News - iPhone floodgates open as Vodafone joins the party

[HEXUS]

Will we finally see competition for the revered Apple smartphone?

Read more.

[Arthran]

GAAAAAAAAAAAAARARAGHRGAH!

the only operator not yet announced, is the one i'm with!

[finlay666]

GAAAAAAAAAAAAARARAGHRGAH!

the only operator not yet announced, is the one i'm with!

O2 already have it
Orange (and t-mob) xmas
Vodafone new year
3 probably won't get it (and they suck lol)

[Infinite]

Kinda amusing since 3 is the only operator in Hong Kong with the iPhone.

[directhex]

I win, bitches: http://forums.hexus.net/1784720-post5.html

O2 had a contract for iPhone exclusivity with Apple which expired recently, so don't assume other networks won't see the thing too

[ConorfromOrange]

Hey all,

Cool news this week eh?

I'm an Orange employee (don't want to sound like a salesman!) but worth pointing out that we'll be stocking the iPhone THIS year, and that our 3G Network covers more people in the UK than any other network...

Let the games begin!

Conor

[Lee H]

I'll awaiting handset pricing and silly tarrif prices before commenting futher

I'm lucky in that I got a 2G iphone and whacked a PAYG sim into it. For £15 quid a month I get unlimited calls and texts to O2 and also out of that £15, £10 is taken for unlimited internet access.

Bargain if you ask me lol

[grizzla]

good news for sure, as long as their is no 'cartel' price fixing then we should seem some competitive pricing. I am on Orange now due to end contarct in November but unless they improve coverage where i live and work i will be changing to O2 in Nov or Vodafone nxt year...

[Lee H]

The thing is they've all got to kiss the rear of the 'jobs crew' in order to get the handsets.

I'm fearing that what we will see is a plethora of stupid prices for the handsets with a reasonable contract price for around 25 pounds, or alternatively a good price for the handset, or even given free but this is offset by rediculously priced tarrifs which are going to tie you into the provider for 18 months onwards.

We all know technology is progressing at a good rate at the moment and production costs of the handsets should have dropped down to reasonable rates by now.

So the question is, how much are Apple making per handset atm?

[Carlh]

Hey all,

Cool news this week eh?

I'm an Orange employee (don't want to sound like a salesman!) but worth pointing out that we'll be stocking the iPhone THIS year, and that our 3G Network covers more people in the UK than any other network...

Let the games begin!

Conor

Conor

I know your 3G network does have more coverage than anyone else as I am currently with Orange - however the data charges on the orange network arent that competitive any more.

Are there going to be any plans to do an unlimited data package similar to o2 ?

[maranello]

This is great news, I have always wanted an iphone but detest o2. When orange start selling them im hoping to get one.

[aceuk]

Unless Orange's tariffs all have "unlimited" data then I don't see why anyone would choose them over O2. Somehow I reckon they will give you 500MB data as standard reducing the monthly price of the phone by £5.00, but then charge you £5.00 if you want "unlimited" mobile Internet access thereby wiping out any savings compared to O2.

[directhex]

Conor

I know your 3G network does have more coverage than anyone else as I am currently with Orange - however the data charges on the orange network arent that competitive any more.

Are there going to be any plans to do an unlimited data package similar to o2 ?

Agreed - Orange is also very weak on WiFi (i.e. no hotspot access included with phone contracts), as well as having the smallest monthly data allowance on the market. Frankly, I don't think the current arrangement would support the iPhone. It has enough trouble with Android's always-on nature.

[directhex]

The thing is they've all got to kiss the rear of the 'jobs crew' in order to get the handsets.

I'm fearing that what we will see is a plethora of stupid prices for the handsets with a reasonable contract price for around 25 pounds, or alternatively a good price for the handset, or even given free but this is offset by rediculously priced tarrifs which are going to tie you into the provider for 18 months onwards.

We all know technology is progressing at a good rate at the moment and production costs of the handsets should have dropped down to reasonable rates by now.

So the question is, how much are Apple making per handset atm?

The iPhone costs more than a good laptop. A 16 gig 3GS is about £750 SIM-free (roughly £550 on O2 contract, where some or all of this cost is absorbed into the usual subsidy structures of line rental). I don't imagine it being vastly different on Voda or Orange - the handset's still gonna cost too damn much

[shaffaaf27]

does orange get the 3gs, but the main thing for me is the palm pres dis apointing pricing

[ConorfromOrange]

Conor

I know your 3G network does have more coverage than anyone else as I am currently with Orange - however the data charges on the orange network arent that competitive any more.

Are there going to be any plans to do an unlimited data package similar to o2 ?

As far as I know we have designed iPhone specific tariffs, due to be announced soon...