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UK iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus Thread

PVisitors said:
Converting from 3 onto EE. 3 signal is adequate at best; It's tolerable for the price of their contracts and perhaps a trade off for some to have unlimited 4g data however don't strong fast signal, or signal at all, when you enter a places like the Trafford Centre or Tescos et al.

Their 4g network, whilst free of charge, is still very weak compared to EE too. I often rarely get it despite being in areas advertised as 'strong signal' (i.e. Manchester city centre), and when I do its only 3mbps faster than 3g. A minor gripe too is that the signal constantly changes from 4g to 3g and vice versa, and for some apps which I may be using which needs a continuous connection, it will always disconnect as it changes between the two masts.
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You do realise that 3 and EE basically share the same infrastructure for their 3G networks now via the MBNL network share agreement?

If EE have good 3G in an area, chances are 3 will as well. 4G is different, as it isn't included in the sharing agreement (yet).
 
d123 said:
You do realise that 3 and EE basically share the same infrastructure for their 3G networks now via the MBNL network share agreement?

If EE have good 3G in an area, chances are 3 will as well. 4G is different, as it isn't included in the sharing agreement (yet).
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Might be so in terms of contractual obligations but real use it's not the case. For work I've had to carry two identical model phones, my personal on three and the other on EE and had stronger signal always on EE over 3. Its the same way Virgin piggyback onto EE too, yet their coverage is less than EE, I've been in areas where EE have had signal yet people on Virgin haven't. It's not as simplistic as saying 'oh they have a shared agreement'.

It might be they share the same network but something is amiss regarding the allocation of the spectrum then, or however it works as I'm not a mobile network engineer. It got to the point where I actually took my three handset to the Apple store to see if it wasn't the phone which was the issue, but it wasn't.
 
MikeNemat said:
If anyone didn't get a reservation, maybe this will help: https://uk.iphonestock.ca

Email and text notifications as soon as reservation stock changes.
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£3.25 for a text notification? LOL, easier to just visit the page and check yourself.

So only 2 Apple Stores now have stock left (and only in 128GB).

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PVisitors said:
Might be so in terms of contractual obligations but real use it's not the case. For work I've had to carry two identical model phones, my personal on three and the other on EE and had stronger signal always on EE over 3.

It might be they share the same network but something is amiss regarding the allocation of the spectrum then, or however it works as I'm not a mobile network engineer. It got to the point where I actually took my three handset to the Apple store to see if it wasn't the phone which was the issue, but it wasn't.
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They don't share actual spectrum, just the infrastructure. I've no idea why you would be seeing hugely disparate service, you must be in one of the few areas still served by a non MBNL mast (some Orange masts are not integrated yet).
 
d123 said:
£3.25 for a text notification? LOL, easier to just visit the page and check yourself.

So only 2 Apple Stores now have stock left (and only in 128GB).

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They don't share actual spectrum, just the infrastructure. I've no idea why you would be seeing hugely disparate service, you must be in one of the few areas still served by a non MBNL mast (some Orange masts are not integrated yet).
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It's weird I know, but I can't see the MBNL not covering Manchester city centre, trafford centre and places around south Manchester (Stockport/Cheadle Hulme).

If they're on different spectrums is that not the case then? Certain frequencies are better are providing indoor coverage right, so if EE have the spectrum which provides better indoor coverage compared to Three, the infrastructure of the mast itself becomes a red herring.

I admit I aint as clued up on this as I'd like. I'd still recommend three to put it into perspective however. They're a good network now.

I'm ignoring my experience at uni in the Jesmond area, as I think that place is just a blackspot period. I didn't know anybody when I lived there who had great signal.
 
PVisitors said:
It's weird I know, but I can't see the MBNL not covering Manchester city centre, trafford centre and places around south Manchester (Stockport/Cheadle Hulme).

If they're on different spectrums is that not the case then? Certain frequencies are better are providing indoor coverage right, so if EE have the spectrum which provides better indoor coverage compared to Three, the infrastructure of the mast itself becomes a red herring.

I admit I aint as clued up on this as I'd like. I'd still recommend three to put it into perspective however. They're a good network now.

I'm ignoring my experience at uni in the Jesmond area, as I think that place is just a blackspot period. I didn't know anybody when I lived there who had great signal.
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There is no variation on 3G, both use 2100MHz, EE has an advantage for voice/text with its old 2G network running on 1800Mhz.

EE has a much more advanced 4G network (currently only on 1800Mhz, but with 800Mhz about to come online in the near future). Perhaps you are getting a 4G signal on EE in the areas you are getting a better signal?
 
iPhone 5 inside Spigen Neo Hybrid case for iPhone 6, in case anyone is interested.
 

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d123 said:
There is no variation on 3G, both use 2100MHz, EE has an advantage for voice/text with its old 2G network running on 1800Mhz.

EE has a much more advanced 4G network (currently only on 1800Mhz, but with 800Mhz about to come online in the near future). Perhaps you are getting a 4G signal on EE in the areas you are getting a better signal?
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Could be, possible the phone isn't updating its 3g icon?

I'll probably move back to Three in 24 months time when their 4g network is bigger.
 
PVisitors said:
Could be, possible the phone isn't updating its 3g icon?

