Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Is that all?!

So why's the store so incredibly busted?

Probably because so many people are visiting the site, looking at options, customising orders, and then deciding to wait.

It's way too expensive sim free. I hope most people realise that practically every phone is subsidised by a contract.
 
So what exactly is the difference between the SIM free & PAYG phones?

The PAYG phones I assume will be locked to whatever carrier you choose, but the SIM free phones, do you simply walk out the door with a completely unlocked (forever) iPhone, or is it only unlocked until you put a SIM in it, and it then locks to that carrier?

PAYG I expect they set it up for you on the network of your choice, install the SIM and take the first £10 top-up. SIM-free, I expect they give you the iPhone and you walk out the door.
 
Reservations still ain't a guarantee of getting one, chaps, sadly. I've been trying to order since 9am and haven't got further than the 'Enter your payment details' screen. Now the Apple Store is completely closed again, after a brief period of being back up.

*sigh*

It's a good enough guarantee for me. I have the email here telling me when to turn up.
 
So what exactly is the difference between the SIM free & PAYG phones?

The PAYG phones I assume will be locked to whatever carrier you choose, but the SIM free phones, do you simply walk out the door with a completely unlocked (forever) iPhone, or is it only unlocked until you put a SIM in it, and it then locks to that carrier?
No it is unlocked. If you travel abroad you could get a local sim rather than pay roaming charges to a UK network, for instance.
 
Guys: Best option is to goto an Apple Store and reserve there. Just went to Regent Street, took 2 mins, email received by the time I got back to my desk.

You can reserver sim free, PAYG and monthly on O2 and Orange.

No price information. Have to risk it, although you don't HAVE TO purchase the phone on the day anyway.
 
Probably because so many people are visiting the site, looking at options, customising orders, and then deciding to wait.

It's way too expensive sim free. I hope most people realise that practically every phone is subsidised by a contract.
You do realise that there's very, very little in it between paying upfront and taking a really cheap sim-only tariff, and taking a subsidised handset over 18 or 24 months?

People think they're getting a great deal with subsidised handsets and that SIM-free prices are a rip off but if you do the sums you'll see the truth. It's down to whether you have the money to pay upfront or would rather spread it over the contract term.
 
Me too 🙂 but £499 for 16 gb is a bit steep

Quite steep, £599 for 32GB. I was hoping to get one. Anyone here care to enlighten me on the price difference for a Sin-Free/PAYG one from the US? It looked like a fair saving. I also take it that it is locked to AT&T?

Currently I have to fork out a £350 difference to change my 3GS to 4 - and I'd much rather use that cash for the snowboard I'm planning to get soon lol.
 
I got through the checkout but right at the very end it bumped me back to near the start. My card has been charged but I'm showing no orders under my account - have I ordered one or not? 😕😕
 
So what exactly is the difference between the SIM free & PAYG phones?

The PAYG phones I assume will be locked to whatever carrier you choose, but the SIM free phones, do you simply walk out the door with a completely unlocked (forever) iPhone, or is it only unlocked until you put a SIM in it, and it then locks to that carrier?


I have just noticed the following on the bottom of my pre-order confirmation email from Apple

===========================
Right to Return
If for any reason you wish to return your products to us, please contact us on 0845 600 1683 within 14 calendar day remorse period of receiving your order. Full details of the right to return and any exceptions are set out in the terms and conditions found on the Apple Store web site http://store.apple.com/uk/help/salespolicies


An iPhone purchased at the Apple Online Store with the Pay & Go service from O2 can be used only with an O2 SIM. Should you choose to return your iPhone for any reason within 14 calendar day remorse period of receiving your order, and you have activated your iPhone, please read your contract with O2 for any refund you may be entitled on your credit.

An iPhone purchased at the Apple Online Store with the Pay as you go service from Orange can be used only with an Orange SIM. Should you choose to return your iPhone for any reason within 14 calendar day remorse period of receiving your order, and you have activated your iPhone, please read your contract with Orange for any refund you may be entitled on your credit.
=======================================
 
I got through the checkout but right at the very end it bumped me back to near the start. My card has been charged but I'm showing no orders under my account - have I ordered one or not? 😕😕
why not do the sane thing and call apple? we don't run the store here😉
 
So no one is having it delivered? or it doesnt it give the option for home delivery?
Anyone that got through the website before it crashed, and ordered with their credit card details will have had to select an address to have it delivered to. Only people not having it delivered are those that selected a reservation for store pick-up, which was a whole different process.
 
So do I 🙂

Note - it tells you when doors open, not when to turn up to stand a chance of getting one of the ones they have in stock... 😉

They have two piles. One for reservations and one for come and take a chance. The pile with reservations is held till the end of the day. But if there are a lot of reservations then the earlier the better as it takes time to serve and in some case mess around with contracts etc.
 
So what exactly is the difference between the SIM free & PAYG phones?

The PAYG phones I assume will be locked to whatever carrier you choose, but the SIM free phones, do you simply walk out the door with a completely unlocked (forever) iPhone, or is it only unlocked until you put a SIM in it, and it then locks to that carrier?

Unlocked for ever like the iPad 3G
 
Quite steep, £599 for 32GB. I was hoping to get one. Anyone here care to enlighten me on the price difference for a Sin-Free/PAYG one from the US? It looked like a fair saving. I also take it that it is locked to AT&T?

They have neither. They only have the Phone on AT&T
 
They have two piles. One for reservations and one for come and take a chance. The pile with reservations is held till the end of the day. But if there are a lot of reservations then the earlier the better as it takes time to serve and in some case mess around with contracts etc.

Schweet 🙂

I want SIM-free so I should be in and out in no time 🙂
 
You do realise that there's very, very little in it between paying upfront and taking a really cheap sim-only tariff, and taking a subsidised handset over 18 or 24 months?

People think they're getting a great deal with subsidised handsets and that SIM-free prices are a rip off but if you do the sums you'll see the truth. It's down to whether you have the money to pay upfront or would rather spread it over the contract term.

exactly!!!

here's an example:

subsidised contract for 18 months for 32gb iphone 4..
price: £279 + (£35pm x 18) = £909

the same handset bought from apple online using a sim only tariff 20pm
price: £599 + (£20pm x 18) = £959

not a huge amount of difference...
 
Confirmation that Voda goes live tomorrow. Following was an online chat with one of their Sales reps

You are about to be connected to a new connection sales adviser for Vodafone UK. Please note they do not have access to existing customer details and cannot process orders or upgrades. If you have a query of this nature please contact customer services.

You are now connected with Jessica.

You: Hi

Jessica: Hello, you're chatting with Jessica, one of Vodafone's online sales specialists. May I take your name please?

You:

Jessica: Welcome to Vodafone what brings you to our web site today?

You: I am looking to preorser the black 32GB iPhone 4 but can't see an option to do this on your website ?

You: preorder

Jessica: Great! As yet we are still finalising the price plans with Apple for the iphone 4, we are hoping to have the pre-order available and online as of tomorrow. Have you registered your interest for it?

You: yes I have. Do you know what time it will be live tomorrow ?

You: Also I thought you had finalised your pricing as I saw it online yesterday?

Jessica: No idea yet and its not for definite. You will be notified once it is all live online.

Jessica: Nothing price plan wise has been finalised for the iphone 4.

You: Do you know if the white one will be available to preorder too ?

Jessica: Yes we are getting the white and the black



Tomorrow for me it is then
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.