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The U.K. iPhone 4 Thread

I just spoke to "Maria" and she seemed to think that there would be no PAYG iPhone 4s sold by any provider. The only way to go PAYG would be to buy a sim-free phone through Apple, and then order a PAYG sim from O2/Orange/Vodafone/Tesco.

She seemed to know what she was talking about but lost her way a bit at the end, so make of it what you will.

MARIA: Hi, my name is Maria. Welcome to Apple!
Its a wonderful day at the Apple Store.
How may I assist you today?

ME: Hi Maria, I'm in the UK and I've heard that Apple will be adding details of carriers (and subsidised costs) for the iPhone 4 today. Is that true?

MARIA: iPhone is enabled to work on carrier networks using GSM around the world. Because the iPhone sold by the Apple Online Store is SIM-free, you can purchase a SIM or micro-SIM card.

ME: But is the iPhone going to be sold on a pay-as-you-go basis by O2 or Orange?

MARIA: They will have a Pay and Go option with O2, Orange, Vodafone, Tesco.

ME: Will they sell via the Apple store?

MARIA: I do just have the online purchase information at this time.

ME: Yes, sorry - I mean Apple online store.

MARIA: The iPhones on our online store are unlocked.
And can be added to any carrier network.
Your purchase would be made here online and then contact your carrier of choice to activate.

ME: So is there likely to be any difference in price when O2/Orange/Vodafone/Tesco announce their Pay and Go iPhones?

MARIA: There is not specific Pay and Go iPhones as before.
They are the same pricing as you see here, unlocked and you can add service with any of those providers for Pay and Go.
You are not tied to any particular one at purchase.

ME: I see, very interesting. So unlocked iPhones (as sold by Apple) are now the only non-monthly iPhones.

MARIA: Yes that is correct.
Would you be purchasing today?

ME: Perhaps. I intend to now that I know there will not be a subsidised O2 PAYG option. I was under the impression that there would be.

MARIA: Not at all with our new process.

ME: It's worth publicising that, a lot of people are holding out for cheaper PAYG iPhones.

MARIA: We also have some new case designs called bumpers available.
There is not that option.

ME: Right, that's brilliant. Thank you for your help. Also, do you know when carriers will be announcing iPhone costs on a Pay Monthly basis?

MARIA: They will have their pay and go contracts but no difference in pricing.

ME: On pay monthly? So a 32GB iPhone 4 would cost £599, then £35 (for example) per month?

MARIA: Yes that is correct.
The plan you choose would be up to you after it arrives whom to activate with.

ME: OK...!
 
Can anyone clarify, if you're on a simplicity 30-day contract will you lose your unlimited data (moved over) once you reach your next 30 days or does it stick until you cancel/switch tariffs?

After all i legally agreed to the unlimited data FUP T&C when i signed up not this new ones.
 
jarvojnr said:
Just reserved mine to pick up at my local store (Lakeside) with contract.

I thought like others here, best to reserve whilst I wait to see what deals Vodafone, o2 etc come up with or whether I can sell a kidney in time to get enough cash to purchase an unlocked phone an carry on with my o2 simplicity tariff.

Kidney anyone? only £599, barely used!
Click to expand...

Will you take £20 plus free P&P ???
 
g33 said:
thanks, thats true i guess. mines up in 1 month but dont know if i like being tied to an 18monther - either way i still need a contract right? from what we have seen so far theres no cost benefit tho is there?

are they likely to unlock it for free like they do now? (if youre on contract)
Click to expand...

I don't know why you need it unlocked so badly. And no, you don't need a contract if by contract you mean long term lock-in deal with a network, you just need a SIM card. I was going to use my monthly £20 Simplicity SIM card with it, and either cut it down to size or get O2 to send me a microsim version. I've since decided to save more money by signing up to the 12 month Simplicity contract as I wasn't going to be going anywhere anyway, and now I'll only spend £15 a month.

Overall, long term, I'll probably spend no more than £50-£75 less than someone who goes subsidised with a £35+ monthly contract over 18-24 months, but I have the cash upfront right now and prefer smaller monthlies.
 
bluefitz said:
Hey guys. What is the link on the apple website to have a live chat with one of their customer assistants?

Many thanks!!!
Click to expand...

Well, it's a link on the apple website to have a live chat with one of their customer assistants.

😀

Here all week, try the veal.
 
daneoni said:
Can anyone clarify, if you're on a simplicity 30-day contract will you lose your unlimited data (moved over) once you reach your next 30 days or does it stick until you cancel/switch tariffs?

After i legally agreed to the unlimited data FUP T&C when i signed up not this new ones.
Click to expand...

That's a very good question. I was on the £20 Simplicity with 300 minutes and unlimited texts and data and had that concern. I just moved to a 12 month contract with the same allowances for £15 as I didn't plan on changing anyway, and it saves me cash, but also locks me into unlimited data for a year.