I'll probably move back to Three in 24 months time when their 4g network is bigger.
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Three should also be rolling out 4G on 800MHz soon, that's why VoLTE is becoming important, 800MHz allows for much better building penetration, but without VoLTE you would only have data, no voice or text.
 
d123 said:
Three should also be rolling out 4G on 800MHz soon, that's why VoLTE is becoming important, 800MHz allows for much better building penetration, but without VoLTE you would only have data, no voice or text.
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Should be good then. From a layman's perspective who just reads occasionally about this sort of stuff rather than delving into the technology behind it. It feels like EE/3 offer the best from a network point of view at this moment.
 
Not sure if anyone can use it but i reserved a 64GB iPhone 6 space grey in the metro centre 5-6 pickup. PM me if its of use to anyone.
 
I was tempted to with to EE for their 4G network coverage in my area. O2 assured me that my area would be covered by the end of the year.
 
PVisitors said:
Should be good then. From a layman's perspective who just reads occasionally about this sort of stuff rather than delving into the technology behind it. It feels like EE/3 offer the best from a network point of view at this moment.
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True, the problem is O2 and Vodafone have both neglected properly updating their 3G networks and back haul. Some areas it's good, most areas it's bad. They now have a similar agreement to the 3/EE MBNL one, called Cornerstone, and this is rolling out 4G for them and upgrading 3G at the same time, problem is, their back haul is still old and inadequate so data always hits the buffers with congestion.

They are good for voice and text, not so good for data.
 
PVisitors said:
Its the same way Virgin piggyback onto EE too, yet their coverage is less than EE, I've been in areas where EE have had signal yet people on Virgin haven't.
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Virgin do not use EE's network, they use T-Mobile's network.

EE's network is 4G (which Virgin do not offer to consumers) and T-Mobile's network is 3G.

In fact, I think Virgin Mobile is a joint venture between Virgin & T-Mobile.
 
brandscill said:
I think there isn't a need to jump the gun yet. They're on the face of things without finance trouble. I think it's simply they can't move forward as they'll have nothing to sell. I would expect all current orders will be seen out.
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Agreed - I wouldn't get too worked up about it. It's not like they've gone insolvent and can't continue trading like the Home furnishing stores or Holiday companies typically do, taking your money with them for goods not yet supplied.

The Guardian are reporting that Vodafone are contracted until Feb 2015, EE until September 2015, so P4U can sign customers up to the networks until those dates. It's after September that the business is unviable in it's current form as they can't supply mobile phone contracts.

Then again, there's a small possibility the networks will pay some sort of early termination penalty and P4U gets voluntarily wound up before then.
 
bigchrisfgb said:
I've just done a quick check and unlike other Apple products you have to buy Apple care (or Apple care + as it's called for the iPhone) within 60 days of buying your iPhone.



http://store.apple.com/uk/product/APP_IPHONE_PLUS_AUTO-110480/applecare-plus-for-iphone

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Corrected in my post after I double checked on the Apple website.
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I will buy it as soon as I receive the iPhone- purely for the accidental damage cover! AppleCare+ is very competitive, compared to carrier insurance. The only downside seems to be that the nearest physical store is 60 miles away from me.

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Dangerous Theory said:
iPhone 5 inside Spigen Neo Hybrid case for iPhone 6, in case anyone is interested.
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The 6 is not as BIG as I'd feared. Thanks for the photo
 
Yeah, for the first time I've bought AppleCare+ for our two phones. Mostly for the accidental damage cover since I often skate with my phone in my pocket.

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Just seen that the payment for the first two phones I ordered has come out of my bank account this morning (I.e. an actual payment, not a hold on the funds). Two "fake" dispatch notifications so far that had me all excited for nothing. One for the leather case for my bro's phone, and the two AppleCare+ for my and my wife's phones.
 
Steph McGovern from the BBC has just reported on Twitter all Phones4U orders not dispatched will be cancelled and refunded!
 
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Taylor-C said:
I'll be buying from the Apple Store.
I've been using O2's Simplicity plan for the last few years, so nearer the time I'll upgrade my Simplicity tariff (as I'm still on one with only 3G data).
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Check CPW they had an o2 5gb 4g with unlimited everything else for £25 a month for a year plus cash back or a tablet... not an add, thats what i've got. :apple::apple::apple:
 
Up here in the wild wastes (Peterhead near Aberdeen) both O2 and EE have ok coverage but abismal data speeds on 3G. a couple of the guys at my work are on these networks and top out at about 1.5Mbps whereas I'm on three getting a half strength 3G signal and getting 18Mbps when I'm down to 1 bar it's still 8Mbps the fastest it's been is with full signal at 21.8Mbps and there's nowhere that I've been that I don't get signal. I'm only using an iPhone 5 at the moment so not the largest selection of frequency bands but three here is fantastic. Should get my 6+ case today or tomorrow, still waiting for my phone though (estimated 30th-3rd) and I'd completed the order by 0840 on pre order day. You'd think they'd priorotise units for developers but no, we're stuck waiting with everyone.
 
Morning all,

New work week; looking forward for the flight sot start leaving China!

My two iP6s are prepareing for shipment for delivery on 19/09. Sad to hear about P4U.

Any ones phone shipped by Apple yet?
 
'The company said established mobile contracts taken out through it would not be affected, although phones ordered and not despatched - for example anyone ordering the new iPhone 6 over the weekend - would be.'
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Just a heads up to you P4U guys... Maybe try and call the hotline they've set up today!
 
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