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Vodafone to Begin Selling iPhone in UK and Ireland in Early 2010

Ha! Finally some competition to bring down the prices :) I wonder when we will see the same happen in other European countries... Or better yet, being able to order the phone simlock free in the Apple store and choose your own provider and plan :)
 
january

mmm... january

I bet Apple is going to sell iPhones themselves by then (choose your data carrier).

I can imagine the Apple store line-up:
  • iPod Touch
  • iPhone
  • iTablet
  • Macbook

choose your 3G weapons
 
this is better news. i posted yesterday about the choice of phones i was deciding (N900 or iPhone) but as I'm with Vodafone and my contract expires in December I think I may wait and see who has the best deal and do the "threaten to leave" card
 
well vodafone is the only network that works were i was living in wales so i will see what happens when they release more info. o2 as a network have always worked well back in Yorkshire but usless in wales. so looks like ill be going to vodafone
 
Living in the east of England, and never having seen an EDGE symbol, let alone a 3G one, suggests to me that it may well be time to switch to a different network. I think my 18 months is probably up early next year too :)
 
Macworld UK said:
Virgin Mobile are also thought to be keen to secure the right's to sell the iPhone and with Orange and T-Mobile merging, Apple's smartphone could end up being available on all major mobile phone networks, an unlikely option just two years ago.
Click to expand...

Looks like Virgin Mobile could be next.
 
Excellent News

The sooner the better. O2 Ireland has had and continues to have very poor iPhone inventory, too restrictive pricing plans, their web shop is the opposite of customer friendly, and really any alternative is desirable. The price competition will be welcome. The ability to have choice makes this the best news for iPhone users in Ireland. Its worth the wait to not have to deal with O2. Pity the early-adopters on 18 month price plans.
 
yetanotherdave said:
I wonder if vodafone will update their towers to offer edge for when you are out of 3G area, it really sucks to go to gprs when you're out of 3g range.
Click to expand...

I caught Edge on my iPhone the other day while in London. I wouldn't worry about getting EDGE over GPRS, in real life, you probably wouldn't notice the difference
 
Bagot69 said:
i used to have a contract with 3 and always had a perfect signal! now im on O2 + quite disapointed with the coverage no where near as gud! Let 3 claim there signal is so gud coz they use O2's masts! how does that work?
Click to expand...

3 have the most extensive 3G network but they rely on other carriers for 2G outside of their 3G area.
 
Bagot69 said:
i used to have a contract with 3 and always had a perfect signal! now im on O2 + quite disapointed with the coverage no where near as gud! Let 3 claim there signal is so gud coz they use O2's masts! how does that work?
Click to expand...

3 have their own 3G masts but use o2 for their 2G coverage. I think that is what they're referring to? I was with 3 for about 6 months (I bought out my contract), I didn't have problem so much with the service, but their customer service was beyond shocking! Maybe it has got better, it was a long time ago, but I must admit I'm not willing to give them a try lol
 
capoeirista said:
Living in the east of England, and never having seen an EDGE symbol, let alone a 3G one, suggests to me that it may well be time to switch to a different network. I think my 18 months is probably up early next year too :)
Click to expand...

Nearer Norwich or Ipswich is fine for signal, as is around Lowestoft - decent 3G signals on all of the main providers - no 7.2MBit though :(
 
Be interesting to see how far into an existing contract you have to be for VF to allow you to u/g to an iPhone.

My contract doesn't run out until Sept. 2010, wonder if they'll let me u/g in Jan/Feb or whenever they get the iPhone.
 
Awesome, just got off the phone with O2 customer services, who said that as there is no longer exclusivity there's no longer a reason not to unlock and they will be unlocking iPhones soon, but they don't have the procedure in place yet (I'm guessing they will wait till the bitter end, ie the day that orange start selling them).
I was enquiring about my phone, on contract, I doubt they'll be as quick to unlock PAYG...
 
yetanotherdave said:
Awesome, just got off the phone with O2 customer services, who said that as there is no longer exclusivity there's no longer a reason not to unlock and they will be unlocking iPhones soon, but they don't have the procedure in place yet (I'm guessing they will wait till the bitter end, ie the day that orange start selling them).
I was enquiring about my phone, on contract, I doubt they'll be as quick to unlock PAYG...
Click to expand...

Cool I see that as good news, least we will have a choice where to go when out contracts expire!

AnDy
 
Chris.L said:
I caught Edge on my iPhone the other day while in London. I wouldn't worry about getting EDGE over GPRS, in real life, you probably wouldn't notice the difference
Click to expand...

I work in a basement with 0 phone signal from any network save for a vodafone repeater that just does gprs/voice. Trust me, the difference is very noticeable!!
 
yetanotherdave said:
Awesome, just got off the phone with O2 customer services, who said that as there is no longer exclusivity there's no longer a reason not to unlock and they will be unlocking iPhones soon, but they don't have the procedure in place yet (I'm guessing they will wait till the bitter end, ie the day that orange start selling them).
I was enquiring about my phone, on contract, I doubt they'll be as quick to unlock PAYG...
Click to expand...

Cool! I really hope they're true to their word over this...
 
So a question to the potential new T-Orange/Vodaphone purchasers next year (cos that's when it seems it'll be out).

Are you going to buy a 3GS in January/February when a new iPhone will probably be out in July?
 
Kebabselector said:
So a qeustion to the potential new T-Orange/Vodaphone purchasers next year (cos that's when it seems it'll be out).

Are you going to buy a 3GS in January/February when a new iPhone will probably be out in July?
Click to expand...

I'm going onto Simplicity in January, then waiting until June / July for the new iPhone. I'll then pick the best phone and contract deal that suits me from either O2, Orange or Vodafone (or anyone else who wants to join in).
 
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