T-Mobile to Sell iPhone in Germany: November 1st?

[jmmo20]

They aren't in Spain, so sorry I assumed that for all of Europe.

I disagree.. 12-18 months are pretty Standard in any mobile network in Spain, except for the recent newcomer Yoigo.

24 months will probably be an exception in Spain but surely people will give in as long as the operator subsidises it. If not, there's now way they'll sell the iPhone.

 

[rob@robburns.co]

There is still empty space in the iPhone!

Yeah, I think I could park my SUV in there. Empty space? Thats probably meant for cooling not for storing your stash or adding more hot chipsets.

 

[Galex]

Roaming has got to be the biggest rip-off anyone could imagine. I am also concerned that Apple has not figured on the difference across Europe in terms of markets. We might be 'one economic family' but we are a little bit dysfunctional.

Interestingly enough, the roaming fees for across-border calls in Europe are now being regulated, making them standardised and substantially reduced. The changes will come into effect this summer:

http://www.europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/07/870&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

Perhaps, this will also mean that it will not really be a problem if Apple ends up using different carriers for different European countries.

/Galex

 

[koobcamuk]

I think Vodafone might get it in the UK

No. It may just mean T-Mobile offered more then Voda.

it looks like multiple euro partners though so the next week should be interesting.

This is going to be interesting. T-mobile is everywhere here in Germany, but back home in the UK it's a close race.

 

[Apple Architect]

germany company

not, not the same language but quite close. dutch sounds like a weired mixture between german and english. i was once sitting in a train next to a dutch couple and constantly wondering whether they were german or british. it took me literally half an hour to figure out that they were dutch.....


and t-mobile is more german than mercedes....it was a state owned company not so long ago!

what interest me most is: will i be able to use a att iphone with a german t-mobile card or vice versa? i want to buy an iphone but i cannot afford two (one for each country, are they NUTS?).

Mercedes....owned by (until 14th may 2007)........a US company (ok, it was a merger - but guess where the finance came from)

Makes me laugh the whole chat around companies. T Mobile may well have been a German company but like all the mobile carriers through acquisition it has become federated organisation. Each T Mobile country unit is pretty independent. The only thing common will be the brand.

The same is true of O2 (Spanish but the o2 name came from BT in the UK (prev Cellnet) and Vodafone (British ownership but very different country level companies). The only exception was Orange, which was build from the ground up from a corp level. This was then bought by France Telecom

 

[DonSqueak]

Does anybody read before posting? It's already posted several times within the last 1 1/2 hours.

He's read all of the thread (when it was like ten posts long), he just needed some time for his perfect translation

 

[DonSqueak]

[Consoles] start in Japan, go to America about half a year later, go to Europe half a year on from when America gets them.

Not true anymore. All the current consoles started in the US about the same time as Japan (Wii even earlier), Europe got the PS3 half a year later (fortunately neglectable though), Wii just took several weeks to arrive here. Dunno about the 360, but definitely US before Japan (and has not really arrived, cuz nobody buys it over there anyway).

 

[rob@robburns.co]

Makes me laugh the whole chat around companies. T Mobile may well have been a German company but like all the mobile carriers through acquisition it has become federated organisation.

Also saying a company is a dutch company in Europie is a lot like saying a company is Delaware based company in the US. Companies base themselves in The Netherlands and in Delaware because corporate laws are so favorable there.

What company could be more Swedish than IKEA? But its based in the Netherlands.

 

[DonSqueak]

Mercedes....owned by (until 14th may 2007)........a US company (ok, it was a merger - but guess where the finance came from)

You're kidding, right? You do know that Daimler recently sold Chrysler cuz they couldn't get it profitable as it sucks on every level imaginable? [sorry for OT]

 

[DonSqueak]

German Newspaper Handelsblatt claims that the rumors are wrong and no decisions about who sells the iPhone in Europe have been made.


german link

Wow, that's like.... NEWS! Why oh why hasn't anybody posted that EARLIER I wonder?!

 

[ABM]

Wow, that's like.... NEWS! Why oh why hasn't anybody posted that EARLIER I wonder?!

It was posted several times that night... Just read!


Edit: First time it was postet 10.40 pm last night --> page 6

 

[daneoni]

Hmmm...i think Voda will mostly get first dibs on the iPhone here (UK). They have a superior network supposedly and are probably the only ones offering EDGE.

Also as much i hate to admit it, i dont think a 3G version of the iPhone is coming to Europe. Apple is unlikely to release two versions of the same product especially after Steve said the reason for no 3G in Rev A is space and power consumption. He then turns around and releases 3G iPhone in less than 4/5 months?. We might get the first 3G iPhone (iPhone 2) in Europe in 18 months time, as US contracts would also be almost timing out allowing them to upgrade a few months later

But an EDGE iPhone in the US and a 3G iPhone in Europe......as much as i'd love that seems unlikely. 3G and other goodies will be a feature of iPhone 2.....universaly probably in 18 months.

For now look for heavy software patching in iPhone 1.

