The U.K. iPhone 4 Thread

[wpc]

Hi, sorry if this has been covered. I'm too lazy to read through the gazillion pages on this topic.

* Which of the networks has the best chance of good indoor reception? I have 02 now and it is no good in this regard.

* Pre-order is Apple store only, right? No phone companies, yet?

* Is there any advantage on any network of having two phones that call one another regularly on the same network? In this case, my contract is up and I want to switch but my partner has to buy out of contract and stay with 02.

* Strategies for getting them from phone shops on the day in London? Are there differences between the phone companies in this regard?

THANK YOU

* Which of the networks has the best chance of good indoor reception? I have 02 now and it is no good in this regard.

I've used Orange and O2 and in my area indoor reception can be hit and miss, I've had issued on both networks. Vodafone coverage maps also shows variable 3G reception indoors in my area. I guess the message is they can all be unreliable but generally all are OK. Depends where you live - built-up areas tend to be OK I find.

* Pre-order is Apple store only, right? No phone companies, yet?

That's correct. Might see something early next week if rumours are to be believed.

* Is there any advantage on any network of having two phones that call one another regularly on the same network? In this case, my contract is up and I want to switch but my partner has to buy out of contract and stay with 02.

All plans have a generous amount of free minutes which can be used on any network, so I personally don't see any advantage with being on the same network.

* Strategies for getting them from phone shops on the day in London? Are there differences between the phone companies in this regard?

Orange or Vodafone might be your best bet since O2 have said they won't be selling to new customers. If you're on O2 and upgrading, then try them. Apple store also an option. Be prepared to wait and go early.

 

[donbenjy]

Vodafone and orange will charge you a crazy amount per mb as soon as you go over your limit whearas O2 will just throttle speed and also send warnings via txt when you are coming to end of your limit.

WRONG!

From Orange iPhone T+Cs

Fair Usage policy of 750MB applies. Usage above this amount will constitute abuse and Orange may monitor usage, apply Network protection controls which may result in reduced speed of transmission and/or withdraw the Offer from your account if the fair usage policy is abused.

Orange won't charge anything, and might not even do anything about it according to this wording. In no way is O2s data cap better than the others

 

[PhantomZone]

Well, we shall have to see.
All they have said is that Pay Monthly customers will be able to get a phone launch day… (and as far as their own definition stretches, Simplicity 30d and 12m tariffs are Pay Monthly)
If not then *shrug* I'll wait.

oh I'm happy to be very wrong! Would be much nicer to dander into my empty O2 shop than spend 3 hours in the Apple queue

 

[iMoo]

It was never unlimited though mate, it was cleverly worded.

There was never an actual "number", but the fact there was a fair usage policy meant it was capped at some point ... we just didn't know which.

However, I used to sit and watch Sky Sports News at the train station every morning, browse Safari on the train, and use TV Catchup to watch Deal or No Deal on the train home ... and I never got a warning about data use.

I should be fine ... although it's looking like I might struggle to pick up my iPhone 4 on July 24th if that pre-order date continues to slip further and further back.

The fair usage limit was around 20 or 30 gig per month, can't remember which one but yeah loads.
Am guessing it's to either stop people using one contract on both iPhone and iPad or that people were jailbreaking, tethering and downloading large files.
Or even maybe to protect themselves when FaceTime goes on other platforms and handsets and is able to stream over 3G

 

[wpc]

They still haven't released unsubsidised prices for phones so I very much doubt Simplicity customers will be able to pick one up at launch anywhere other than the Apple store....

If PAYG is 'coming' but not at launch, I'd expect Simplicity to be the same?

Have O2 released info the the contrary?

My hunch is that your only option is the Apple store if you want it on launch day... Simplicity plans don't come with a phone, so your only option is to get a Pay & Go phone and then switch sims... O2 haven't released details about when they are going to start selling the P&G iPhone.

 

[antdawe]

Like the rest of you I'm excited about getting my new iPhone next Thursday.
Just been looking through what you need to bring on apples website and I'm somewhat confused.

Firstly it says for payg you need a debit or credit card with account number or sort code. I was wanting to pay by cash, can I do this.

Secondly it says orange and o2 only. What's that about.
Hope someone can clarify for me

Proably already been covered but ain't looking through over 7k posts!!

Never mind just rang the store and cash is fine.

 

[iMoo]

3GS price!?

http://store.apple.com/uk/browse/home/shop_iphone/family/iphone

Why would you go get a 8gb iPhone 3GS for £419 if the 16gb iPhone 4 is only £499!??

 

[Roobsa]

Ironically, the lie has made you less likely to want upgrade with them anyway I imagine?!

Correct. I was always slightly leaning to Orange for Orange Wednesday but it's just after about 4 years of being an O2 customer, I get treated like that, just very weak of O2 to do.

 

[Jeeves]

i would also like £100 off simplicity? Help a brother out!

Unfortunately I get this through my dad's work and he has to show his ID at 02 and then we get £100 off a 12 month simplicity plan

 

[GingerPrince]

My hunch is that your only option is the Apple store if you want it on launch day... Simplicity plans don't come with a phone, so your only option is to get a Pay & Go phone and then switch sims... O2 haven't released details about when they are going to start selling the P&G iPhone.

I'm not sure. I asked my local o2 store and they reckoned it would be ok. but that was before the recent announcements.

 

[WeegieMac]

http://store.apple.com/uk/browse/home/shop_iphone/family/iphone

Why would you go get a 8gb iPhone 3GS for £419 if the 16gb iPhone 4 is only £499!??

Because believe it or not mate, some people can more easily justify spending £419 on a phone than spending £499 ... and while to you and I it's "only" £80 extra, to other people that's a stretch too far.

 

[wpc]

I'm not sure. I asked my local o2 store and they reckoned it would be ok. but that was before the recent announcements.

