USA price vs UK - is this right?

[arambol]

Ok, I'm from the UK but in New York next weekend and plan to pick up a new Macbook Pro and save a bit of cash.

I already have an iphone but I just noticed the price of the iPhone on the US Apple store as being $99 3G and $199 3GS.

In the UK the same are the equivalent of $567 and $730.

Is this right or am I missing something?

Couldn't I just buy a US iphone and use with my already existing 02 contract in the UK? I have a 1st gen iphone and a 3GS for $199 would be a very tempting upgrade.

Thanks

 

[inf]

Ok, I'm from the UK but in New York next weekend and plan to pick up a new Macbook Pro and save a bit of cash.

I already have an iphone but I just noticed the price of the iPhone on the US Apple store as being $99 3G and $199 3GS.

In the UK the same are the equivalent of $567 and $730.

Is this right or am I missing something?

Couldn't I just buy a US iphone and use with my already existing 02 contract in the UK? I have a 1st gen iphone and a 3GS for $199 would be a very tempting upgrade.

Thanks

You would need to sign a contract with AT&T to get those prices. And AT&T won't sell you contract unless you have a US citizenship.

 

[Scylax]

No, that's for a contract phone not PAYG.

I'm assuming the UK prices you quote are for PAYG (I'm in the UK too, but frankly I can't be bothered to check the exchange rate just now!). To get the phone in the US at the price you quote you will have to take out a long contract with AT&T, which is useless here in the UK. I'm afraid I can't see any sense whatsoever in doing that unless you are going to spend the huge majority of the next two years in the USA (if you are I envy you ). Sorry!

 

[arambol]

Ahh, so the cheap US price is a contract price. Ok I see.

So can you buy an iphone in the US contract free? and if so would they be similar to the Pay As You Go (contract free) price in the UK or cheaper?

 

[nick9191]

In the Apple Online Store in the UK, the pay as you go version is sold. In the US online store, the contract version is sold.

Go to O2.co.uk to see the iPhone UK prices with contract. I believe the 16gb 3GS costs £87 ($150 US), with a 2 year £35p/m contract of course.

 

[ramases]

I guess that the att.com faq will answer your questions

Q. It sounds like I don't need a contract to buy iPhone 3GS. Can I buy it and use it on another carrier?
A. We do offer no-commitment pricing, however, iPhones sold in the United States are configured to work only with the wireless services provided by AT&T. Here's the no-commitment pricing for both devices:

iPhone 3GS (16 GB): $599
iPhone 3GS (32 GB): $699
iPhone 3G (8 GB): $499

Also, support in the UK would be an issue, as apple/o2 would only replace the phone with a UK model should the need arise.

 

[RobMoss]

Also, support in the UK would be an issue, as apple/o2 would only replace the phone with a UK model should the need arise.

I might be wrong, but I don't think they'd replace it at all, as it's not a UK phone.