iPhone to be £660 in UK?!?!

[a456]

If it was £20 a month and 250 minutes and 250 texts I would so go for it xD I dont use my phone much but I really would if it had good internet and mail.

I'm with you on that one. It's mobile email that I need or decent Internet to access webmail. I work freelance and when a job is due in I am informed by email. Often I need to respond quickly. Some days the only thing that ties me to the house is the need to access emails. Costs however are prohibitive for the level of communication I need to have. At the moment I spend about £30-40 a year on calls with a Virgin pay as you go account - a very low level by comparison to the monthly tarrifs. I don't care about cameras or flashy looking mobiles, I want to have the functionality of a keyboard like on the iPhone screen and not mess around with forwarding mail to the phone provider's email service. I want mail that I can then sync at home without getting confused and losing it.

 

[koobcamuk]

I didn't like the N93 that much - the phone I was talking about is the Sharp 903SH. It's amazing.

Anyway, back to iPhone. I am on Vodafone, but I got a 12month upgrade with them, so I will be free around iPhone time.

I don't really care who gets it, but I would expect all the companies to have it - with whoever gets it out first having a huge advantage!!

+£600 at SIM free? You bet. The 8800 is awful and it was SIM free around there. Even the N93i is around £400-£500.

With a contract - it'll be heavily subsidised. However, I know for a fact vodafone have a new set of data plan coming into force this June - they want to beat 3's current deals.

It's going to be interesting, but otherwise, non eventful. It doesn't really matter. And there is no way in hell Apple would let vodafone customise it to hell (although their themes aren't so bad).

Scary thing is, I actually had a dream about this phone. I don't even like it that much and I dreamt about it. It's pretty awesome (going from my dream) and the touchscreen is amazing to use (again, from my dream )

 

[Cabbit]

They also have the most mature, best quality network when the whole of the UK is taken into consideration (local geographic issues aside), the most purchasing power and the best direct retail channel - and if you think Apple is going to let Vodafone cram it with their own applications and turn all the menu's red then I think you're very, very mistaken

iPhone is going to start at the high end. I wouldn't imagine anything about the initial offering, in terms of network and the product itself, will be very cheap. Only time will be able to put a price on the actual worth of iPhone's functionality to consumers.

As dcv says, SIM-Free prices will almost definitely be in excess of £600 initially.

Orange or O2, no bloddy english only vodaphone with there tacky logo on my iphone thank you very much.

 

[AlBDamned]

The N95 launched at £89.99 on a contract with Orange & O2; more with Vodafone I think (obviously exact prices depend on your call plan).

Wasn't that price only if you went for an £80+ line rental and 18-month contract or some such bank-account destroying contract?

 

[AlBDamned]

Orange or O2, no bloddy english only vodaphone with there tacky logo on my iphone thank you very much.

I'm pretty sure - at least I'd hope to hell - that the iPhone is unbranded save the Apple logo on the back, surely...

 

[dcv]

Wasn't that price only if you went for an £80+ line rental and 18-month contract or some such bank-account destroying contract?

With Orange it's £89.99 on the £35/month contracts or free on the £55+ plans.

 

[miniConvert]

2/2.5G maybe...

AFAIK Orange were the first network to roll-out EDGE (2.75g) and have better 3G coverage than Vodafone.

You get into swings and roundabouts when it comes to 3G. I've found the kit Vodafone use provides a better quality service. They also have HSDPA, which Orange are dilly-dallying over. In terms of total 3G coverage there's not too much in it - the only network with markedly less coverage is O2.

Orange do have EDGE, though unfortunately they have not made a meaningful deployment in terms of EDGE coverage.

In GPRS terms, I've found Vodafone to offer superior performance to Orange. Latency and throughput.

Lets face it, we need a 3G, preferably HSDPA capable, iPhone here in the UK and the rest of Europe. I may not even buy the initial offering if they can't find a way to drop 3G in there.

Of course, neither company will likely be able to brand the iPhone in any way, though there's the possibility of a small operator logo on the iPhone's surface I'd imagine. Maybe O and V will pass completely! Oh, if only we knew what the hell was going on!

