iPhone coming to Ireland next month without Visual Voicemail

[AppleInsider]

Wireless carrier O2 said last night that it has partnered with Apple Inc. to launch the iPhone in Ireland next month.

The multi-function touch-screen handset will be available in the region beginning March 14 in an 8GB model for €399 and a 16GB iPhone for €499, O2 said during its fiscal fourth quarter conference call.

Similar to distribution in the UK, the iPhone will be made available through the carrier's retail stores as well as Carphone Warehouse stores.

Customers will be able to select between three monthly tariffs (calling plans), starting with a €45 option that includes 175 anytime minutes and 100 text messages. A €65 tariff includes 350 anytime minutes and 150 text messages, while the high end tariff offers 700 minutes and 250 text messages for €100.

All of the tariffs require an 18-month agreement and none include unlimited data or Visual Voicemail at this time. Instead, all three include just 1GB of data transfer and a 15c per minute charge for checking messages.

Ireland is just the fifth country to see an official rollout of the Apple handset and the first of 2008, joining the United States (AT&T), UK (O2), France (Orange), and Germany (T-Mobile), which launched last year.



Interestingly, word of the iPhone's arrival in the region comes just one day after eagle-eyed enthusiasts spotted references to O2 and Ireland in the latest version of the iPhone's firmware. The same firmware also included references to T-Mobile Austria.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[BRussell]

1 GB of data per month?

[andreslucero]

Terrible plans, and no incentive to switch to O2 if there's another carrier you can use in Ireland with an unlocked iPhone.

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by andreslucero

Terrible plans, and no incentive to switch to O2 if there's another carrier you can use in Ireland with an unlocked iPhone.

Hell yeah! The Irish are getting screwed. This will later be known as The Irish Data Famine.

[markdregan]

I didn't expect to see the iPhone come to Ireland..
Disappointed with the price plans... And no visual voice mail? Whats the story with that?

I just bought a cracked iPhone last week and I'm toying with the idea of changing over to O2.. It's just hassle waiting for updates and cracking the software..

[eAi]

I guess the key thing to take from this is that Apple is willing to compromise and release without some of the signature features of the iPhone... Whether thats a good thing in the long run remains to be seen...

[markdregan]

1GB of data..
33Mb per day..

I wonder how much the average user would use per day?
Emails.. Internet browsing... Google Maps..

My gut feeling is that 1GB would be plenty of data usage.

[darngooddesign]

Didn't the UK carrier relent and offer unlimited data? At least they had the Cloud wifi to toss in as an incentive.

[freelander51]

The text for visual voicemail seems rather odd - isn't it ?

"Visual Voicemail is not currently supported"

Correct me if I am wrong - but wouldn't proper grammar be

"Visual voicemail is currently not supported"

As they said in Casino Royal "Isn't it amazing what you can do with Photoshop ?"

Maybe that explains the poor data bundle too

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by markdregan

1GB of data..
33Mb per day..

I wonder how much the average user would use per day?
Emails.. Internet browsing... Google Maps..

My gut feeling is that 1GB would be plenty of data usage.

That is up and down usage. So far I've used between ~3—10GB of data each month, according to the iPhone's usage info. I don't consider myself a heavy phone user (about 100-300 minutes per month) but I do use the data side quite extensively. It's a great way to pass the time. I can't imagine the horror if I had to watch my data usage.

[ascii]

Originally Posted by BRussell

1 GB of data per month?

Yes, it's laughably bad. But at least is shows Apple are willing to be flexible to get the iPhone in to new markets.

[Banalltv]

Well hot damn!

But the charges stink and 15c to check your messages is insulting. My money will stay where it belongs, in MY pocket, beside my perfectly good Nokia.

[Restalot]

I have three words for Apple on this...

Ca Na Da.

[ianmac47]

Is charging for checking voicemail a standard practice for Irish carriers? These seems absurd.

[Hattig]

Sounds like the iPhone in Ireland won't get getting EDGE (except maybe in the couple of urban areas) so they're trying to make sure that the 2G network doesn't get overloaded.

