95 and did mention that the latter's interface compares unfavourably with the iPhone's in terms of responsiveness and ease of navigation.
The price point was judged to be fine at £169, not at £269. I did not notice a single post that mentioned that the contract was being bought. Every phone was jailbroken. If this is an O2 subsidy, then unless O2 is contractually obliged to shift a certain volume of iPhones, this will cost it dearly.
One or two buyers posting already owned the N95 and did mention that the latter's interface compares unfavourably with the iPhone's in terms of responsiveness and ease of navigation.
It's still no use to me; £30/month for the cheapest contract? I don't even spend £10/month on my phone, and that's including line rental.
I know very well that you get unlimited this and that, but what's the use in paying for an unlimited amount when it would be cheaper for me to just pay as I use it.
I know very well that you get unlimited this and that, but what's the use in paying for an unlimited amount when it would be cheaper for me to just pay as I use it.
That pretty much sums up a large proportion of phone users over here - there's no real necessity for mobile internet/email access anytime, anywhere - certainly when it comes at a premium.
Sure it'd be a nice addition to have on your phone, but personally I can wait until I get home or in the office. And 99% of us already own an iPod, thanks.
The iPhone is now £30 cheaper than an iPod Touch.... 'go figure'
I did, contract enhancement and now £100 off, sure. I don't need 3G and I presume it is only good if you live in a big urban area I believe so not worth waiting for.
I presume any new iPhone would have the same software and screen size regardless.
I bought an iPhone in March, and immediately unlocked it. I sold it recently and thankfully made a small profit, just before the price cut. While there's no denying it's an incredible device, I have to echo what previous posters have said about how necessary it is overall.
Also, I have to mention that on more than one occasion I was stared at by groups of chavs while out in public using it, which makes me wonder if having an iPhone is actually a threat to your personal security in this country!! With our record of knife crime, you have to question if it's worth it.
Anyway, now I have a Blackberry Pearl 8120. Great phone, only £130 and very cheap on either payg or simplicity with a data bolt-on. Just in case you really do need to check your email away from home...
Also, I have to mention that on more than one occasion I was stared at by groups of chavs while out in public using it, which makes me wonder if having an iPhone is actually a threat to your personal security in this country!! With our record of knife crime, you have to question if it's worth it.
Anyway, now I have a Blackberry Pearl 8120. Great phone, only £130 and very cheap on either payg or simplicity with a data bolt-on. Just in case you really do need to check your email away from home...
That's very presumptuous.
But of course, if the current iPhone does everything you require, then you've got yourself a good deal in proportion to what it was previously being sold for.
"how necessary it is overall"????
what does that mean??????
I bought mine on launch day over here and don't regret it for a minute. no one needs to have it. you buy it if that's what you want.
600 mins 500 texts and unlimited internet for £35 is as good as you'll get anywhere for a high end phone!!!
I know
sort of justifying getting the phone now. I just thought with the SDK and the stuff that is being programmed for it now it would have to be compatible?Very true, as you said, you buy it if that's what you want. However, you might not actually need all that, which is why I was questioning how necessary it all is.
I know somebody who had been debating whether to part with his hard-earned cash for an iPhone for a long time, and yet as soon as he heard about the discount, he rushed out and bought one, so I can imagine that it's doing nothing but good for both Apple and O2.
(Maybe not so much O2 in this case, he unlocked it and uses T-Mobile)
Me, I love my phone, but I'm gonna upgrade when the PowerPhone G5 is released.
(Maybe not so much O2 in this case, he unlocked it and uses T-Mobile
)Me, I love my phone, but I'm gonna upgrade when the PowerPhone G5 is released.
I was posting from my shiny new iPhone, but my typing went titsup
So, for me it was exactly the right thing to swing me into buying it. I went into my local O2 on the Thursday -- the second day of the new price -- and they'd sold out on the first day. According to the salesman, they'd sold more iPhones this week than on the launch day!
So I went to my local Carphone Warehouse; sold out. According to that salesman they had 4500 in their warehouse inventory which was down to 1500 by the Friday.
I finally got it and am delighted with it. It's everything I thought it would be and even makes phone calls.
Yep, chuffed to bits. Sure, there's missing bits, but the bits it does well, it does *really* well. The N95 couldn't hold a candle to this.
I've a feeling that the new one will be more expensive. Having said that, with the numbers they've been flogging in the last week I wonder if the prices will be kept lower? Still, it's Steve we're talking about, so I won't be daft!