Hopefully.
 
tazzy8907 said:
Yeah they do... the ones that cam with my 3Gs have chine written on the wire about the same place...

EDIT: whoops, haha, I hope they don't say chine... they would def be fake then... but ya... they say china
Click to expand...

Thx for the quick reply Tazzy, although u did have me worried for a moment. I thought you had the new + improved Chine version ;-)
 
daneoni said:
Can anyone clarify, if you're on a simplicity 30-day contract will you lose your unlimited data (moved over) once you reach your next 30 days or does it stick until you cancel/switch tariffs?

After i legally agreed to the unlimited data FUP T&C when i signed up not this new ones.
Click to expand...
To be fair, it does say in that same contract you signed that O2 can change your contract at 30 days notice, and if you don't like it you can leave.
 
iSimx said:
I've gone into my local carphone warehouse and reserved an iPhone. There's no official reserving system yet but they have a piece of paper with a list of names and numbers.
Click to expand...

which they will file under B1N later....😀

good luck with CPWH i've had nothing but trouble from them in the past!
 
daneoni said:
Can anyone clarify, if you're on a simplicity 30-day contract will you lose your unlimited data (moved over) once you reach your next 30 days or does it stick until you cancel/switch tariffs?

After i legally agreed to the unlimited data FUP T&C when i signed up not this new ones.
Click to expand...

I'm in your situation and have been assured twice that I won't lose my unlimited data unless I phone up and ask them to change my tariff. I had them put two notes on my file to confirm this.
 
Im very close to make an order from the Apple store, with all this possibility of no cheaper prices on PAYG....

If i ordered one for home delivery, can anyone confirm if I am able to cancel and get a 100% refund on my apple order if it turns out that o2/vodafone are cheaper???
 
Just cancelled my in-store reservation aand bought it online - here's hoping it comes a day earlier like pervious launches!
 
NOLU said:
Also, do you know when carriers will be announcing iPhone costs on a Pay Monthly basis?

MARIA: They will have their pay and go contracts but no difference in pricing.

ME: On pay monthly? So a 32GB iPhone 4 would cost £599, then £35 (for example) per month?

MARIA: Yes that is correct.
The plan you choose would be up to you after it arrives whom to activate with.

ME: OK...!
Click to expand...

Yeah she's totally wrong there, an iPhone with a £35 month tariff will NOT cost the full whack, but then she's not privy to what the networks are going to be doing so she shouldn't have answered that!
 
benashhug said:
Im very close to make an order from the Apple store, with all this possibility of no cheaper prices on PAYG....

If i ordered one for home delivery, can anyone confirm if I am able to cancel and get a 100% refund on my apple order if it turns out that o2/vodafone are cheaper???
Click to expand...

Oh god! Good point! Will it be cheaper on a locked PAYG deal?
 
owen-b said:
Yeah she's totally wrong there, an iPhone with a £35 month tariff will NOT cost the full whack, but then she's not privy to what the networks are going to be doing so she shouldn't have answered that!
Click to expand...

Clearly. It's a shame she had to go all stupid at the end because she seemed to be making a lot of sense. Now I don't know whether to believe her on the PAYG stuff.
 
NOLU said:
MARIA: They will have a Pay and Go option with O2, Orange, Vodafone, Tesco.
Click to expand...

Tesco is the network I'm relying on to give me the 12 months free internet O2 used to give me. If not, I'll get an unlocked one and shove a cut down Simplicity SIM in it, so I still get my unlimited internet, even if I have to pay £10 a month for it.
 
MikeWilson said:
Anyway, I was planning on carrying this iPhone without a case at all. My current white 3Gs was treated with kid gloves when I picked it up on launch day last year. I wrapped it in an InvisibleShield and later, when the shield started to peel and turn sickly yellow, I used a thin Incipio Feather case and no screen protector. The phone is still mint.

I wonder if the new phone really needs a case at all. It might be OK without any screen, back or side protection.
Click to expand...


My 3G and then 3GS have lived in sleeves whilst in my pocket, on my desk etc. But have always been used naked.

For iPhone 4 I'm thinking of not bothering with a case at all!
 
can i pre order as a contract upgrade? or am i going to have to queue at a store on launch ? i cant find an option anywhere. Im with o2
 
owen-b said:
Yeah she's totally wrong there, an iPhone with a £35 month tariff will NOT cost the full whack, but then she's not privy to what the networks are going to be doing so she shouldn't have answered that!
Click to expand...

Actually she is correct. You CAN buy the phone from Apple then get a simplicity contract, or sim-only contract, from any of the providers and pay £35 a month... This means you don't have to be tied into a 18 or 24 month contract with the provider, because you don't have to pay off the cost of the phone

If you do choose a iPhone contract through a provider, of course, the price will be significantly lower.
 
I think I might just buy online with Apple, if any of the networks have anything different just cancel the order and get my money back.
 
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