Also probably not worth implementing this on a 2.5G system if a 3G system is coming along.

I certainly wouldn't buy this if I was in Ireland. (1) it is expensive for nearly nothing, and (2) 3G iPhone coming soon that might not have these restrictions.

[markdregan]

Originally Posted by ianmac47

Is charging for checking voicemail a standard practice for Irish carriers? These seems absurd.

It's ridiculous.. O2 have been at this for years..
All other Irish carriers don't charge for voicemail..

[Banalltv]

Originally Posted by ianmac47

Is charging for checking voicemail a standard practice for Irish carriers? These seems absurd.

It used to be charged as a normal call to access voicemail but year or two back it became free.

I pay with a bill, I don't know what the story is for pre-pay.

[Bageljoey]

Originally Posted by Restalot

I have three words for Apple on this...

Ca Na Da.

Ok, I'll admit it.
I thought, what is this new slang phrase I don't know. I don't want to be late learning the new (though negative) w00t. (In my own defense, I thought you were referring to the Irish data plan prices.)

So I Googled it...

...Google is much smarter than I.

[mxsweb]

If they are doing it over there, I'm scare that Apple bend and let go Unlimited Data in Canada too.

Rogers still charges you $40/month for 0.5Mb in regular Blackberry plans.

In the other hand, they just launch unlimited MySpace or Facebook for $15/month... but they still prevent you to surf any other website.

Perhaps I shall mary an american woman and move south?

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by Restalot

I have three words for Apple on this...

Ca Na Da.

How about 3.34 people per kilometer squared. While a good deal of Canada isn't populated the population density seems to have a direct effect on cell company rates and desire to upgrade their network.

Though this doesn't explain Ireland with 58.46/km^2.

[jfanning]

Originally Posted by Banalltv

It used to be charged as a normal call to access voicemail but year or two back it became free.

I pay with a bill, I don't know what the story is for pre-pay.

Meteor is free on pre-pay, Tesco and O2 charge.

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by mxsweb

In the other hand, they just launch unlimited MySpace or Facebook for $15/month... but they still prevent you to surf any other website.

Not so much FaceBook, but MySpace is riddled with hyperlinked images. Are those still considered free?

[techno]

As someone from Canada who has been pining for the iPhone to come here, I wonder if Apple is using Ireland as a test market. I am sure that the Canadian carriers are resisting Apple's inssistance on a low rate unlimited data plan because they (the carriers) are making so much money now. Perhaps Apple is using Ireland as a throw-away test to show how compromising the features and having high rates will not work. Because I am sure the Canadian carriers are arguing that it will work.

[Banalltv]

Originally Posted by techno

Perhaps Apple is using Ireland as a throw-away test to show how compromising the features and having high rates will not work. Because I am sure the Canadian carriers are arguing that it will work.

If they want to try other throw-away tests here like low pricing for instance then I dare them to. No, I double-dare them.

[walshbj]

Those are some really unattractive plans.

A few things to keep in mind: The Irish are used to paying for what they use. For example, Irish people who still have a landline pay by the minute to ring the house next door. Ouch. Broadband Internet users are capped for bandwidth use as well.

The charge for checking your voicemail - when visual voicemail isn't being provided - that's kicking the customer while he's down, I don't care where you're from.

Then again, the Irish have been bragging about their Celtic Tiger economy for years. Dollar at an all time low against the Euro - let the Irish spend some of the money they've been singing about!

[iStore]

I'm a little bummed at the lack of visual voice mail

not to mention the fact that I can't sell the damn thing in my shop its the only phone my customers seem to care about


oh well

[magicgumdrop]

For someone in Ireland who was perfectly prepared to switch to whatever the iPhone network ended up being, I am quite disappointed...

To outsiders, I can only say yes: O2 Ireland's package is just as appalling as it seems, and at least some of us are quite aware of it! They are the only carrier that still charges for voicemail, and offer the most expensive minute-for-minute call plans. Barring one recent innovation on the Pre-pay market relating to free text-messaging, they have nothing in their product line that wasn't an unimaginative reaction to competition from the other three networks.

