UK users whose iPhone 3G contracts end this coming Jan...

[226896]

...what will you be doing? I'm tempted to renew, but I don't want to renew only to find Apple release a new iPhone this summer. In a way I'm tempted to get a Palm Pre on contract just to have a phone that's new and different, and to experience the warm fuzzy feeling of using a new device, but I know that I'd miss the iPhone a few days later and then regret it; badly.

So what will you guys be doing? I need some ideas.

 

[bigscotal]

Good question, I am in exactly the same boat, as are many others obviously.

To be honest, when the 3GS was released, I breathed a big sigh of relief. I thought it was going to be a bigger improvement on the 3G than it is, or perhaps even change physical shape/size a little which would have made it obvious that you had the old model. Before all the 3GS owners kick off, yes I know it is an improvement over the 3G, it just isn't enough in my opinion. (which I'm allowed!)

I thought I would be sat there trying to figure out a way to upgrade early, but instead found myself not really caring. I'm therefore quite happy to just keep my 3G until next summer and see what comes along then.

 

[AppleMatt]

Mine's up in December to renew, January to end:
- First I'm going to change to the Simplicity tariff and add the web bolt-on, because it's a lot cheaper.

Then I'm going to wait until June and see what happens. Two reasons:
- Apple have released a new iPhone in summer for the last three years.
- The competition in the UK (Orange, Vodaphone, Tesco) will have settled by then, so I can be pretty confident the tariffs won't be tweaked around and can make a good decision.

AppleMatt

 

[andyhargreaves]

Just had an interesting conversation with an O2 CS.

She was saying that there are no incentives to upgrade to 3GS with them - you would have to pay the same prices for the handsets and contract as new customers (http://shop.o2.co.uk/update/paymonth.html), and would therefore have no incentive not to move to Orange.

She did 'go and check with someone', who told her about a new iPhone simplicity tariff. Basically it is the same as the £19.58 30-day simplicity tariff (http://shop.o2.co.uk/sim-only-simplicity) with unlimited web bolt-on, but with iPhone-specific features enabled, such as Visual Voicemail.

I think this will be the best option until Apple make the next move......

 

[OllyW]

Mine's up in December to renew, January to end:
- First I'm going to change to the Simplicity tariff and add the web bolt-on, because it's a lot cheaper.

Then I'm going to wait until June and see what happens. Two reasons:
- Apple have released a new iPhone in summer for the last three years.
- The competition in the UK (Orange, Vodaphone, Tesco) will have settled by then, so I can be pretty confident the tariffs won't be tweaked around and can make a good decision.

AppleMatt

I was planning to do the same but as my iPhone is now unlocked I'll take a look at the SIM only deals from the other networks first.

 

[01jamcon]

I'm gonna do exactly the same as AppleMatt's doing, and that new iPhone-specific Simplicity option sounds interesting, can't believe they haven't had that until now though.

I don't want to miss out if Apple actually produces an amazing iPhone "4g" but I'm not too tied to the platform and would probably switch to an Android phone if the next iPhone isn't completely drool-worthy.

 

[TwoBytes]

iPhone simplicity tariff

She did 'go and check with someone', who told her about a new iPhone simplicity tariff. Basically it is the same as the £19.58 30-day simplicity tariff (http://shop.o2.co.uk/sim-only-simplicity) with unlimited web bolt-on, but with iPhone-specific features enabled, such as Visual Voicemail.

I think this will be the best option until Apple make the next move......

Any more info on this? iPhone simplicity tariff when will this come out? is this rumour or fact?

 

[andyhargreaves]

Any more info on this? iPhone simplicity tariff when will this come out? is this rumour or fact?

The CS rep I spoke to told me it was available now, although I cannot upgrade (or switch to this tariff) until 10th December. If you are eligible I suggest calling them and asking for it.

 

[RA19]

The CS rep I spoke to told me it was available now, although I cannot upgrade (or switch to this tariff) until 10th December. If you are eligible I suggest calling them and asking for it.

Is the iphone simplicity tariff just for previous contract phones? My son has a PAYG model with simplicity tariff but doesn't get Visual Voicemail. I would change to this type of tariff when my contract expires in January.

 

[yetanotherdave]

I've unlocked and am on a vodafone 30 rolling contract (600 minutes, unlimited txts, unlimited internet for £20pcm) .
I'm happy to wait till july to upgrade, (and I'll go with vodafone, their network is the only useable one where I work), I still love this phone, and can forgo the slightly better camera/speed and compass for a few more months.
Hopefully there'll be a 64Gb phone then, that would be awesome!

 

[paulcdb]

i just plan to drop to a payg tariff and top up £15 a month and get unlimited text and web.

Phones unlocked now so may even move to orange since i get full bars and 4g in my flat on the g1.

 

[andyhargreaves]

Is the iphone simplicity tariff just for previous contract phones? My son has a PAYG model with simplicity tariff but doesn't get Visual Voicemail. I would change to this type of tariff when my contract expires in January.

She didn't say. I'd give them a ring and ask, can't see why not!

 

[redgaz26]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 3_1_2 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/528.18 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile/7D11 Safari/528.16)

So if your staying on 02 can you renew in December or do you have to wait till your contracts up?

 

[andyhargreaves]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 3_1_2 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/528.18 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile/7D11 Safari/528.16)

So if your staying on 02 can you renew in December or do you have to wait till your contracts up?

Most customers can upgrade or switch to simplicity 30 days before renewal date. My contract is up on 10/01/10, therefore I can upgrade/switch on 10/12/09.

Some high-spending or corporate customers can, I believe, do this earlier.

If you wanted to move to another network you would have to wait until the end of your contract to port your number.

 

[bigandy]

...and would therefore have no incentive not to move to Orange.

Except for their utterly crap 750mb data allowance and (in my experience) customer service equivalent to being tortured by Jack Bauer...

Yeah o2 is sometimes a bit crap but at least I don't get the feeling I'm inconveniencing them by choosing to use them for my phone service.

 

[redgaz26]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 3_1_2 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/528.18 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile/7D11 Safari/528.16)

Think I'll phone them the day. Cheers for the info

 

[yetanotherdave]

Except for their utterly crap 750mb data allowance and (in my experience) customer service equivalent to being tortured by Jack Bauer...

Yeah o2 is sometimes a bit crap but at least I don't get the feeling I'm inconveniencing them by choosing to use them for my phone service.

unless their networks down, again, for the 3rd time that week, and "sir, we're working on it, no there wont be any refunds for us not providing the service you're paying for, what do you think this is, you should be grateful we even aknowledged the problem. Yes, that's right, a problem that other networks don't seem to have, what's your point?"

 

[steve-p]

Mine is unlocked now but I'll probably do nothing and carry on paying the same contract amount until the summer, when hopefully there will be a new iPhone with a choice of networks which I can take out another subsidised contract on. Basically I can't be bothered to do anything else in the meantime