Its brilliant strategy, with all the Qualcomm legal problems going on with 3G chips. Steve wouldn't have wanted anything to stain his revolutionary product launch.

This way, he has time for the Qualcomm issue to pan out, 3G chips would also probably be cheaper by then, HSDPA (Supported in both Europe/US) would be mature and the Engineering team would have come up with an efficient power management system for the chip so battery life isnt really affected. Then make 3G a HUGE feature for iPhone 2

Dunno...just my thoughts

 

[DonSqueak]

Here's the German article (dpa) explaining the results of a survey they made regarding who wants to buy the iPhone:

"Wiesbaden - Während in den USA das Interesse an Apples erstem Handy iPhone zur Markteinführung überkocht, finden es die Deutschen einer Umfrage zufolge zu teuer. Nur 0,4 Prozent wollten es hier zu Lande "ganz sicher" kaufen, weitere 2,9 Prozent es sich vielleicht zulegen, ergab eine am Donnerstag vorgestellte Umfrage der Unternehmensberatung Marketing Partner. 72,5 Prozent gaben dagegen an, für sie käme das neuartige Telefon mit Touchscreen statt Tastatur und vielen Multimedia-Fähigkeiten ganz sicher nicht in Frage, für 16 Prozent "eher nicht". Als Grund dafür nannten 44 Prozent einen zu hohen Preis und 15,5 Prozent meinten, das Gerät habe zu viele Funktionen, die man nicht brauche.

Allerdings wurden die iPhone-Preise und entsprechende Mobilfunk- Tarife für die bis Jahresende angekündigte Markteinführung in Europa noch nicht bekanntgegeben. In den USA kostet das Handy je nach Ausstattung 500 bzw. 600 Dollar bei einem Zweijahresvertrag. Die monatlichen Kosten belaufen sich je nach Tarifplan nochmals auf 60 bis 100 Dollar. Apple will im Jahr 2008 zehn Millionen iPhone-Geräte verkaufen und peilt damit einen Anteil von etwa einem Prozent am weltweiten Handy-Markt an. In den USA wird für die ersten Tage nach dem Marktstart an diesem Freitag mit einigen hunderttausend verkauften iPhones gerechnet.

Aus der Umfrage zog Marketing Plan Schlussfolgerungen für die Wettbewerber: Eine Strategie, "die im Kern auf ein multimediales Wettrüsten abzielt", könne sich als unwirksam erweisen. Führende Handy-Hersteller haben bereits neue Modelle als Konkurrenzprodukte zum iPhone angekündigt oder bereits auf den Markt gebracht.

Für die Erhebung von Marketing Plan wurden im Juni 1000 Personen im Alter über 14 Jahren befragt."

In short:

0.4 are sure they want the thing
2.9 maybe
16 rather not
72.5 surely not

Reason: Price (44%), sure competitors will have something similar cheaper, too many functions that you don't need (15.5%). The article does state that it is based on the US prices (the monthly plans are quite expensive for German standards, as is the base price for the phone). Also, according to sueddeutsche.de, only 16.4% of the surveyed even knew the iPhone.

My opinion: Germans generally don't tend to look for really innovative nice software concepts and will rather content themselves with cheap ugly solutions that no Apple fan could deem appropriate for usage. I'm a German myself, and I strongly detest and don't understand about everything anybody buys over here. The something similar that I underlined is important, because most people here will say that an ugly plastic lump of cheap Windows based sh|te is just the SAME as the iPhone. They don't see why you should pay a bit more for something that is comfortable in usage, when you can have something that appears to be premium for much less money, albeit not less hassle.

 

[DonSqueak]

It was posted several times that night... Just read!


Edit: First time it was postet 10.40 pm last night --> page 6

Sarcasm is a concept you DO know, right?

 

[hdasmith]

You shouldn't look at 3G from your own perspective. Look at what the networks in Europe paid to get 3G. Their whole strategy is now based on making 3G work for them (they each paid several billion Euros to the governments to get their 3G licenses - it makes the profit on the iPhone seem like small potatoes) but they have been terribly let down by handset manufacturers that have not produced user-friendly devices to take advantage of it. Joe Public has no need for 3G because using it is way too difficult.

Difficult? Where did you get that idea. My phone uses 3G if it's in a 3G area, whether I like it or not when using video calls or internet. I just choose not to use those functions in a 3G area because of the price! It's phenomenally expensive. That's why it hasn't taken off here. They all paid too much for the licenses, they all know that, but the price is being sent to the customers who are not willing to pay it.

 

[3nm]

...if they update that iPhone to 3G without first doing it in the US I think a lot of people will be pissed...

it's inevitable for apple to release an updated iphone within two years. so no matter what, people will be pissed anyways since they are locked into their two-yr contracts.

A definite NO for you, sorry.
They're basically 2 different companies under the same "roof".

i've read a couple of posts saying that the german iphone would not work in the U.S. and i don't exactly understand why. if the german iphone is quad-band (like the U.S. version), then it should work fine in the U.S. (on a GSM network) provided the phone is unlocked. 3G; however, will not work since the frequency bands are different.

