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Purchase iphone now or wait?

iPhone UK

Hi,
I am on contract with Vodafone and want to get an iPhone when my contract expires.
I just spoke to a rep from Vodafone and they said they will be getting the iPhone in May 2008 (6 months after release).
I don't really believe it myself and think that it was just a tactic to keep me with Vodafone.
However, it would be interesting seeing as O2 seem to have an exclusive contract with Apple - also if this were true then alternative carriers in the US would have taken the iPhone (unless AT&T has an exclusive contract in the US but O2 in the UK doesn't)
Anyway, my contract expires in 3 months time - so roll on April...

If this were true then it would have appeared on a rumor site ages ago - unless Vodafone are getting the iPhone2 (also not rumored)
 
The best indicator was mentioned earlier. If you look at AT&T's broadband coverage map you'll see plain as day that they (Apple and AT&T) are not ready for 3G. There is no reason for Apple to update the iPhone unless they are adding 3G. Video recording, and some other things suggested in an update are not enough to make Apple update it like 3G would. So until the network is there for 3G don't expect to see an update anytime soon. Stevie likes to do his iPod updates and press conferences in the fall to...right before X-mas...they also need to give this generation some more shelf time...people would flip out if they release a new phone before it has even been released for a year.

http://www.wireless.att.com/coverageviewer/popUp_3g.html
 
If Apple truely wants to enter other global markets, it has to update its phones with 3G capabilities. It would be a bad strategy to keep the iPhone technology 5 years behind in terms of its network coverage. Unless, if global standards moving away from 3G to 4G like WiMax kind of networks. I am not sure whether you need to go on a linear fashion to upgrade your networks from 2.5G to 3G then only to 4G. If options like 4G can be much more optimal then people may even skip 3G technologies.
 
I don't think that Apple has held off on 3G due to the network. Most major cities are covered by AT&T's 3G network. I imagine the demographic for people buying a second generation iPhone favors urban dwellers (where 3G has been available for some time). I think the delayed is technical or political. Perhaps Apple was not able to negotiate the deal they want on the more efficient chips out there? Maybe they really think we wouldn't sacrifice some battery life for 3G speed?

On another note:
I'd argue AT&T's network isn't ready for voice much less data. Apple still released a phone that is supposed to transmit voice on the AT&T network, right?
 
If it helps, I'll be buying one as soon as return home to the UK (in around one months time) and get a job (hopefully not too long after!) to pay the bills.

I want's me some iPhone action!

;)
 
I wait, I waited for version 2 of the MacBookPro and it was worth the wait.

I have been waiting for a 30" cinema display for over 18 months and will wait with the money in the bank until I see a proper upgrade not just a price drop every now and again.

As for the iPhone, my contract ends at the end of next month on my current Nokia phone but I will wait for 3G. That and I have told myself that I can't buy the iPhone until my website gets a minimum of 1000 uniques each and every day. That way the higher cost of the contract will be covered by my Google Adsense check.

The 3G is something that really bothers me, if they had a 16 and 32gb 3G versions then that would be perfect. I would expect this type of iPhone to be released to the market within 3 - 18 months, I have no problem waiting, the money just gains interest in the bank and we all know how fast technology prices drop everyday when we own the device!
 
macrumors newbie

I'm also in the market for buying an iPhone since my contract is up. A question I have is:
Has anyone heard of 3G iPhone and 16 GB iPhone in the making?
I love my 16gb iPod Touch. I load all my schedules, contacts, photos, mp3's and movies but just can't call out. Instead I have to carry my iPod Touch and my Sony Ericson 600wa. Also is it possible to surf the web without be at a close to WiFi area? Another word can I go to a park or be on the road and surf the web via satellite link? I don't like being tied down to WiFi specially if you're in a town that's not even on the map.
 
o my god

lcwvb6 said:
I'm also in the market for buying an iPhone since my contract is up. A question I have is:
Has anyone heard of 3G iPhone and 16 GB iPhone in the making?
I love my 16gb iPod Touch. I load all my schedules, contacts, photos, mp3's and movies but just can't call out. Instead I have to carry my iPod Touch and my Sony Ericson 600wa. Also is it possible to surf the web without be at a close to WiFi area? Another word can I go to a park or be on the road and surf the web via satellite link? I don't like being tied down to WiFi specially if you're in a town that's not even on the map.
Click to expand...