I guess you'll find out on the day. Good luck!

 

[iPaddy]

Just got an email from both vodafone and o2.
Vodafones tariffs look very appealing with the 1GB of data, but o2 are only allowing existing customers get an iPhone until July.

 

[db2431]

So I just went to the orange store and paid my deposit for a black 32gb, orange are still insisting they will have white but im dubious to say the least.Think il be kicking myself if they do since the prices for whites are gonna be astronomical on ebay if the few around do get released.

 

[nazuk]

I'm not sure. I asked my local o2 store and they reckoned it would be ok. but that was before the recent announcements.

The Stores know jacksh@t - O2 Corporate and their Twitter feeds and the website are more reliable sources of information.

In fact, we on here know more than the stores do, and that's a fact.

 

[WeegieMac]

Just got an email from both vodafone and o2.
Vodafones tariffs look very appealing with the 1GB of data, but o2 are only allowing existing customers get an iPhone until July.

Does the O2 "existing customer" deal apply to Pay And Go customers?

I've been with O2 since September 2009 when I bought my iPhone 3G, and topped up anywhere between £15 and £40 every month.

 

[iMoo]

Because believe it or not mate, some people can more easily justify spending £419 on a phone than spending £499 ... and while to you and I it's "only" £80 extra, to other people that's a stretch too far.

Fair point and didn't mean to offend anyone, just thought that Apple was pricing them too high. I thought that they were/would be introducing a 8gb 3GS as a more main stream iPhone to introduce people to the iPhone.
If they slotted this into a lower price point like the £200-£250 range they would smash the market.
But saying that maybe people wouldn't pay extra for iPhone 4!?

Still my main point was that the 3GS is priced too high

 

[nazuk]

Does the O2 "existing customer" deal apply to Pay And Go customers?

I've been with O2 since September 2009 when I bought my iPhone 3G, and topped up anywhere between £15 and £40 every month.

Yes! They'll push and scream to convert you to a contract, so no problems for you there. All they see is: ££££££

 

[donbenjy]

Good call though I think - if they don't get white, and were expecting a shipment then a lot of people are gonna walk away and join the queue at the Apple Store very angry.

I really think the networks, and Apple have let us down with the poor communication though tbh. The whole thing is getting so complicated now, and could be easily rectified with a few staff memos and a short email to customers.

I think phone salesmen need a slap though too - they should receive proper industry updates and be generally more clued up than the customer. When I call up or go in store, I feel like I need to explain everything to them!

 

[discodave3]

It was never unlimited though mate, it was cleverly worded.

There was never an actual "number", but the fact there was a fair usage policy meant it was capped at some point ... we just didn't know which.

However, I used to sit and watch Sky Sports News at the train station every morning, browse Safari on the train, and use TV Catchup to watch Deal or No Deal on the train home ... and I never got a warning about data use.

I should be fine ... although it's looking like I might struggle to pick up my iPhone 4 on July 24th if that pre-order date continues to slip further and further back.

The fair usage limit was around 20 or 30 gig per month, can't remember which one but yeah loads.

so Orange is the only one now to offer "unlimited" data, even though its a 750mb cap. but does anyone have any real life experience as to how rigourously Orange enforce this, and what they do about it, as it seems from the website that the 750mb cap applied to the 3gs tariffs too?

Just wondering as the t&cs from Orange say the following:

Not to be used for other activities (e.g. using your handset as a modem, non-Orange internet based streaming services, voice or video over the internet, instant messaging, peer to peer file sharing, non-Orange internet based video)

so do you think that means the Orange alarm bells will start ringing if you're watching youtube videos? or catch-up TV as WeegieMac says? sorry if they're speculative questions but just wondered if anyone had any experience... ta!

 

[WeegieMac]

Fair point and didn't mean to offend anyone, just thought that Apple was pricing them too high. I thought that they were/would be introducing a 8gb 3GS as a more main stream iPhone to introduce people to the iPhone.
If they slotted this into a lower price point like the £200-£250 range they would smash the market.
But saying that maybe people wouldn't pay extra for iPhone 4!?

Still my main point was that the 3GS is priced too high

You didn't offend me mate. I'm getting my iPhone 4 next month.

I do agree that this new 3GS is priced too high though, even if it is SIM free.

The 8GB iPhone 3G was £349, so an extra £70 the 3GS can be looked upon as a little steep.

I think even £389 for the 8GB 3GS would have been better. It would have looked good to have a lower end iPhone in the £300's and have the higher end, newer model in the £400's and £500's ... it creates a greater feeling of "value".

Right now the 3GS does indeed look like an overly expensive lesser option, but again while it's a case of "only" being an extra £80 to us, to people struggling on a budget or with a set amount in mind to spend whatever their circumstances, it's an iPhone capable of running iOS4 with multi-tasking.

 

[WeegieMac]

Yes! They'll push and scream to convert you to a contract, so no problems for you there. All they see is: ££££££

If an O2 rep tried to put a contract in front of me he'd get a swift boot in the baws and told to get lost.

 

[Deako]

Called O2 and got my PAC code. Think im going to sign a new contract with Orange on their 24 month £35 tariff. 32GB handset price is £219 that way, and we retain the unlimited (with FUP) data. And Orange Wednesdays, which is always cool.

 

[mikey2004]

Am I reading the o2 email from Guru Sarah correctly?

Everyone wants to get their hands on the new iPhone 4, but stock will be very limited. We think our existing customers deserve first dibs, so we’re keeping iPhone 4 just for them until the end of July.

So no new iphone 4 customers on o2 until August at the earliest?

 

[andybno1]

well respoke to orange today and a little warning to anyone lookin to get their PAC Orange will charge you regardless of if you use your pac code or not if your in contract.