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The U.K. iPhone 4 Thread

CD3660 said:
It is really pissing me off that we still have no pricing details in the U.K. even though iPhone 4 was announced several days ago and pre-ordering is just around the corner.

To me it suggests a certain contemptuous disregard for the customer or just plain ineptitude and inefficiency. :mad:
Click to expand...

Deja vu, iPad. :)
 
danj122 said:
I know you've all probaby worked this out but thought it was interesting to find out. I bought the PAYG 32gb 3GS on launch day 2009 and used my simplicity sim in it (£20 a month). If I upgrade to the 4G on launch day and trade in my phone on ebay/recycle sites I will end up paying EXACTLY the same money as I would have paid if i was on an 18 month contract. Workings below:

PAYG/simplicity route
Original cost of phone: £549
Contract length and cost: 12 months at £20 (£240)
Buyout cost for early upgrade: £0
Ebay/Recycle old iPhone trade-in price: £350
Total money paid over 12 months = £439

18month contract route
Original cost of phone: £249
Contract length and cost: 12 months at £35 (£420)
Buyout cost for early upgrade: 6 months @ £20 (£120)
Ebay/Recycle old iPhone trade-in price: £350
Total money paid over 12 months = £439

So conclusion is o2 know exactly what they are doing and this isn't an "offer" at all.
Click to expand...

I was just doing the maths and reached pretty much the same conclusion. Over 18 months, the cost of PAYG & Sim only vs. Contract works out virtually even for me.

However, the issue comes with the annual roll out of iPhone, with the 3GS O2 didn't offer an upgrade path for 3G users, so since then I've preferred to go down the sim only route. It all comes down to whether the customer can afford the high initial outlay for the PAYG handset (easier once you have a iPhone to sell!).
 
CD3660 said:
It is really pissing me off that we still have no pricing details in the U.K. even though iPhone 4 was announced several days ago and pre-ordering is just around the corner.

To me it suggests a certain contemptuous disregard for the customer or just plain ineptitude and inefficiency. :mad:
Click to expand...

Was there not a certain other apple product like this:D
I typing on rite now:cool:
 
I think every single one of the networks will give their pricing information either on the 14 or 15th of June as who on earth would pre-order a phone without knowing the cost!.
 
Radioman said:
I am REALLY pleased about this: http://www.three.co.uk/Phones/iPhone

Exactly what I was hoping for. 3UK will have 98% uk 3G coverage by the end of this year and they have the most up to date equipment and backend. I am delighted!
Click to expand...

Yes! Out of all the networks I've been on 3 have been the best...get 3G coverage almost everywhere I go. Oh and I'm on an 18 month contract with them :p

I just hope they get it on the 24th as I want that phone asap - I'm starting to wonder though if every iPhone is just going to be sold unlocked on PAYG? What's the point in SIM locking it if every carrier got it?
 
vitaminz said:
I'm starting to wonder though if every iPhone is just going to be sold unlocked on PAYG?
Click to expand...

I can't see this happening if only because it would encourage a huge black market in unlocked iPhones based in the U.K.

People would be exporting them through eBay etc. and many visitors to the country would be buying them to take abroad.
 
CD3660 said:
Yes, I know exactly what you mean. This is the second time in just a few weeks that we have been subjected to this nonsense. Hopefully, they might tell us something today.
Click to expand...

Although this time I don't think apples to blame, all these carriers are trying to be clever and find out what everyone else is doing, bit of the old cat and mouse. I think we will see far better tariffs than on the 3GS.
Remember the first iPhone £269 for the phone £35 a month for 200m and 200 texts and I stood in line for 4 hours on a freezing November :eek:
 
danj122 said:
I know you've all probaby worked this out but thought it was interesting to find out. I bought the PAYG 32gb 3GS on launch day 2009 and used my simplicity sim in it (£20 a month). If I upgrade to the 4G on launch day and trade in my phone on ebay/recycle sites I will end up paying EXACTLY the same money as I would have paid if i was on an 18 month contract. Workings below:

PAYG/simplicity route
Original cost of phone: £549
Contract length and cost: 12 months at £20 (£240)
Buyout cost for early upgrade: £0
Ebay/Recycle old iPhone trade-in price: £350
Total money paid over 12 months = £439

18month contract route
Original cost of phone: £249
Contract length and cost: 12 months at £35 (£420)
Buyout cost for early upgrade: 6 months @ £20 (£120)
Ebay/Recycle old iPhone trade-in price: £350
Total money paid over 12 months = £439

So conclusion is o2 know exactly what they are doing and this isn't an "offer" at all.

I haven't made a decision as to how i'm upgrading to 4G on launch day but i'm inclined to stay on the PAYG/simplicity route as it means i won't be hoping o2 repeat this early buyout clause in the years to come and am free to upgrade every cycle if i deem the latest iPhone upgrade to warrant it.
Click to expand...

