Long anticipated, longer rumored, the iPhone is finally set to hit UK’s Orange network this November 10. Carphone Warehouse and Phones4U are both expected to offer the Orange version of the Apple iPhone, though there’s no word yet on pricing (they’re — sigh — looking to “add value” rather than “reduce cost”).
With O2 exclusivity ended (but the iPhone still for sale on their network), Vodafone ramping up soon as well, and rumors of 3 next year as well, so UK iPhone lovers will have what US readers still lack — a huge amount of carrier choice.
Orange claims 200,000 registrations on their iPhone “interest” page. Are you one of them?
Pop-quiz: You’re O2 and you just lost iPhone exclusivity in the UK, and now have to compete with both Orange and Vodafone for users’ iPounds. What do you do? Why, tell them you still have the iPhone… and are getting the Palm Pre?!
We’re proud that we’ve been able to offer an exclusive iPhone deal to our 20 million customers for the last two years. We always knew that iPhone exclusivity was for a limited period of time, but our relationship with Apple continues and will be an ongoing success. We have over 1 million iPhone customers and they remain very important to us.
We aim to offer our customers the best devices on the market, including becoming the home of Smartphones and we are really pleased to now add another device in the Palm Pre. We also offer award-winning customer service and benefits, which is why more people choose O2 than any other network in the UK.
What say you UK readers, if you’re thinking of taking your iPhone to another network, will offering you the Palm Pre change your mind?
Vodafone has just announced that they will begin selling Apple’s iPhone 3G and 3GS in the UK and Ireland in Early 2010.
This comes on the heels of a similar announcement by Orange UK, and means iPhone users across the pond will soon have 3 carriers battling it out for their love and data affection. And hopefully prices will reflect that.
So, UK readers, with O2, Orange, and Vodafone all on the table, who’re you going to go with?
Orange UK is set to start offering the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS according to ITProPortal. Previously exclusive to O2 in the UK, that deal is said to end on Oct. 9, clearing the way for some competition in the UK market. (At least beyond T-Mobile smuggling in a few units from Germany…)
Orange was previously the exclusive French iPhone provider until Bouygues-Telecom got into the game, and these latest deals seem to indicate Apple is serious about increasing their customer base…. at least outside the US. (Though it’s admittedly easier internationally where almost all providers are GSM and on similar frequencies).
Rumors about Orange getting the iPhone hit TiPb back in May, but there remain no details yet on when and how much. If you’re in the UK, however, let us know if you’re planning to make the jump to Orange when you can.
The Register, (via Engadget Mobile) is reporting that T-Mobile UK is slipping unlocked iPhones to high-value customers in an attempt to keep them from switching to the exclusive UK iPhone carrier, O2.
It seems if you do indeed appear to be a big spender on T-Mobile, you just need to find a willing customer service rep, threaten to take your money and go to O2, and they’ll slip you an unlocked iPhone (smuggled over from T-Mobile Germany, perhaps?). Apparently, however, they’re limiting this to 150 units a week so as not to be too overt — or called out to joust by angry O2 bigwigs.
Very brand-conscious start time aside, looks like UK customers on O2 now know what time the queue ends and the buying begins…
UPDATE: Sounds like the second poster, below, might be there just in case a store sells out and wants to inform customers. Thanks to everyone in the comments for logic-ing this out!
Due to high demand we have run out of the iPhone 3G S
With AT&T US and Rogers Canada having already weighed in, TUAW now brings word on what the chaps across the pond can expect for the iPhone 3G S, and it’s, well… a lot of numbers, innit?
Check out their full post for all the details on Monthly and Pay & Go Plans, but highlights include:
32GB iPhone 3G S will range between £274.23 (~$444US) and £96.89 (~$158US) for an 18-month contract and £175.19 (~$283) and £0 for a 24-month contract. Contract prices range between £29.38 (~$48US) and £73.41 (~$120US) for 18-month terms and £34.26 (~$55US) and £73.41 (~$120US) for 24-month terms. All plans include unlimited UK data and WiFi.
So, who’s for a bit of a line up on Regent Street June 19 then?
A couple days ago we mentioned that Orange UK might be in the running to become the second (after O2) carrier to get the iPhone in the United Kingdom. Today comes word that Vodafone (think of it as Verizon with a fancy accent and GSM goodness) may also be splitting the Isles wide open. According to Mobile Tech Addicts:
Now we have discovered a Vodafone portal designed for the iPhone. It is basically a portal that gives you access to news but the question is why would Vodafone go to these lengths if they weren’t about to get the iPhone.
The site points out that, of course, it could just be a smart move from Vodafone to woo unlocked, or soon to be unlocked, iPhone owners off O2 and onto their pipes.
Time will tell, but for our UK readers, is Vodafone a better option for you than O2 or Orange UK?
Updated: To address some of the comments, we edited out the URL field to protect the source, but it was not the public facing web address mentioned below. It was local intranet address. Of course, anything is fake-able, so we’ll just have to wait and see if — ever — Apple and Orange UK make an announcement… or not.
Seems strange to be writing about iPhone 3G launches when there are so many next-generation iPhone rumors flying around now, doesn’t it? Then again, there have been rumors about Orange UK getting the iPhone going back to the early days of iPhone 3G. Now, however, a helpful tipster has stumbled across what might be the first step towards confirmation:
iPhone 3G has shown up on internal systems at Orange UK (see the above pic), something that typically happens 6-8 weeks before a handset starts shipping on the network.
O2 has been exclusively carrying the iPhone in the UK since just after the original iPhone was first released, but competition is a Good Thing, right?
Any of our UK mates think iPhone on Orange is brilliant, yeah?
