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iPhone 3GS UK Discussion thread

  • The 1st gen top end iPhone (16GB) was £329 on £35p/m tariff, unsubsidised, and locked to O2
  • The 3rd gen top end iPhone (32GB) is £274 on £35p/m tariff, subsidised, and locked to O2

That's only £55 cheaper and the phone is now subsidised which leaves me a little confused about the justification for this new price. Sorry if someone has already brought it up - not read the entire thread.

I'm aware that customers don't have to get the new phone but it seems to me there is little incentive to take out a new contract even if you aren't currently locked into one with the 2ng gen iPhone. Do O2 want people to buy this? And how can Apple stand by and let it happen. They really seemed to have a go at AT&T in the keynote.

Please enlighten me if I'm wrong or am missing something.
 
The Phazer said:
That's pretty damning.

Phazer
Click to expand...

Yip. Which is why I'll be getting the 3GS when it comes out...
Then returning it on day 13 to get my money back and cancel the contract ;)
Plenty of time to test it to satisfy my curiosity. O2 are TWITS with a Capital 'A'!!!!
 
Are we truly sure the PAYG option is going to work?

I am tempted to buy it on pay as you go and put my 3G contract sim in too but its alot of money to waste if it does not work!
 
iPhone
-------
9 months use before iPhone 3G was released
£329 (Handset)
£405 contract (9 x £45)
Total £734
£82 per month for 9 months

iPhone 3G
-----------
11 months use before iPhone 3GS was released
£59 (Handset)
£495 contract (11 x £45)
£315 early buy out (7 x £45)
Total £869
£79 per month for 11 months

iPhone 3GS
-----------
? months use before next iPhone will be released
£175 (Handset)
£810 contract (either in full or split between contract and early buy out)
Total £985
£109 per month if they release and you upgrade to a new version in 9 months
£98.50 per month if they release and you upgrade to a new version in 10 months
£82 per month if they release and you upgrade to a new version in 12 months

How much it is likely to be depends on when the next version comes out but you don't HAVE to upgrade then, you could wait the 12 months anyway and the 3Gs would be the same as the original one was.
 
jgbr said:
Are we truly sure the PAYG option is going to work?

I am tempted to buy it on pay as you go and put my 3G contract sim in too but its alot of money to waste if it does not work!
Click to expand...

I called O2 today and asked this very question. The answer was that it will definitely work. :cool:
 
OK, so how do you get the sim out of the 3G? Do you have to use that special tool (which I can't seem to locate) or can you use something like a paper clip?
 
rushmere said:
EU law now states that goods sold in Europe should generally be repaired or replaced if they fail within two years, irrespective of what the manufacturer claims about warranties being limited to one year.
Click to expand...

Sorry, not quite correct that.

Urban Myth, even when repeated to death on the internet, still doesn't make it law.

Busted!
 
Loge said:
OK, so how do you get the sim out of the 3G? Do you have to use that special tool (which I can't seem to locate) or can you use something like a paper clip?
Click to expand...

Anything small and doesnt flex as you pusy works, originally on the 2G You had to use a paper clip, only with the 3G Did they include a tool.
 
Lest us all go and pay as you go the mighty 02 into shock and mock them as we upgrade to 4G for free in 2010 cus of way to outwit them in 2009.

Consumers fight back! Customers arise lol
 
rushmere said:
Have a look here
Click to expand...

You're still not quoting it right.

Merchantable quality... And your post quotes a TV set, a product that shouldnt really break that fast. An iPod, or iPhone, being the harshly treated items that they are certainly wouldn't be expected to last the 5 years or whatever.

Most iPods (i see a lot of them so I can only comment on them not iPhones) are generally past what I'd call eBay'able resellable quality after 9 months.

Casting back in history, I think Apple once only offered a 90-day warranty on iPods, I think it was the iPod Mini.
 
phakebrill said:
Yip. Which is why I'll be getting the 3GS when it comes out...
Then returning it on day 13 to get my money back and cancel the contract ;)
Plenty of time to test it to satisfy my curiosity. O2 are TWITS with a Capital 'A'!!!!
Click to expand...

yep. With capitals, as you say.
 