I know you're a noob (like you said yourself),4 words for you; use the search button. I've answered this question like a million times.
 
What's stopping you from buying an iPhone now. When a new version comes out, sell your current iPhone on the Bay of E and buy a new one.
 
thefunkymunky said:
What's stopping you from buying an iPhone now. When a new version comes out, sell your current iPhone on the Bay of E and buy a new one.
Click to expand...

Well In my case (living in the UK) the only way to get an Iphone is to sign up to a 18 month £35 ($70) a month contract. So to buy the current iPhone and then buy a 3g one when it comes out I need to run 2 contacts side by side.

I know there are unlocked ones on eBay however not sure how they will fair everytime Apple updates the software, so unless I buy an Officially unlocked (French) Iphone (899 euros on eBay) I don't see this as a viable option.
 
fleeze69 said:
Well In my case (living in the UK) the only way to get an Iphone is to sign up to a 18 month £35 ($70) a month contract. So to buy the current iPhone and then buy a 3g one when it comes out I need to run 2 contacts side by side.

I know there are unlocked ones on eBay however not sure how they will fair everytime Apple updates the software, so unless I buy an Officially unlocked (French) Iphone (899 euros on eBay) I don't see this as a viable option.
Click to expand...

I'm in the UK too. What I meant was. Buy one now. When a new iPhone comes out, put the old SIM in the new phone and just sell the old one. Surely that would work. They're both iPhones and both on O2. I can't see why it wouldn't:confused:
 
fleeze69 said:
Well In my case (living in the UK) the only way to get an Iphone is to sign up to a 18 month £35 ($70) a month contract. So to buy the current iPhone and then buy a 3g one when it comes out I need to run 2 contacts side by side.
Click to expand...

Is that a fact? They might let you just 'upgrade' your contract to be just the 3G when you buy a 3G iPhone, rather than make you have 2 contracts.
 
As far as Im aware when you buy an iPhone it doesnt work on any operator (even o2) you then either activate it to work with o2 on itunes (by taking up the 18month contract) or you get some software/hardware to unlock it to any network (voiding your warranty, and stopping you taking Apple's software updates). So to just buy a 3g one if/when, it comes out, not activate it and put in your current iPhones sim wouldn't work unless you unlocked it (voiding warrenty) or activated it (taking out the 18month contract).

I contacted o2 last week to ask them if/when the 3g iPhone comes out would current iPhone users be able to upgrade? I was told then didn't know about a 3g Iphone, but if it does come out you'd have to start a new contract unless you were at the end of your current 18 month iPhone contract.

Hope this helps
 
i dont see a major hardware update for the iphone untill the end of 2008 or early 2009 like at macworld or something next year i'd just buy now
 
I was very close to buying the iPhone but have decided to wait...

Firstly my music comes to 6g so I could fit it all on but i'd have to manage my movies and I love just having loads on there. I bought a 16gb iPod ouch instead and love it.

I've no doubt that i'll buy either a 16gb iPhone or V2 whichever comes out as soon as it comes out but for the moment i'm guna hold my breath... as hard as it is (im always the guy with the best new technology) luckily i dont know anyone with an iphone who can brag about it to me..

...Roll on v2!!
 
In my opinion Apple is going to introduce a new iPhone model in the first quarter of this year.

Here is why:
Europeans hold off with their purchase because the lack of 3G connectivity.
The iPhone is on the US market since june. New mobile phones usually get released every 6 months or so, don't they?
Apple has licensed the technolog for 3G modules back in October 2007.
Furthermore there is no 16 Gig Version of the iPhone. Why is that?

My conclusion is that Apple will certainly release a new iPhone model in Q1 2008.
It's gonna cost 499-599$ with 16 Gigabytes of storage and 3G.

