Macworld UK: O2 bringing the iPhone to the UK

[BoyBach]

Macworld UK are reporting that O2 appear to have 'won' the competition to be the UK's network provider for the iPhone and that Carphone Warehouse will also be selling it through their stores.

A report on Mobile Today claims O2 secured the deal simply by accepting Apple's initial proposals. The report explains that rather than negotiate the detail, the company chose to take the deal first proposed by the iPhone maker.

O2 gets iPhone, Carphone Warehouse plans iPod shop

 

[liketom]

o dear - i was hoping t-mobile would get it - due to there data plans!

but hay ho 02 mm well let's hope they drop the data cost's

 

[MikeDTyke]

Groovy, though i really wish Apple hadn't stuck with just the one partner. I know they had to do it, to break into the US market, but iPhone is established in the collective conciousness. If it turns out that O2's network is a turkey, we're stuck with them, just like the yanks are stuck with AT&T.

FYI the first phone i had was O2, or rather it's earlier name and the service was fine. Just the customer service in latter years has been a great big pile of poop.

M.

 

[edesignuk]

They simply have to. The device requires data, and lots of it. If there is not a suitable plan the whole thing will flop before it`s even got started.

 

[liketom]

They simply have to. The device requires data, and lots of it. If there is not a suitable plan the whole thing will flop before it`s even got started.

yes that's what i'm thinking too


and before anyone ask's i'll jump in and ask first

"will my super duper hacked activation US of A with non 3G iPhone that i bough off the bay of E, work on 02 ? "

err No would be my guess

 

[Piarco]

They simply have to. The device requires data, and lots of it. If there is not a suitable plan the whole thing will flop before it`s even got started.

Agreed. The current data plans are a bit of a joke, but I <3 O2 and I'm chuffed that they got the deal. iPhone for me then... without the pain of having to switch to the likes of Vodafone.
I'm all for a good call/text plan with unlimited data and I'll quite happily throw up to £50 a month to get it.

and before anyone ask's i'll jump in and ask first

"will my super duper hacked activation US of A with non 3G iPhone that i bough off the bay of E, work on 02 ? "

err No would be my guess

I think you'll be proven correct... at least for the short term before some smart alec gets their hacking on...

 

[Applespider]

I believe that one of Apple's requirements (that was apparently a sticking point) was the requirement of a sensible data plan... so here's hoping.

I'm due an upgrade in the next month but kinda want to see what the iPhone offer is before I go for something else...

 

[DeathChill]

yes that's what i'm thinking too


and before anyone ask's i'll jump in and ask first

"will my super duper hacked activation US of A with non 3G iPhone that i bough off the bay of E, work on 02 ? "

err No would be my guess

Well I do believe people already have their iPhones running on O2 in the UK with the Turbo SIM method and hardware unlocks.

 

[liketom]

Well I do believe people already have their iPhones running on O2 in the UK with the Turbo SIM method and hardware unlocks.

yes but i would think that 02 will have a iPhone tariff only and only for people who buy it from them - and Apple may have a few nasty tricks of there own

 

[dalvin200]

its almost definately O2..

and mobileshop.com even had a potential release date of Sat Dec 15th yesterday!!

i just want to know what the contract options and pricing will be .. oh.. and also if it's 3G or not 3G

 

[PowerFullMac]

O2 rocks! I just hope I can get a Pay & Go iPhone, im not signing any contracts and paying monthly fees.

 

[edesignuk]

O2 rocks! I just hope I can get a Pay & Go iPhone, im not signing any contracts and paying monthly fees.

