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The U.K. iPhone 4 Thread

I think this might be more to do with allocation than tipping their hands - O2s tariffs have been available for about a week now and I'd have expected one of the other networks to release by now.

I think alex has it right - with 6 carriers, I reckon that they're in talks with Apple about how many handsets each get at launch.

As it stands though, it isn't cool to keep us in the dark, and we should certainly be allowed to make an informed decision before the 24th. People (like me) have made a reservation for the 24th, hoping to upgrade or take out new contracts. If pricing isn't sorted by then, then it's wasted my time, and also prevented somebody else from buying an unlocked handset!:mad:
 
alexboy45 said:
do any of you guys remember what it was like when the 3g was released the stores only got about 4 phones of each colour if they were lucky. now that there are 6 networks how many iphones are going to be available? it it going to be 1 per store
Click to expand...

Honestly seems that way.
I would have Pre-ordered from Apple and had them do my O2 Contract Upgrade or whatever they do... But... I live hours away from my local Apple Store.
All this iPhone stuff is starting to annoy me :)
I'm not blaming Apple, I'm blaming the networks. This loyalty stuff is jack!
 
Apple said that the iPhone 4 would be available on the 24th and it will be, just not with the carriers
They also said you can pre order on the 15th and you could, just not with the carriers
 
donbenjy said:
Interesting - it does seem like vodafone are keen to release pricing, so maybe it is Apple holding them back!
Click to expand...

Maybe Apple want glory first to actaully have there product released first however, has told the carriers not to release yet?
 
O2 customers upgrading in Apple stores

I'm struggling to understand something here:

I, like many others, have reserved an iPhone 4 in the hope I can upgrade my O2 contract at my local Apple store on the 24th.

But, i'm struggling to understand how this will work - buying subsidised phones is like credit isn't it (you pay back a little of your phones overall value in the monthly line rental)?

But, if we're upgrade our O2 contracts in the Apple store (and pay the lower handset cost), won't that initial 'subsidised cash' being going to Apple not O2?

So, to whom do we 'owe' the rest of phone 'credit' to? O2 or Apple? How will this work - the monies will be split between 2 companies won't it?

Sorry if this seems like the ramblings of a mad man, it was hard to get it down in words!
 
Just cut my first sim (although I have no ipad to test it in) using this template http://www.iphonewzealand.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/SIM-Template.pdf and it is indeed very simple, I think I will find an old sim card that is still connected, cut this as a test then if that works well I will proceed to cut my own.

Two questions:

I have reserved a contract 32gb to pick up in store next week, the email mentions nothing of it being a contract phone, with some finance juggling I may be able to afford an unlocked iphone (which is obviously preferable). Will the store be fine to still supply an unlocked phone, or will they get a bit 'funny' due to me reserving a 'contract phone'?

Are virgin mobile any good? I have Virgin for tv, broadband and phone so was thinking I may be able to get a good deal off of them if I switch to them as my mobile provider, they also currently offer unlimited data (although I'm sure theres a fair usage policy in there somewhere!!)

It's going to be a long week of waiting!
 
Sdancott said:
I'm struggling to understand something here:

I, like many others, have reserved an iPhone 4 in the hope I can upgrade my O2 contract at my local Apple store on the 24th.

But, i'm struggling to understand how this will work - buying subsidised phones is like credit isn't it (you pay back a little of your phones overall value in the monthly line rental)?

But, if we're upgrade our O2 contracts in the Apple store (and pay the lower handset cost), won't that initial 'subsidised cash' being going to Apple not O2?

So, to whom do we 'owe' the rest of phone 'credit' to? O2 or Apple? How will this work - the monies will be split between 2 companies won't it?

Sorry if this seems like the ramblings of a mad man, it was hard to get it down in words!
Click to expand...

I went to the Apple Store yesterday and spoke to them about this.

It seems that they have access to o2 systems and can upgrade you that way.

The early upgrade can be done in store, and you can change your tariff too.

I'm assuming that the money then goes to o2 from Apple.
 
CD3660 said:
I can't help thinking that Apple is insisting on a clear run at initial sales so as to get the lion's share of the market before letting the carriers off the starting blocks.

I love Apple products but Apple aren't half greedy sods!
Click to expand...

Clever sods as well......Apple after opening up the iPhone to all networks has craftily taken back all control. They'll make the profit of the handset, while the networks make theirs from the Sim only tariffs.
 
O2 have updated their website slightly, no iphone 4 banner across top now on homepage, plus if you go to the iphone section, http://shop.o2.co.uk/update/iphone.html they seem to have changed things around a bit (i think) ...i was on the o2 website enough yesterday to notice some changes...

maybe, just maybe they are getting ready....but i've thought this for 4 days now!
 
Sdancott said:
I'm struggling to understand something here:

I, like many others, have reserved an iPhone 4 in the hope I can upgrade my O2 contract at my local Apple store on the 24th.

But, i'm struggling to understand how this will work - buying subsidised phones is like credit isn't it (you pay back a little of your phones overall value in the monthly line rental)?

But, if we're upgrade our O2 contracts in the Apple store (and pay the lower handset cost), won't that initial 'subsidised cash' being going to Apple not O2?

So, to whom do we 'owe' the rest of phone 'credit' to? O2 or Apple? How will this work - the monies will be split between 2 companies won't it?


Sorry if this seems like the ramblings of a mad man, it was hard to get it down in words!
Click to expand...

O2 buys the phones from Apple... and then the "rest of the credit" goes to O2 to make up for the price they paid for the phone...