You may ask: "Why not 399$?"
Well, the current iPhone is on sale since November '07 in Germany for an example. If Apple releases a new modell at the same pricepoint so early after the release in Europe a lot of people would be really pissed off, wouldn't they?

Sorry for my bad english.

Greetings from Germany!
Nik
 
I'm about to get an iphone and have run the same thoughts but in the end I looked at the Blackberry and the Nokia and realise that the iPhone right now beats the crap out of them - that means whatever Apple does 'sometime in the future' I'll still have a great phone.
 
Dammit, I am going a bit mental trying to figure out whether I should get an iPhone or not.

I'm in the UK, and my current contract (with '3 Mobile') ends in three weeks time, and I'd love to buy an iPhone but I am afraid that the minute I buy one, there will be a new model out with 3G and then I'll be banging my head into a brick wall because I should have waited.

I'm quite happy to go onto 'Pay As You Go' for a few months to see whether an upgraded iPhone does come out, but it's the typical catch 22 because if I do this, then I'll probably end up waiting for a year!!

Is there *any* reliable indication of when the iPhone will be updated to 3G?

Lastly, I'm not willing to get an iPhone now and then upgrade it to the new iPhone later, because O2 are currently telling people that they won't allow this, so you'd have to run two contracts side-by-side (which is barking mad).

Arrrgh!
 
Floop said:
Dammit, I am going a bit mental trying to figure out whether I should get an iPhone or not.

I'm in the UK, and my current contract (with '3 Mobile') ends in three weeks time, and I'd love to buy an iPhone but I am afraid that the minute I buy one, there will be a new model out with 3G and then I'll be banging my head into a brick wall because I should have waited.

I'm quite happy to go onto 'Pay As You Go' for a few months to see whether an upgraded iPhone does come out, but it's the typical catch 22 because if I do this, then I'll probably end up waiting for a year!!

Is there *any* reliable indication of when the iPhone will be updated to 3G?

Lastly, I'm not willing to get an iPhone now and then upgrade it to the new iPhone later, because O2 are currently telling people that they won't allow this, so you'd have to run two contracts side-by-side (which is barking mad).

Arrrgh!
Click to expand...

Get an Iphone, but wait for the next Iphone, or if you got a Touch or an Ipod Nano or something, you could exchange both Iphone and Ipod for the next Iphone, exchange it with your friend or something ;)
 
what about the 6 months to file papers with FCC?

I don't know how this affects iPhones in other countries but do you think it would be possible that Apple would release a 3G iPhone in Japan or any other country but not release it in the US simultaneously?

If in fact the AT&T ceo's statement about the next gen iPhone being released in 2008 is true, can't we expect the same type of 6 months pre-notification like we saw at MWSF in January 2007 with the sale date in June 2007 because of FCC filings that are released at least 6 months in advance of a new product?

I was contemplating waiting for the next gen iPhone but I figure if I buy it now I have at least 6 months to enjoy (maybe even 11 months if it's announced in June and goes on sale in December)...only thing I wonder is if we might see another price drop with the SDK release this month? Maybe it'll come with the release of the upgraded MBP with multitouch coming out this Tuesday or next week or the week after that with the Leopard upgrade that's suppose to come out soon...or maybe I'll just buy it now...
 
That's a really good point - would anyone else with experience or knowledge please weigh in on the point that FCC filings are done 6 months ahead of time, and based on this we know that a 3G iPhone is at least 6 months away?

Floop
 
whoever told you it is 6 months is dead wrong. It takes about 6 weeks for a cell phone to be approved by the FCC. Apple just did it six months earlier to get people excited and so they will prepare to buy one. I doubt they will give us 6 months notice this time. It would lessen the sales of the current iphone. I believe they'll let us know a month before, which will most likely be end of the 2nd quarter of the year...

my .02 :apple:
 
stuarts said:
I'm looking for advice....I can't decide if I should buy an iphone now or wait. I'm no longer tied to a contract but I don't want to get burned in a few months with a major update. Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Click to expand...


If you always wait for the next update, you'll never buy anything =)
If you need it now, buy it...you certainly won't regret it.
 
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