Supersonic said:
You're still not quoting it right.

Merchantable quality... And your post quotes a TV set, a product that shouldnt really break that fast. An iPod, or iPhone, being the harshly treated items that they are certainly wouldn't be expected to last the 5 years or whatever.

Most iPods (i see a lot of them so I can only comment on them not iPhones) are generally past what I'd call eBay'able resellable quality after 9 months.

Casting back in history, Apple once only offered a 90-day warranty on iPods, I think it was the iPod Mini.
Click to expand...

Yes, of course you are right. If an item has been treated more harshly than could be reasonably expected, then you would obviously not be entitled to any replacement or repair. I guess it may also be stretching it to expect an iPod to last 5 years. However, a relatively expensive portable item should be capable of standing up to a few knocks in order to be considered to be of merchantable quality, and should certainly last more than a year with normal usage.

I have an 18 month old iPod which is clearly in very good condition. If it stopped working tomorrow due to a manufacturing defect, I would expect it to be repaired or replaced free of charge. It would also be reasonable to expect my expensive iPhone to last more than a year, so long as I look after it reasonably. I have previously had a Macbook (without Applecare) fail after more than a year. To their credit, Apple did repair it free of charge without even the slightest hesitation, even though it had a few scratches and dents which were entirely in keeping with acceptable use for a portable product.

In any case, as I'm sure you're aware, the manufacturer's warranty is in addition to your statutory rights. Your contract is with the retailer, so they're the ones required to sort out the problem in the event of failure. So if Apple offered a 90 day warranty on an iPod, the retailer would still be obliged to repair or replace it after 90 days if it failed.
 
phakebrill said:
  • The 1st gen top end iPhone (16GB) was £329 on £35p/m tariff, unsubsidised, and locked to O2
  • The 3rd gen top end iPhone (32GB) is £274 on £35p/m tariff, subsidised, and locked to O2

That's only £55 cheaper and the phone is now subsidised which leaves me a little confused about the justification for this new price. Sorry if someone has already brought it up - not read the entire thread.
Click to expand...

First gen iphone comes with revenue sharing --- so Apple can charge O2 a lower handset price. But revenue sharing is no more, so Apple has to increase the wholesale price that they charged to O2.
 
rushmere said:
Yes, of course you are right. If an item has been treated more harshly than could be reasonably expected, then you would obviously not be entitled to any replacement or repair. I guess it may also be stretching it to expect an iPod to last 5 years. However, a relatively expensive portable item should be capable of standing up to a few knocks in order to be considered to be of merchantable quality, and should certainly last more than a year with normal usage.

I have an 18 month old iPod which is clearly in very good condition. If it stopped working tomorrow due to a manufacturing defect, I would expect it to be repaired or replaced free of charge. It would also be reasonable to expect my expensive iPhone to last more than a year, so long as I look after it reasonably. I have previously had a Macbook (without Applecare) fail after more than a year. To their credit, Apple did repair it free of charge without even the slightest hesitation, even though it had a few scratches and dents which were entirely in keeping with acceptable use for a portable product.

In any case, as I'm sure you're aware, the manufacturer's warranty is in addition to your statutory rights. Your contract is with the retailer, so they're the ones required to sort out the problem in the event of failure. So if Apple offered a 90 day warranty on an iPod, the retailer would still be obliged to repair or replace it after 90 days if it failed.
Click to expand...


A lot of what you say is indeed true, and it would be oh-so nice to get Apple ASP's to honour such terms, but this never happens.

Maybe new rules, new EU directives that have clout might redress this. I've seen countless dozens of PowerBooks, MacBook Pros, and all sorts of kit dead after 18 months and Apple just aint interested, and customers dont kick up a fuss.

Law, and reality on the ground, are very, very opposite bedfellows.