But 1GB of data - a joke that I can only hope will be unmade in the next 15 days, as it was in the UK - is a whole new exercise in delusion. The one positive possibility is that the large bills people start receiving on April 15th will cause enough of a consumer backlash to get them to multiply that number by 5 or 10.

To those making the comparison with Canada, I have to point out that though the products are not popular, relatively good value data packages do exist here in Ireland - 10GB of data costing €20 to €30, network dependent - which as at least reasonable compared with Rogers... Even O2 themselves offer one.

Finally, I'd be surprised if Apple decided to use us as a test market - it's a serious profit gamble, as we're known for having one of the highest ARPU (Average Revenue Per User) figures in Europe and the world. Their decision though. There goes the much vaunted global-product-experience-consistency!

Hacked [US] iPhone on meteor or vodafone it is, and warranty be damned!

[tdamon]

Originally Posted by freelander51

The text for visual voicemail seems rather odd - isn't it ?

"Visual Voicemail is not currently supported"

Correct me if I am wrong - but wouldn't proper grammar be

"Visual voicemail is currently not supported"

As they said in Casino Royal "Isn't it amazing what you can do with Photoshop ?"

Maybe that explains the poor data bundle too

I see no difference between the following statements. They are all grammatically correct and all say the same thing: visual voice is not supported right now.

"Visual voicemail is not currently supported"
"Visual voicemail is currently not supported"
"Visual voicemail currently is not supported"
"Currently, visual voicemail is not supported"
"Visual voicemail is not supported, currently"

[magicgumdrop]

Originally Posted by walshbj

A few things to keep in mind: The Irish are used to paying for what they use. For example, Irish people who still have a landline pay by the minute to ring the house next door. Ouch. Broadband Internet users are capped for bandwidth use as well.

Quite true - being ripped off is pretty much par for the course. Doesn't mean we like it though!

But on broadband it should be pointed out that most DSL/Wireless/Cable providers cap bandwidth in contracts, but don't actually charge in practise unless you're going completely mad, so the comparison here isn't quite fair. I know reserved rights aren't exactly pleasant things to live with, but in some senses they compare with the likes of the bandwidth shaping that goes on with many US and UK providers.

Originally Posted by walshbj

Then again, the Irish have been bragging about their Celtic Tiger economy for years. Dollar at an all time low against the Euro - let the Irish spend some of the money they've been singing about!

You're right. Once I head back to my solid gold house and have a few Martinis from a solid diamond glass I'll probably feel much better.

[iStore]

Originally Posted by tdamon

I see no difference between the following statements. They are all grammatically correct and all say the same thing: visual voice is not supported right now.

"Visual voicemail is not currently supported"
"Visual voicemail is currently not supported"
"Visual voicemail currently is not supported"
"Currently, visual voicemail is not supported"
"Visual voicemail is not supported, currently"

are you done rubbing it in? this was the one feature I was looking forward to the most

[iStore]

Originally Posted by magicgumdrop

Quite true - being ripped off is pretty much par for the course. Doesn't mean we like it though!

But on broadband it should be pointed out that most DSL/Wireless/Cable providers cap bandwidth in contracts, but don't actually charge in practise unless you're going completely mad, so the comparison here isn't quite fair. I know reserved rights aren't exactly pleasant things to live with, but in some senses they compare with the likes of the bandwidth shaping that goes on with many US and UK providers.



You're right. Once I head back to my solid gold house and have a few Martinis from a solid diamond glass I'll probably feel much better.

FYI the only guy making money in Ireland is the primeminister LOL

[freelander51]

Originally Posted by iStore

are you done rubbing it in? this was the one feature I was looking forward to the most

My mistake mate. I just checked he O2 website, the ad is there. Just that their wording on the small print is sooooo odd. I wont comment on grammar issues anymore and shut up now

[NasserAE]

1 GB a month is not bad if you have access to wifi. I have just checked my iPhone EDGE Data usage and it is less than 1 GB since I bought mine 7 months ago. However, I have wireless access at home and everywhere I usually go. I mainly use EDGE for auto-checking and downloading emails. You will be missing more by not having visual voicemail though.

