Apple's iPhone abroad: Orange UK to sell; China debut in October

[AppleInsider]

When O2's exclusive contract for the iPhone expires this year, Orange will also offer the handset in the U.K.; and China Unicom will offer Apple's iPhone for $732.50 on October 1.

Orange UK to sell iPhone

Under a new agreement, both the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS will be available to Orange U.K. customers by the end of 2009. Price and availability have not yet been announced.

"Orange, which has the largest 3G network covering more people in the UK than any other operator, will sell iPhone in all Orange direct channels including Orange shops, the Orange webshop and Orange telesales channels, as well as selected high street partners," the company said. "A pre-registration site for customers to log their interest has been launched at www.Orange.co.uk/iPhone."

Orange, owned by France Telecom, said it now offers the handset in 28 countries and territories. Orange already offers the iPhone in the company's home country of France. The exclusive deal with Telefonica's O2 is set to expire later this year.

Earlier this year, reports suggested the British T-Mobile was also negotiating to sell the iPhone. A proposed merger between T-Mobile and Orange was put on the table earlier this month.

iPhone to hit China October 1

Official details on the impending launch of the iPhone in China are beginning to surface, as Reuters has revealed that the handset will launch October 1 for a price of 5,000 yuan, or $732.50. Which model and capacity of the phone that price would receive was not said.

"The high price tag may force buyers of the popular handsets to sign up for subsidised packages carrying lower handset prices but also longer-term contract commitments, as competition heats up in China's recently reformed telecoms sector," the report said.

The company plans to launch its 3G network the same day that the iPhone is available. China Unicom will offer eight plans ranging from 126 yuan to 886 yuan per month, and subsidies will be available for those who sign up for a contract.

In August, Apple and China Unicom reached a three-year deal to sell the iPhone. The new hardware model approved by China's State Radio Regulatory Commission excludes Wi-Fi.

Unlike other agreements worldwide, the deal between Apple and China Unicom is not an exclusive one. Reports have suggested that the handset maker has now turned its attention to China Mobile, the world's largest wireless carrier, for a possible deal.

[MacFinder]

The first post is mine!

732.50$ in China? That's unbelievable !!!

[akf2000]

At last the possibility of being freed from O2's useless 3G network!

[parky]

Originally Posted by MacFinder

The first post is mine!

732.50$ in China? That's unbelievable !!!

Have you seen the UK non contract prices?

3G (8GB) = £342.50 = $542

3GS (16GB) = £440.40 = $697

3GS (32GB) = £538.30 = $852

So the China price depends on which model is being sold.

[parky]

Originally Posted by akf2000

At last the possibility of being freed from O2's useless 3G network!

I just hope that at the end of our O2 contracts we can get the PAC code and transfer our handset to Orange. If the handset is still tied to O2 then that would be bad.

[kotatsu]

Originally Posted by parky

I just hope that at the end of our O2 contracts we can get the PAC code and transfer our handset to Orange. If the handset is still tied to O2 then that would be bad.

What would be the advantage in moving to Orange? I get 5 bars of 3G in any city centre I'm in, so I don't really see a need to move?

Unless Orange are cheaper I guess, or will unblock/uncensor BBC iPlayer. Whatever the case I'll certainly be ditching O2's insanely expensive contract when it expires and go with the £10 a month data only option.

[parky]

Originally Posted by kotatsu

What would be the advantage in moving to Orange? I get 5 bars of 3G in any city centre I'm in, so I don't really see a need to move?

Unless Orange are cheaper I guess, or will unblock/uncensor BBC iPlayer. Whatever the case I'll certainly be ditching O2's insanely expensive contract when it expires and go with the £10 a month data only option.

I barely get a 3G signal at home, which is not great.
Orange have a much better coverage in my area.
Hopefully prices / tariffs will be better.
I would just like the option to move IF the Orange deal looks good.

[teckstud]

Does the Chinese iPhone include MMS?

[teckstud]

That's rather pricey considering it's made there& no trans-pacific shipping costs.

[akf2000]

Originally Posted by parky

I barely get a 3G signal at home, which is not great.
Orange have a much better coverage in my area.
Hopefully prices / tariffs will be better.
I would just like the option to move IF the Orange deal looks good.

Yeah Orange (and soon T-Mobile/ Orange) has unparalleled network coverage. I'm glad I didn't extend my contract and bought an unsubsidised 3GS, just hope porting is allowed.

[rheuter]

Originally Posted by teckstud

That's rather pricey considering it's made there& no trans-pacific shipping costs.

You didn't know there is VAT in China do you?

[Rokken]

That $732.50 is the price of 3G (8GB). I seriously doubt many Chinese will buy these crippled iPhones with such a price hike instead of buying unlocked and much more cheaper iPhones in Hong Kong.

[retroneo]

Originally Posted by rheuter

You didn't know there is VAT in China do you?

Yes, but that's more expensive than a 16GB 3GS in the UK with the massive VAT plus larger margins...

It's even more expensive than an outright officially unlocked handset in Australia too!