AFAIK, every hardware maker is like this, they bet against customers kicking off and its entrenched in UK consumer mindsets that 1 year warranty is all they;re gonna get and to be thankful of that. Warranty lies with the manufcaturer in all reality. Dealers just pass kit through to source as an obligation.

From here, as they say in the US, "I'll take the 5th"..
 
Supersonic said:
A lot of what you say is indeed true, and it would be oh-so nice to get Apple ASP's to honour such terms, but this never happens.

Maybe new rules, new EU directives that have clout might redress this. I've seen countless dozens of PowerBooks, MacBook Pros, and all sorts of kit dead after 18 months and Apple just aint interested, and customers dont kick up a fuss.

Law, and reality on the ground, are very, very opposite bedfellows.

AFAIK, every hardware maker is like this, they bet against customers kicking off and its entrenched in UK consumer mindsets that 1 year warranty is all they;re gonna get and to be thankful of that. Warranty lies with the manufcaturer in all reality. Dealers just pass kit through to source as an obligation.

From here, as they say in the US, "I'll take the 5th"..
Click to expand...

Please can you understand that "warranty" is not the same as statutory rights. This twisting and turning from what you originally claimed is dangerous, in the way that people might actually believe you are right.

Go to an Apple Store (or wherever) and state your claim. Ask to speak to the manager. Then recite the law.

Great site for info: http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/

Simple as that. Reality is: It's easy enough and you failed.
 
I have a 2.5G iPhone and did not upgrade to the 3G as O2 did not have any 3G network in my area. When I saw the keynote I thought, even though O2 STILL DOES NOT HAVE 3G in my area :eek:, I would upgrade for the extra storage, GPS, compass etc. My contract ends next month.

But after seeing the price gouging by O2 I will probably just unlock my original iPhone and move to Orange who do have edge/3G in my area.
 
Anybody hazard a guess as to when the PAYG pricing will be on the Apple store?

I'd love it if they were cheaper than the O2 ones, but can't see it happening. The price for the 16GB should not have gone UP imo, it should still be £391.
And the 32GB should have been about £450 tops.
 
yorkshire said:
Anybody hazard a guess as to when the PAYG pricing will be on the Apple store?

I'd love it if they were cheaper than the O2 ones, but can't see it happening. The price for the 16GB should not have gone UP imo, it should still be £391.
And the 32GB should have been about £450 tops.
Click to expand...

It'd be exactly the same price. I'm really confused because when the iPod update comes in September, you'll probably be able to get a 32 GB iPod touch for less than £250, so how they can price the iPhone at £540, I have no idea. And when VAT goes back up next year, it'll be over £550! £450 would've been reasonable, but £540 is just ridiculous.
 
Online simplicity + PAYG iPhone 3GS?

Can someone PLEASE answer this question, I have read the thread but couldn't find a direct answer.

I am out of contract with O2 as of now. I have been offered their Online Simplicity 1 month contract for £19/month including unlimited data.

Could I just buy a PAYG iPhone 3GS and stick my Simplicity sim in and have everything including internet working as normal? Thus saving money in the long run.

Could even get a second had 3G and save even more cash?

Please help!!

Cheers!
 
My Situation - PAYG vs Contract Maths

I hardly use the phone and text message so 600/500 would not be used. Looking at the maths it will still be cheaper for me to buy the 3GS as PAYG even compared to the 3G contract.

3G Contract - 16GB - £160 + £35*18 = £790
3GS Contract - 32GB - £275 + £35*18 = £905
3GS PAYG - 32GB - £540 + £10*12(new one next year) = £660

What is the deal with the O2 Unlimited PAYG package, actually any of them. Do you have to top up a certain amount every month or if you top up £10 and that lasts 2 months do you still get the benefits of the top up until the £10 is spent?

How much of an issue are these compared to the contract -
Visual Voicemail
Call Merging,
Internet tethering
APN Settings

Thanks
 
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