By Steve Ranger, 18 September 2007 16:21
Apple has confirmed O2 as the exclusive UK carrier for the iPhone, which will make its UK debut on 9 November.
Sale of the handset will be restricted to Apple's retail and online outlets, O2 stores and The Carphone Warehouse. The 8GB device will retail for £269, with three tariffs from £35 to £55 per month all on an 18-month contract, including 'unlimited' mobile data.
Speaking at the unveiling of the deal at Apple's Regent Street store (pictured above), Apple CEO Steve Jobs said customer satisfaction is higher on the iPhone than any other product in Apple's history. He added that after talking to all the mobile networks in the UK, Apple chose the one that "felt like home".
Photo credit: Steve Ranger
Comments
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1. Rob
Jobs is so full of crap, 3G smartphones are fine if the battery is of a good standard, mine will last a good day and half before needing a charge and that's permanently connected to the internet, 90% of the time via 3G. Doesn't say much for the iPhone either, it has 2 batteries that you can't get at.
Perhaps some of those "girlfriends" felt quite lucky they didn't marry. From what I've heard a couple of operators turned Apple down due to the contract and how much cut Apple wanted from the iPhone tariff. I get a feeling Apple are still trying to re-coup money on the iPhone project, they sound quite desperate to claw as much cash as possible from the user, all in on an O2 contract and your looking at £900 for the phone with anything from 10 to 40% from the tariff going to Apple (which it looks like O2 have passed directly onto the customer by upping the tariff a little compared to it's equivalent).
As a phone deal in the UK it stinks and the technology is out of date, EDGE indeed, bet O2 are hating the fact they have to implement this, talk about being red faced in front of your investors.
Shame Apple came up with iPhone, if it had been Sony Ericsson, we'd probably be looking at the Carlsberg of smartphones, instead of out of date status symbol phone with flashy interface.
2. anonymous
Can I take it you don't want one then?
3. Don Tregartha
But Rob, from what I can gather the unit drops in and out of conection as required. I had a go with an iphone at the weekend, a chum was over from the states. The form, the OS, the sheer coolness of the interface is going to make all the other issues seem a bit irrelevant for many users. Its handling of email and messaging makes me want to shred my crapberry and get in line for the iphone.