[ivan.rnn01]

Yup. It happens to be a bit more difficult, than to cry the economy maturity in the forum board, but I won't be much surprised, if iPhones sell all right there.

[retroneo]

Originally Posted by Rokken

That $732.50 is the price of 3G (8GB). I seriously doubt many Chinese will buy these crippled iPhones with such a price hike instead of buying unlocked and much more cheaper iPhones in Hong Kong.

Yeah, it puts mainland China as one of the more expensive countries for iPhones.... More expensive than the Hong Kong, UK, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore... (the only countries I know the prices outright of, and those are all officially unlocked!!)

The officially unlocked ones in the wealthier Chinese province of Hong Kong are cheaper (?!?!?)

It doesn't make sense. They have no reason to hike the price of unsubsidised phones, considering there is no other FDD-UMTS network in China for it to operate on. Plus no-one outside china would want to buy one of these handsets as they have no WiFi.

Maybe the Reuters report is wrong, or the carrier has some amazing subsidies planned.

[retroneo]

Originally Posted by teckstud

Does the Chinese iPhone include MMS?

Of course it does. All 80+ official iPhone networks had MMS from day one except AT&T.

[markb]

Well the only thing I can see that would stop a complete meltdown of a network launched on the same day is the ludicrous price.

Launching the 3G the same day might be cute but....

Especially considering they have the wifi disabled so all network traffic will have to flow through the 3G connection.

[MacFinder]

Originally Posted by parky

Have you seen the UK non contract prices?

3G (8GB) = £342.50 = $542

3GS (16GB) = £440.40 = $697

3GS (32GB) = £538.30 = $852

So the China price depends on which model is being sold.

Have you seen the USA prices ?
The cheapest 3G is 99$, the cheapest 3GS is 199$.
That's very strange!

[Amorya]

Originally Posted by MacFinder

Have you seen the USA prices ?
The cheapest 3G is 99$, the cheapest 3GS is 199$.
That's very strange!

You're quoting the contract prices. On a contract, they're free in the UK.

Amorya

[Shaun, UK]

Originally Posted by parky

Have you seen the UK non contract prices?

3G (8GB) = £342.50 = $542

3GS (16GB) = £440.40 = $697

3GS (32GB) = £538.30 = $852

So the China price depends on which model is being sold.

I was going to buy a 3GS on PAYG until I saw the price in my local O2 store. Even the store rep said they were way too expensive but as long as they are selling well I can't see any reductions anytime soon. Hopefully this deal with Orange will lead to lower prices in the new year.

[Ireland]

Originally Posted by parky

Have you seen the UK non contract prices?

3G (8GB) = £342.50 = $542

3GS (16GB) = £440.40 = $697

3GS (32GB) = £538.30 = $852

So the China price depends on which model is being sold.

Cheaper than Ireland then.

[Mr Underhill]

Choice is good!!

[B747]

I'm guessing it will be going on sale on the 10th of November then? That was when the 2G was originally launched in the UK.

I've signed up for the updates. My Dad wants one and Orange would be more suitable. I hope this encourages better prices, but I won't hold my breath!

[Zoolook]

Originally Posted by akf2000

At last the possibility of being freed from O2's useless 3G network!

Funny how Apple seemed to make deals with all the networks that couldn't cope with the iPhone, and all the 'old' established companies - the ones that are least "Apple-like".

For those who don't know, O2 is the rebranded British Telecom wireless (similar to Cingular/ATT)

[Bruce Robbie]

If Orange can ensure that their tethering tariffs are reasonable then here is one customer who will be looking to switch and possibility upgrade to 3GS when the O2 contract ends in Dec. Or shall I hang on for iPhone 4GS GT in June.

[SpinDrift]

Although I was an Orange customer for years before the original iPhone, I'm now quite happy on O2. I don't see any reason to change back to Orange, especially considering Orange's network is not as good in my area. Having more than one provider in the UK can only be a good thing though. It will drive down contract prices and help provide more/better services for everyone.

[Blastdoor]

So if Apple goes multi-carrier in every country but the US then I think that says a lot about Verizon (and nothing good).

[battiato1981]

[/QUOTE]iPhone to hit China October 1
... The company plans to launch its 3G network the same day that the iPhone is available. China Unicom will offer eight plans ranging from 126 yuan to 886 yuan per month, and subsidies will be available for those who sign up for a contract. [/QUOTE]

So from what I've read elsewhere, the subsidies on the most expensive plan would bring the cost of the phone down to somewhere around $100 ... but no subsidy at all available for the $18 month contract ... which makes I guess sense. That is a mighty cheap monthly rate. A lot more convoluted than any other plan that I've seen for the iPhone but it does give people a lot of choice. Perhaps the marketplace there demands that ...

Any one know how the monthly rates compare to other smartphone plans in China?

[RichL]

Originally Posted by Zoolook

Funny how Apple seemed to make deals with all the networks that couldn't cope with the iPhone, and all the 'old' established companies - the ones that are least "Apple-like".

I think it's the other way around. Only the most desperate carriers were willing to meet Apple's original terms of no carrier branding and the revenue sharing model. O2 knew they couldn't compete on price or network quality, so they went for the most attractive handsets. It's a strategy that's worked.