[walshbj]

Originally Posted by magicgumdrop

You're right. Once I head back to my solid gold house and have a few Martinis from a solid diamond glass I'll probably feel much better.

Good one magicgumdrop. It's true though. Celtic Tiger this, Celtic Tiger that. I've never understood where all the money came from. Except that the Irish don't seem to be raped by the taxman as badly come payday anymore.

I've always been amazed at what Irish teenagers spend on their mobile phones. And how willing parents are to subsidize their habit.

I used to work in Ireland and saw how quickly so many people became obsessed with mobiles and texting.

I wouldn't expect many teenagers to give up their meteor plans with unlimited texting.

gumdrop - stop in your local on the way home and buy everyone a pint. all those swiss bearer bonds must be burning a hole in your pocket.

[i386]

Ireland may have most of the HQ's of the big IT companies within Europe but it desperately lags behind the rest of Europe in terms of DSL technology. In a recent report on Prime Time http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0214/primetime.html

Also Ireland has the second highest number of mobile phone per person just after Finland (land of Nokia) but charges are still high compared to Germany. While 3G technology has been rolled out in Ireland they honest haven't got a clue what to do with it, except charge through the nose. So no surprises about the O2 tariffs.

It's all down to fat cats controlling the island market which doesn't reflect mainland Europe.

[iStore]

Originally Posted by walshbj

Good one magicgumdrop. It's true though. Celtic Tiger this, Celtic Tiger that. I've never understood where all the money came from. Except that the Irish don't seem to be raped by the taxman as badly come payday anymore.

I've always been amazed at what Irish teenagers spend on their mobile phones. And how willing parents are to subsidize their habit.

I used to work in Ireland and saw how quickly so many people became obsessed with mobiles and texting.

I wouldn't expect many teenagers to give up their meteor plans with unlimited texting.

gumdrop - stop in your local on the way home and buy everyone a pint. all those swiss bearer bonds must be burning a hole in your pocket.

Walshbj trust me all that celtic tiger BS is coming only from the horses mouth I swear Berti Greedy-guts Ahern lives in his own reality distortion field when it comes to the irish economy

as for the irish kids your quite right the meteor deal "was" something worth doing until recently

o2 released a very competitive alternative for the prepay market its just a shame their iPhone pricing has garnered such a negative response where as I thought it wasn't to bad at first till I read everyones response here

[solipsism]

I don't mean to rub it in, but Visual Voicemail was one of those cool features that I quick took for granted. a few months ago I would have thought it was a ho-hum features, but recently I've realized how handy this is.

I hope O2 resolves this quickly for you micks*.


* Is that still considered offensive? After all it's a common nickname for Michael, which the term is derived. If it is, is it okay if I say it sense I'm of Irish decent which coincides with acceptable usage of the "N" word.

[freelander51]

Originally Posted by walshbj

I've never understood where all the money came from. Except that the Irish don't seem to be raped by the taxman as badly come payday anymore.

P-r-o-p-e-r-t-y b-o-o-m (or bubble). Honestly there are people on the outskirts of Dublin whose parents used to be poor farmers, now they are rich property magnates.

[iStore]

yes but over here in the west if you go for a morgage for a crap little run down dump of a joint they laugh at you and offer a morgage a 10th of the deposite price

[quinney]

Originally Posted by tdamon

I see no difference between the following statements. They are all grammatically correct and all say the same thing: visual voice is not supported right now.

"Visual voicemail is not currently supported"
"Visual voicemail is currently not supported"
"Visual voicemail currently is not supported"
"Currently, visual voicemail is not supported"
"Visual voicemail is not supported, currently"

Borat would say
"visual voicemail is currently supported..............NOT"