The only differentiator then would be the amount of free minutes between Simplicity and a 35/month contract.
 
CD3660 said:
I can't see this happening if only because it would encourage a huge black market in unlocked iPhones based in the U.K.

People would be exporting them through eBay etc. and many visitors to the country would be buying them to take abroad.
Click to expand...

Totally agree. I think Apple's and the networks argument could be that if all the major players are offering the product why would there be the need to unlock etc (even tho many switch sims etc).

I know that the likes of o2 say they "subsidise" the phone but is this really the case?
 
CD3660 said:
I remember your posts from those days, and I remember the event too.

Seems like a lifetime ago even though it was less than three years ago!
Click to expand...

Hope you remember them in a good way :D
I remember yours too.
I'm may not be as series as some of you but I love my iPhones :apple:
 
gazzrenn said:
The only differentiator then would be the amount of free minutes between Simplicity and a 35/month contract.
Click to expand...

Yes, my Simplicity 20 gives me 600 minutes and 1200 texts which I think is what I used to get on my £35/m contract. However, I see that you now only get 300 minutes on the £35 contract; the £40 contract gives you the 600 mins, but also reduces the cost of the phone. Where's my calculator?
 
danj122 said:
I know you've all probaby worked this out but thought it was interesting to find out. I bought the PAYG 32gb 3GS on launch day 2009 and used my simplicity sim in it (£20 a month). If I upgrade to the 4G on launch day and trade in my phone on ebay/recycle sites I will end up paying EXACTLY the same money as I would have paid if i was on an 18 month contract. Workings below:

PAYG/simplicity route
Original cost of phone: £549
Contract length and cost: 12 months at £20 (£240)
Buyout cost for early upgrade: £0
Ebay/Recycle old iPhone trade-in price: £350
Total money paid over 12 months = £439

18month contract route
Original cost of phone: £249
Contract length and cost: 12 months at £35 (£420)
Buyout cost for early upgrade: 6 months @ £20 (£120)
Ebay/Recycle old iPhone trade-in price: £350
Total money paid over 12 months = £439

So conclusion is o2 know exactly what they are doing and this isn't an "offer" at all.
Click to expand...

Not in my case.

PAYG/simplicity route
Original cost of phone: £405 (32GB 3GS Brand new and sealed from ebay)
Contract length and cost: 12 months at £25 (£300)
Quidco Cashback: -£200
Buyout cost for early upgrade: £0
Ebay/Recycle old iPhone trade-in price: £599
Total money paid over 12 months = £0
Profit = £94
 
CD3660 said:
I can't see this happening if only because it would encourage a huge black market in unlocked iPhones based in the U.K.

People would be exporting them through eBay etc. and many visitors to the country would be buying them to take abroad.
Click to expand...

Errrrrm - like iPads, you mean ;)

I'm guessing that the willingness of Apple to offer iPads without a network lock means that they may be willing to do the same for iPhones in the UK?

There's only VM and Tesco that haven't confirmed they'll be offering iPhone 4

Here's hoping.....
 
limesmoothie said:
Errrrrm - like iPads, you mean ;)
Click to expand...
If a device is unlocked world-wide (like the iPad) then obviously there isn't a problem.

The difficulty with the iPhone is that it is carrier-locked in some countries but not in others. That's where the black market problem can arise.

Personally, I'm in favour of all devices being unlocked and the consumer having an entirely free choice.
 
Sorry to reiterate but I'm afraid my question may have been lost in the sea of conversations in this thread :(.

Do apple do network upgrades in store or will I have to go to an O2 store?


(that's question 1)

and question 2, will apple do brand new contracts in store (I don't mind getting a new number and I figure I may actually want to change contract to whoever is cheapest)
 
CD3660 said:
If a device is unlocked world-wide (like the iPad) then obviously there isn't a problem.

The difficulty with the iPhone is that it is carrier-locked in some countries but not in others. That's where the black market problem can arise.

Personally, I'm in favour of all devices being unlocked and the consumer having an entirely free choice.
Click to expand...

Well, quite.

It would just be a ridiculous situation where most, if not all of the networks were offering the iPhone and Apple were carrying stock of 6 or 7 different carrier locked phones, of both 3GS and 4 (16gb & 32gb) models.
 
Raikun said:
Sorry to reiterate but I'm afraid my question may have been lost in the sea of conversations in this thread :(.

Do apple do network upgrades in store or will I have to go to an O2 store?


(that's question 1)

and question 2, will apple do brand new contracts in store (I don't mind getting a new number and I figure I may actually want to change contract to whoever is cheapest)
Click to expand...

I think you didn't get an answer because no ones knows yet for sure until they announce more details.
 
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