So, for me it was exactly the right thing to swing me into buying it. I went into my local O2 on the Thursday -- the second day of the new price -- and they'd sold out on the first day. According to the salesman, they'd sold more iPhones this week than on the launch day!
So I went to my local Carphone Warehouse; sold out. According to that salesman they had 4500 in their warehouse inventory which was down to 1500 by the Friday.
I finally got it and am delighted with it. It's everything I thought it would be and even makes phone calls.
Yep, chuffed to bits. Sure, there's missing bits, but the bits it does well, it does *really* well. The N95 couldn't hold a candle to this.
I've a feeling that the new one will be more expensive. Having said that, with the numbers they've been flogging in the last week I wonder if the prices will be kept lower? Still, it's Steve we're talking about, so I won't be daft!
iPhone
I also think the price is more the issue than the lack of 3G with the iPhone. I'm sure I'm one of many that don't really care about the 3G (although it would be nice) and prefer a cheaper iPhone. I'm just waiting for my contract to expire until I switch over to O2.
The 2.5G iPhone may remain at the same price whilst the 3G iPhone will be the older higher price when it's out. How much money I have at the time will be the deciding factor on which one I'll buy
I also think the price is more the issue than the lack of 3G with the iPhone. I'm sure I'm one of many that don't really care about the 3G (although it would be nice) and prefer a cheaper iPhone. I'm just waiting for my contract to expire until I switch over to O2.
The 2.5G iPhone may remain at the same price whilst the 3G iPhone will be the older higher price when it's out. How much money I have at the time will be the deciding factor on which one I'll buy
Apparently so ... I must be one of those silly people, because I went for it.
Y'see, I spend maybe £10 every two months on a pay as you go. A contract is no good to me because it's more expensive than I need it to be and I don't want lock-in for 12 months, and definitely not 18 months.
I also needed a new phone, and I want it to sync flawlessly with my MacBook Pro. I had previously been carrying around an iPod Touch and a Sony Ericsson phone. A cheap iPhone that I can then unlock and use with my existing SIM is great. No 3G? No big deal. I have internet access at home and work, can use wireless around the house on the phone and rarely feel in such desperate need to use data on the go. So for me, it's been a really good deal. So people who have not bought until now, knowing a 3G phone is around the corner are not necessarily stupid. For my usage, I think I've gotten a great deal.
No pay as you go option - no sale.
I don't want, need, require or feel like getting shafted with a <£400 a year contract. I use perhaps £20 - 50 per year on my current Orange PAYG phone.
I'm not prepared to hack, crack, rip or unlock the thing, it's expensive enough thanks, it should be available on ANY plan, with working visual voice mail. I wouldn't mind moving to O2 to get it - but I refuse to get a contract - I just don't need it.
It also needs 3G, a better camera, video recording ability,MMS, proper bluetooth etc.
Doug
I don't want, need, require or feel like getting shafted with a <£400 a year contract. I use perhaps £20 - 50 per year on my current Orange PAYG phone.
I'm not prepared to hack, crack, rip or unlock the thing, it's expensive enough thanks, it should be available on ANY plan, with working visual voice mail. I wouldn't mind moving to O2 to get it - but I refuse to get a contract - I just don't need it.
It also needs 3G, a better camera, video recording ability,MMS, proper bluetooth etc.
Doug
Slower than expected by whom, exactly?
More than a year ago, a few Europeans posted predictions that this level of pricing would be necessary in Europe before the iPhone was accepted by the mainstream. We were ridiculed and, in some cases, treated very rudely by posters who, having no understanding of the market here, insisted that the situation would be the same as in the US.
Those posters know who they are and an apology would be nice.
Probably not worth waiting for, though...
*edit* And yes, Arn, 3G may help address it, but if the price goes back up, the sales figures will go back down.
Agreed, if you want to sell phones in Europe you make the handset free.
The 3G iPhone may not necessarily address it, the UK (and the rest of europe) seems to like the cheap (but expensive out of contract) phones when on expensive contracts, unless the 3G iPhone follows the Italy rumour, its unlikely that apples several hundred pound plus a contract is going to appeal to the same amount as in the US.
As to the sales - I wonder how many are being unlocked, the 8GB iPhone is cheaper than the iPod touch at the moment. Another thing is how many phones are kept in stock, I don't know any company that has an excess of slow moving products in stock. So if theres only 20 phones in stock and they sell out its completely different to if theres 200 phones and they sell out.