 

[dcv]

<Voda vs Orange etc>

OK... I surrender to your superior knowledge in these matters

Lets face it, we need a 3G, preferably HSDPA capable, iPhone here in the UK and the rest of Europe. I may not even buy the initial offering if they can't find a way to drop 3G in there.

Totally agree with you.

there's the possibility of a small operator logo on the iPhone's surface I'd imagine

Noooo!

I have had one handset from Orange, which was totally unbranded and even in its original SonyEricsson box That was the Z610i in blue... but perhaps that was only because that colour is/was a network exclusive.

 

[koobcamuk]

You get into swings and roundabouts when it comes to 3G...

That's very true...

I am having a great time on Vodafone with 3G. It's very fast and good coverage (where I live).

It needs to be 3G here to really push the boundaries. Otherwise, 2000-2010 will see very little in terms of innovation in the phone market. Yes, touchscreen is great but we need to be getting faster now slower!

 

[AlBDamned]

With Orange it's £89.99 on the £35/month contracts or free on the £55+ plans.

Wow that's actually pretty reasonable. Clearly Carphone Warehouse have been trying to stiff me on my "valued customer" upgrade.

 

[marcol]

Well, I really hope that either it's not Vodafone or that Vodafone drop their data charges. Their current rate of £2.35 per MB (for contract phones) is just silly beyond belief.

For comparison, you can get "unlimited" data (actually capped at 1 GB) for £7.50 pcm from T-Mobile. 3 also have a flat rate and it looks like Orange are joining the party too:

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/telecoms/article1690586.ece

There is simply no point to a function that's too expensive to use, and that's precisely what web browsing would be over Vodafone's network at current costs.

Secondly, I agree completely with those who say it has to be 3G. It's not like there's a whole lot of EDGE in the UK (just some smatterings from Orange used to fill in the gaps in UMTS coverage AFAIK) so basically without 3G it's a GPRS phone. In 2007!

 

[miniConvert]

Well, I really hope that either it's not Vodafone or that Vodafone drop their data charges. Their current rate of £2.35 per MB (for contract phones) is just silly beyond belief.

As it happens, they do have new data tariffs coming. Not all the details are available, but some are: www.vodafone.co.uk/datapricing

Not exactly groundbreaking, though. That's our Vodafone!

 

[dcv]

As it happens, they do have new data tariffs coming. Not all the details are available, but some are: www.vodafone.co.uk/datapricing

Am I reading that correctly? "No more than £1 per day"... that's still up to £31 per month on top of your call plan, right? (assuming daily use)

Orange have an unlimited evening & weekend data bundle for £5 per month (I get that free as a loyalty thing), I think there's also an £8 unlimited anytime option but it's not very well advertised and possibly only available to customers on the old premier tariffs.

 

[koobcamuk]

balls... vodafone are currently not good for data then... or are they??

 

[miniConvert]

balls... vodafone are currently not good for data then... or are they??

Good for quality, bad for price

However, there should also be a bundle on the way. I've heard £5 for unlimited data (on the handset) banded about, but until they actually release such a bundle there's no real way of knowing.

 

[koobcamuk]

Good for quality, bad for price

However, there should also be a bundle on the way. I've heard £5 for unlimited data (on the handset) banded about, but until they actually release such a bundle there's no real way of knowing.

bundles are needed. Otherwise using my phone to send email is a waste of money.

 

[notsofatjames]

What do you actually use 3G for? Ive got a 3G phone and I've never noticed the difference. You dont need a really fast connection to get your emails, and browsing the proper WWW will be painfull without a proper speed connection (wi-fi to a broadband connection). Video calling is pointless IMO. The internet on my phone (wap or whatever it is, i struggle to keep up with the new techs) is bland at best. Its got a few pretty pictures, but it takes ages to load. Sorry if I missing something major from the benifits of 3G, but do you really need it?? The only thing a constant internet/network conection would be good for (IMO) is email on the go. And that doesnt need to be super fast

but i totally agree when it comes to the quality of the camera. 0.3MP!!??!! i could draw a better picture than that! I doubt I'll get a first gen iPhone, until they improve the camera. And the memory capacity will increase over time. Give it a year, and we'll have some serious size memory.