I remember reading somewhere (here most likely) that network coverage, battery life and size concerns were the biggest factors in not going 3G.

imho those comments are rather apple-apologetic. for one, 3G can be switched off on most phones automatically or manually. also, i've seen thinner 3G phones out there.

but wouldn't this be the same case in the US ?. I mean, EDGE is significantly slower than UMTS but Apple still went ahead and launched their phone with no 3G. Why do you think Apple won't do the same in the UK?

i think the markets are very different. for example, i think americans are generally less aware of cell phone technologies - from phone features to network. besides, EU carriers have been pushing 3G for quite a while, and 3.5G phones are already available.

Mercedes....owned by (until 14th may 2007)........a US company (ok, it was a merger - but guess where the finance came from)

sadly, the germans had made it quite clear that who the bosses were. it pains me to look at chrysler after the whole "merger of equal" BS.

 

[DonSqueak]

Sadly, the germans had made it quite clear that who the bosses were. it pains me to look at chrysler after the whole "merger of equal" BS.

True, Daimler's always been an arrogant bunch. Still, the merger did not help them either, as bad management over years on Chrysler's side had already turned them into a money-losing company long before the merger.

 

[3nm]

True, Daimler's always been an arrogant bunch. Still, the merger did not help them either, as bad management over years on Chrysler's side had already turned them into a money-losing company long before the merger.

actually, the merger helped mercedes quite a lot (the $$$ as Apple Architect has pointed out) cos MB was in big financial trouble. chrysler was also doing remarkably well, especially for an american car company, before the merger. however, everything went downhill after the merger - i.e. chrysler was forced to buy mercedes' old technology. not to mention the deutsche management screwed up chrysler at the end quite royally - remember those ridiculous Dr. Z commercials?

sometimes i feel bad for being a deutsche telekom (t-mo USA) customer b/c of this whole DCX thing. but the alternative (att) doesn't look too appealing at all.

 

[H.isidorius]

iPhone in The Netherlands

I am quite curious what they are going to do in The Netherlands. The only provider of EDGE is closing downs its network (Telfort/KPN) in favor for UMTS.

All other providers T-Mobile, Vodafona and KPN are offering more than 80 and even up to 90% coverage with UMTS. *T-Mobile: http://dekkingskaart.t-mobile.nl/coverage/webform1.aspx?service=UMTS ; KPN: http://145.7.218.175/covcheck/)

Also pricing is rather competitive over here. The longer the contract, up to 24months, you get the phones for lower prices or for free.

 

[firsttube]

Steve wouldn't have wanted anything to stain his revolutionary product launch.

My, ahem, sources say that at&t is going to be the exclusive US carrier for iPhone for the next 5 years. That sounds like a stain to me.

 

[DonSqueak]

actually, the merger helped mercedes quite a lot (the $$$ as Apple Architect has pointed out) cos MB was in big financial trouble. chrysler was also doing remarkably well, especially for an american car company, before the merger. however, everything went downhill after the merger - i.e. chrysler was forced to buy mercedes' old technology. not to mention the deutsche management screwed up chrysler at the end quite royally - remember those ridiculous Dr. Z commercials?

sometimes i feel bad for being a deutsche telekom (t-mo USA) customer b/c of this whole DCX thing. but the alternative (att) doesn't look too appealing at all.

True but for the financial aspect: Actually Daimler bought Chrysler for around 36 Billion $ in stocks and hoped to milk the company thereafter, but Chrysler soon dropped into financial difficulties. The whole merger actually hurt both companies a lot. Pity for Chrysler, though, cuz I think they really believed the "equals"-BS. [Sorry for being and staying OT]

 

[fireplace]

an iphone without 3G in the UK is going to be a bit pointless as there will be much higher-specced, cheaper and faster phones out there as competition (on 3G). They may not have the touchscreen tech, cudos of ownership or slightly slicker-looking OS but Apple are seriously in danger of offering style over substance.

We are used to style AND substance with apple products.

for comaprison, the SE W960i. just depends if you need mac compatible or not.

EDIT: oh yeah, back to the thread - the carrier in the UK? i dont really care. there is very little in the way of real benefit for customer loyalty as a private consumer when it comes to new upgrades these days. that has sadly changed a lot in the last 5 years. last time i asked for an upgrade afer 2 years in a contract i was told that i'd be better off changing networks!!!! so i did

 

[Manic Mouse]

I don't understand why Apple have to go exclusive with one carrier. It's just going to hurt sales by locking it down to one carrier. I've been with O2 for years and am very happy with my contract and their customer service. I really want an iPhone and am willing to pay for one, but I am NOT willing to change my service carrier.

Why can't Apple simply sell the phone unlocked? Since all phones in the EU use SIMs this wouldn't be a problem.

 

[orkle]

But it is ugly as hell!

My girlfriend has one of those and I think it's beautiful. It has to be seen to be believed!

 

[Much Ado]

Why can't Apple simply sell the phone unlocked? Since all phones in the EU use SIMs this wouldn't be a problem.

Then they'd have to re-negotiate contract cuts with each and every telco.

And they wouldn't have as much control.