For those who don't know, O2 is the rebranded British Telecom wireless (similar to Cingular/ATT)

O2 have been owned by Telefonica for a couple of years now. BT span O2 off in 2004. Strangely, BT still operate as virtual network operator in the UK.

I'm happy to see O2 lose their exclusive. O2 coverage and reliability is appalling in London. What's the point in owning a smartphone if it can never connect to the network? I'd probably even be willing to pay more for the iPhone on T-Orange!

[ivan.rnn01]

Funny is how shallow human memories are. Nobody remembers anymore how doubtful iPhone success was and how sceptic the whole mankind was about -- ummm -- Apple's "phone" -- LOL -- and Apple's strategies in the domain. All that was here just less than 3 years back.

[Rokken]

Originally Posted by battiato1981

So from what I've read elsewhere, the subsidies on the most expensive plan would bring the cost of the phone down to somewhere around $100 ... but no subsidy at all available for the $18 month contract ... which makes I guess sense. That is a mighty cheap monthly rate. A lot more convoluted than any other plan that I've seen for the iPhone but it does give people a lot of choice. Perhaps the marketplace there demands that ...

Any one know how the monthly rates compare to other smartphone plans in China?

It's expensive as hell compared to other plans. Many I know have monthly plans under $2 so you figure.

[hill60]

...just announced.

http://shop.vodafone.co.uk/shop/mobi...ones-iPhoneReg

[adamthecarny]

Originally Posted by hill60

...just announced.

http://shop.vodafone.co.uk/shop/mobi...ones-iPhoneReg

Originally Posted by akf2000

At last the possibility of being freed from O2's useless 3G network!

Originally Posted by parky

I just hope that at the end of our O2 contracts we can get the PAC code and transfer our handset to Orange. If the handset is still tied to O2 then that would be bad.

What do people think the chances are for officially unlocking UK bought iPhones once these deals are implemented?

Will it be an enforcable request for me to ask O2 to unlock my 2G UK iPhone so I can take it back home to Australia? Or is it more likely that it will only apply to newer iPhones?

It probably doesnt matter but for interests sake I'm currently on a non-iPhone plan with O2.

A.

[samab]

Originally Posted by adamthecarny

What do people think the chances are for officially unlocking UK bought iPhones once these deals are implemented?

Will it be an enforcable request for me to ask O2 to unlock my 2G UK iPhone so I can take it back home to Australia? Or is it more likely that it will only apply to newer iPhones?

It probably doesnt matter but for interests sake I'm currently on a non-iPhone plan with O2.

A.

There are no requirements for UK carriers to release unlocking codes to you, period.

Multiple UK carriers selling the iphones --- means multiple UK carriers selling simlocked iphones.

[adamthecarny]

Originally Posted by samab

There are no requirements for UK carriers to release unlocking codes to you, period.

Multiple UK carriers selling the iphones --- means multiple UK carriers selling simlocked iphones.

As a worst case scenario I agree with you. However the situation you describe does not fit the pattern of what is actually occuring in the countries that have multiple carriers selling the iPhone (albeit from day one).

What I was more interested in was people's opinion as to what is most likely going to occur, for interests sake more than anything else.

A.

[SGSStateStudent]

Originally Posted by teckstud

Does the Chinese iPhone include MMS?

If China Telecoms offer it, then yes. If not, no.

[hill60]

It would depend on the laws in the UK, the places where they can be unlocked have a legal requirement to do so.

Originally Posted by adamthecarny

As a worst case scenario I agree with you. However the situation you describe does not fit the pattern of what is actually occuring in the countries that have multiple carriers selling the iPhone (albeit from day one).

What I was more interested in was people's opinion as to what is most likely going to occur, for interests sake more than anything else.

A.

[samab]

Originally Posted by adamthecarny

As a worst case scenario I agree with you. However the situation you describe does not fit the pattern of what is actually occuring in the countries that have multiple carriers selling the iPhone (albeit from day one).

What I was more interested in was people's opinion as to what is most likely going to occur, for interests sake more than anything else.

A.

It's only going to get worse, period --- with the T-Mobile and Orange merger.

There is a very big dis-connect between the newspaper reporting of losing iphone exclusivity in American and European newspapers.

The FIRST thing you read from American newspapers about what would happen when AT&T loses their iphone exclusivity --- is AT&T will reduce the iphone subsidies when the new iphone launches with multiple carriers (often to be reported as Verizon). European newspapers talk about the possibility of iphone price wars when new carriers start selling the iphone.

Even in the best scenario, the price war will be temporary --- on the current iphone. Then when the new iphone model comes out next summer, you are going to see the price of the new iphone goes up. Handset subsidies on the iphone will go down.

[Amorya]

Originally Posted by hill60

It would depend on the laws in the UK, the places where they can be unlocked have a legal requirement to do so.

It's not a legal requirement in the UK. However, it is common practice: I've never found another carrier to refuse an unlocking code once you're out of contract. Once there's iPhone competition, maybe they'll start doing them to avoid bad press? That may be wishful thinking…