Have fun paying for your data usage on pay as you go

 

[liketom]

Have fun paying for your data usage on pay as you go

PAY as you talk from 02 costs;



Standard calls1 Daytime (Mon-Fri) 35p
Evening & Weekends 10p
O2 mobiles Daytime (Mon-Fri) 20p
Evening & Weekends 10p
Other UK network mobiles Daytime (Mon-Fri) 50p
Evening & Weekends 30p
Video calls 50p
Text message2 12p per message
Picture message3 25p per message
Voicemail 901 10p per call
WAP via 915000 or +44 7712927927 10p
GPRS WAP4 £3 per MB
i-mode®4 £3 per MB
O2 Customer Service (4445 or 08705 678 678) 25p per call from O2 mobile
O2 Directories 118402 60p (minimum charge 60p)
1200 Trafficline™ 45p
International calls from UK £1.50 or buy the International Caller Bolt On
International text message 20p per message
Premium Rate numbers from 80p
0500, 0505, 055, 056, 080, 082 15p
07744 / 07755 numbers 25p
070 numbers 50p
0844/0845/0870 numbers 25p
0871 numbers 35p

 

[edesignuk]

PAY as you talk from 02 costs;

GPRS WAP4 £3 per MB
i-mode®4 £3 per MB

Ouch.

 

[Piarco]

I believe that one of Apple's requirements (that was apparently a sticking point) was the requirement of a sensible data plan... so here's hoping.

I'm due an upgrade in the next month but kinda want to see what the iPhone offer is before I go for something else...

A Nokia with a suicidal joystick?

 

[PowerFullMac]

My O2 Pay & Go gives my 1MB free data and 300 free texts if I top up £10 a month. If I top up £20 I get 500 texts, top up £30 I get 1000 texts. OR... if the O2 computer goes wrong I get 500 free texts for £10

 

[Piarco]

My O2 Pay & Go gives my 1MB free data and 300 free texts if I top up £10 a month. If I top up £20 I get 500 texts, top up £30 I get 1000 texts. OR... if the O2 computer goes wrong I get 500 free texts for £10

But 1MB of data isn't going to get you anywhere (not talking about free texts) you'll use that up fairly quickly if you use Safari. Unless you only intend to use the Safari/Mail aspects when attached to a wireless network, you'll definitely want an unlimited data plan. But then I guess some people only will use their web functions when attached to a wifi connection...

But I don't think a PAYG iPhone is on the cards for quite some time - the contracts are too much of a cash cow for Apple. Remember they get 10% of all iPhone associated revenue, and contracts guarantee that...

 

[paulinbognor]

shame 02's got it but providing Apple has made sure there are decent data plans we SHOULD be ok.

Wont there be a UK unlocked one though? I thought there was something about in the UK phones must be able to be unlocked?

 

[Nicolasdec]

I just got my 3G phone (n95 from o2) And i dont think i can go back to EDGE (Its to slooooooow).

 

[emotion]

I just got my 3G phone (n95 from o2) And i dont think i can go back to EDGE (Its to slooooooow).

Apart from major cities 3G is far from ubiquitous (look at O2's coverage map, I did and was very surprised). You're better off with EDGE there and wifi in the cities.

Based on that I'd say it's highly likely the UK phone will be the same, more or less, as the US model.

I think we might see tomorrow.

 

[Nicolasdec]

is EDGE 2.5G because my N95 is 3.5G (HSDPA)??

 

[Osarkon]

My O2 Pay & Go gives my 1MB free data and 300 free texts if I top up £10 a month. If I top up £20 I get 500 texts, top up £30 I get 1000 texts. OR... if the O2 computer goes wrong I get 500 free texts for £10

Hey my Orange Pay & Go gives me that exact same deal!

How odd.

 

[emotion]

is EDGE 2.5G because my N95 is 3.5G (HSDPA)??

EDGE is nowhere near HSDPA in terms of speed. UNless you've got no 3G signal (80% of UK), then I'd rather EDGE than 3G.

Of course the N95 has it all in terms of specs. The real point here is that it may have good connectivity but I'm not sure it's there in terms of usability in the same way the iPhone is.

As I'm sure you know.

ps. Do you know your sig says that you have a 15 foot macbook?

 

[prisoner54]

spinal tap

ps. Do you know your sig says that you have a 15 foot macbook?

ha! that is the EXACT problem that happens in This is Spinal Tap! leading to the 14 inch high Stonehenge on stage. made me laugh anyway.

 

[72930]

ha! that is the EXACT problem that happens in This is Spinal Tap! leading to the 14 inch high Stonehenge on stage. made me laugh anyway.

Its the EXACT OPPOSITE problem to that in This is Spinal Tap (the film was absolutely brillopads by the way)