Personally all the UK phone providers seem the same to me. Im currently on 3, and the phone i have is useless (6280), but i found orange was expensive. A friend never gets coverage in my area on o2, and vodafone do have an issue with replacing the phones default software/firmware.

 

[koobcamuk]

What do you actually use 3G...

A decent internet connection should just be in there. Otherwise we aren't pushing technology at all.

Same with the camera. My phone is 3.2MP and I am buggered if I am going to go backwards just for nice syncing and an ipod with a touchscreen.

 

[Project]

Yeah im another who doesnt really care about 3G. I have a WiFi connection 90% of the day and will simply use that to connect to the internet

As for the price, 660 unlocked might be more realistic. 660 with a contract = not going to happen. While the likes of Sony take the michael with their cross Atlantic pricing, Apple arent too bad with the iPod when you take VAT into account

 

[koobcamuk]

Yeah im another who doesnt really care about 3G. I have a WiFi connection 90% of the day and will simply use that to connect to the internet???

there's no wifi when walking down the street or on the bus or walking home, though.

Most often, if I get wifi, I can use my laptop - but it would be cool for a phone.

However, I want 3G for UK/Europe and they HAVE to do a lot more for Asia!

 

[miniConvert]

What do you actually use 3G for?

In terms of browsing the real Internet on a handset, such as on the iPhone via its mobile Safari, 3G makes a vast difference. It's between 8 times (3G) and 40 times (HSDPA) faster in terms of throughput, and latency is improved also. Earlier 3G phones are somewhat limited by their internal memory and processor speed, not to mention awful browser software, but full-on browsing on a capable handset needs bandwidth.

Yeah im another who doesnt really care about 3G.

WiFi is great, and for those who are in range of a network they can use then, well, that's just fab. But to drop down from ~54mbps on WiFi to around 50kbps on GPRS (given that EDGE is almost nonexistant in the UK)? That's insane! At least having a ~1.8mbps connection in your pocket is kinda cool

Back in to price - I think Apple has the power to really change the dynamic of how mobile phones are sold. Distribution is a mess, a vast pit of commissions, with the networks throwing good money after bad that would be better spent on retention and customer services. Churn is unsustainable.

The way Apple wins mobile is if it plays its own game. I don't think it will initially, not entirely, it'll test the water and knock up a few iPhone revisions. But then, hopefully, we'll wind up a bit closer to a time where we actually buy our phones, rather than expecting them for free, and get much more competitive tariffs and shorter contracts as a result.

 

[marcol]

As it happens, they do have new data tariffs coming. Not all the details are available, but some are: www.vodafone.co.uk/datapricing

Thanks.

Not exactly groundbreaking, though. That's our Vodafone!

Oh, I don't know. The complexity of the billing scheme is pretty revolutionary

More seriously, it's good that they're moving in the right direction now. Still too expensive in comparison to the competition, but better than what they had before.

 

[marcol]

What do you actually use 3G for? Ive got a 3G phone and I've never noticed the difference. You dont need a really fast connection to get your emails, and browsing the proper WWW will be painfull without a proper speed connection (wi-fi to a broadband connection). Video calling is pointless IMO. The internet on my phone (wap or whatever it is, i struggle to keep up with the new techs) is bland at best.

I find it pretty acceptable with the Nokia S60 browser (WebKit-based like Safari) and find 3G speeds are ok both for this and using a grown-up browser on the laptop with DUN.

 

[killmoms]

there's no wifi when walking down the street or on the bus or walking home, though.

Maybe not where you live... most of downtown Burbank and the media district are blanketed in free-to-access municipal WiFi. And when I'm driving, well... I ought not be browsing the web then anyway.

 

[koobcamuk]

Maybe not where you live... most of downtown Burbank and the media district are blanketed in free-to-access municipal WiFi. And when I'm driving, well... I ought not be browsing the web then anyway.

we don't have that here. unless apple is willing to do that for us. I also, don't drive.

anyway, 3G is a must in Europe and Asia. Just my opinion.