EDIT: sorry, just read the posts below mine, I thought by "rest of the credit' you meant the monthly tarrif costs... not the rest of the phone cost.
 
Sdancott said:
I'm struggling to understand something here:

I, like many others, have reserved an iPhone 4 in the hope I can upgrade my O2 contract at my local Apple store on the 24th.

But, i'm struggling to understand how this will work - buying subsidised phones is like credit isn't it (you pay back a little of your phones overall value in the monthly line rental)?

But, if we're upgrade our O2 contracts in the Apple store (and pay the lower handset cost), won't that initial 'subsidised cash' being going to Apple not O2?

So, to whom do we 'owe' the rest of phone 'credit' to? O2 or Apple? How will this work - the monies will be split between 2 companies won't it?

Sorry if this seems like the ramblings of a mad man, it was hard to get it down in words!
Click to expand...

I wouldn't worry about it. I would think it's like walking into PC World and taking a phone contract out there. The contract is still with the carrier and PC World, or Apple in this case get their cut. In apples case they will get a very big cut as they supply the phone. They have probably sold the phone to the carrier at a cost price and act as an agent.
 
Sdancott said:
I'm struggling to understand something here:

I, like many others, have reserved an iPhone 4 in the hope I can upgrade my O2 contract at my local Apple store on the 24th.

But, i'm struggling to understand how this will work - buying subsidised phones is like credit isn't it (you pay back a little of your phones overall value in the monthly line rental)?

But, if we're upgrade our O2 contracts in the Apple store (and pay the lower handset cost), won't that initial 'subsidised cash' being going to Apple not O2?

So, to whom do we 'owe' the rest of phone 'credit' to? O2 or Apple? How will this work - the monies will be split between 2 companies won't it?

Sorry if this seems like the ramblings of a mad man, it was hard to get it down in words!
Click to expand...

Apple are selling a phone connected to a carrier - in this case o2. Just like they did when I got my 3G from the Apple store and signed up for a new contract.

They were selling the phone as o2 in that they were logged into some o2 reseller computer system - possibly in the same way that CPW do.

You don't 'owe' anyone anything other than the (subsidized) cost of your phone (paid to apple on the day) and the monthly bill (paid to o2)

Lets say the Apple store has 1000 iPhones in stock, they may sell 500 sim free, 250 on o2 at a subsidized rate and 250 on orange at a subsidized rate.

Apple will then work the rest out with the network and you go home happy.

Either way, Apple have sold 1000 phones, so they're happy too!
 
soulghost said:
Originally Posted by CD3660 View Post
I can't help thinking that Apple is insisting on a clear run at initial sales so as to get the lion's share of the market before letting the carriers off the starting blocks.

I love Apple products but Apple aren't half greedy sods!

Clever sods as well......Apple after opening up the iPhone to all networks has craftily taken back all control. They'll make the profit of the handset, while the networks make theirs from the Sim only tariffs.
Click to expand...

I really doubt apple cares who sells the phone cuz they have the ENTIRE market share... no matter who you buy the phone from... ALL iphones were at some point bought from apple... so they get all the money and market share of iphones...
 
yeah exactly. I don't think Apple care where you buy it from, the profits are exactly the same, so its either Apple not wanting to deal with the logistics of 6 networks all wanting a supply, or the networks just being stubborn about showing their prices first.
 
Sdancott said:
I'm struggling to understand something here:

I, like many others, have reserved an iPhone 4 in the hope I can upgrade my O2 contract at my local Apple store on the 24th.

But, i'm struggling to understand how this will work - buying subsidised phones is like credit isn't it (you pay back a little of your phones overall value in the monthly line rental)?

But, if we're upgrade our O2 contracts in the Apple store (and pay the lower handset cost), won't that initial 'subsidised cash' being going to Apple not O2?

So, to whom do we 'owe' the rest of phone 'credit' to? O2 or Apple? How will this work - the monies will be split between 2 companies won't it?

Sorry if this seems like the ramblings of a mad man, it was hard to get it down in words!
Click to expand...
I've been wondering about how the industry works from a financial perspective and how a few of these "follow the money" scenarios work. Maybe some industry insiders can enlighten us.

I would be pretty sure that you "'owe' the rest of phone 'credit'" to O2 since that is the party that you signed the contract with regarding your x-months contractual commitment and it is that revenue stream that pays off the credit. Behind the scenes though, it is Apple that charged you a much reduced price on 24th June and so I would guess that, in the background, O2 owe Apple a lump sum to make the total revenue that Apple realised for your handset be equal to the agreed unsubsidised price at which point O2 are then collecting your monthly payments and using some of that revenue stream to balance their own books by paying down the lump sum balancing payment that they needed to make to Apple (and some of the monthly fees left over to give a profit to O2 on top of that they hope).

The other one that bugs me is, if Orange continue with their Dolphin scheme where they bundle 12 months of data and WiFi with a PAYG then that clearly has a cost to Orange and a benefit to Apple in making the handset more saleable so how does that one work when I go into the Apple store on 24th and make my purchase? My wild guess on this one would be that when I sign up in the store I will get the box with the phone and also the Orange packet with the PAYG SIM. In this case maybe Apple have actually paid Orange some money for the SIM pack to reflect the value it adds to their handset and the cost to Orange of the 12 month freebies. Once I walk out of the store all my future revenue on topups goes direct to Orange of course.

All the above are just guesses. Can anyone who knows what they're talking about shed any light on this?

- Julian
 
Just wanted to say a thank you to the poster who mentioned the 'hullomail' voicemail app. I'm using it with my ipad and it works a treat
 
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