O2 offering existing iPhone customers free iPhone 3G upgrades

[AppleInsider]

Existing iPhone owners on the UK's O2 wireless network are being offered a free upgrade to Apple's just-announced iPhone 3G if they agree to a new 18-month contract and sign up for one of the carrier's pricier tariffs.

"To thank you for being an iPhone fan, we're offering you an early upgrade to the brand new version when it launches on 11th July 2008," the company wrote in a note to subscribers. "You won't have to wait until the end of your existing contract, all you'll need to do is agree to a new 18-month minimum term contract."

The special early upgrade offer will only be available online at o2.co.uk during the three-month stretch spanning July 11th to October 11th.

Specifically, it offers a free upgrade to the 8GB iPhone 3G model for existing iPhone customers who agree to a new 18-month contract and subscribe to the company's £45 or £75 Pay Monthly tariff. Alternatively, customers can get the 8GB model for £99 when they subscribe to the existing £35 tariff and all new £30 tariff.

Those customers subscribe to the high-end £75 tariff can also choose a 16GB iPhone 3G for free. The 16GB handset will cost just £59 with the £45 tariff, and £159 with either the £30 or £35 tariff.

All tariffs include unlimited browsing on the iPhone, unlimited Wi-Fi access, visual voicemail and reduced roaming rates with O2's International Traveller Service.

O2's iPhone 3G Monthly Tariffs.

After upgrading to an iPhone 3G, owners of the original iPhone will be able to transfer their old handset to a friend or family member already on an eligible O2 tariff, who will then need to upgrade to one of the carrier's iPhone tariffs. If they friend or family member is not already an O2 customer, they can still use the first-generation iPhone by purchasing a new iPhone Pay & Go SIM card.

Separately, O2 also announced that customers will soon be able to enjoy all the great features of iPhone without a monthly contract with the iPhone for Pay & Go. The carrier promises additional details on all its iPhone 3G offers in a "in a few days" and recommends that subscribers register their interest to receive the most up-to-date news.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[jameshopkins]

This is pretty fair considering. What will happen to the old iPhone, have to send it back to Apple/o2?

Anyone like to guess how much the PAYG will cost? 8gb - £269?

[revs]

Originally Posted by jameshopkins

TWhat will happen to the old iPhone, have to send it back to Apple/o2?

The old phone is yours, you can do withit what you want. I will see how much they sell for on ebay, and get a 8 or 16GB based on that.

With people having to sign contract before getting an iPhone for the nw low price I see there still being a good demand for the old iPhone.

[parky]

Originally Posted by jameshopkins

This is pretty fair considering. What will happen to the old iPhone, have to send it back to Apple/o2?

Anyone like to guess how much the PAYG will cost? 8gb - £269?

You can buy one of the 'PayandGo' SIMS from O2 for the iPhone and then pass it on to a member of your family if you like. A nice way to get an iPhone for those who can't afford to buy one or the pay the monthly fees.

[Kasper]

Originally Posted by jameshopkins

This is pretty fair considering. What will happen to the old iPhone, have to send it back to Apple/o2?

We just updated the article with this information.

K

[Hutcho]

If the deal in Germany is anything close to the deal you're getting in the UK, I'll be well happy. These plans are excellent.

[fishstick_kitty]

Originally Posted by revs

The old phone is yours, you can do withit what you want. I will see how much they sell for on ebay, and get a 8 or 16GB based on that.

With people having to sign contract before getting an iPhone for the nw low price I see there still being a good demand for the old iPhone.

So is the old iPhone still activated and usable?

[parky]

Originally Posted by fishstick_kitty

So is the old iPhone still activated and usable?

Just read the info provided.

The old phone will need a new Pay and Go SIM or be transferred to an existing O2 customer account. Once that is done, it will still be activated and usable.

[Paco Loco]

"Specifically, it offers a free upgrade to the 8GB iPhone 3G model for existing iPhone customers who agree to a new 18-month contract and subscribe to the company's £45 or £75 Pay Monthly tariff"

... er, anyone can get the new iPhone free if they sign up to one of those tariffs. They're not actually offering existing iPhone users anything, except allowing them to bin their old contract in exchange for a new one.

[flynifr]

Once again we will get screwed by AT&T! If we get a 3G iPhone we have to sign a new contract for $10 more per month and no mention of any subsidized pricing. Considering that they no longer have the profit sharing deal with Apple, AT&T should be dropping the contract price and subsidizing the phones. The big winners in the release of the 3G iPhone are AT&T and Apple. The customer is getting screwed for the sake of a little extra battery life and a faster connection in only limited markets of AT&T's network. That being said, I'll still fork out the bucks for a 3G iPhone.

[parky]

Originally Posted by flynifr

Once again we will get screwed by AT&T! If we get a 3G iPhone we have to sign a new contract for $10 more per month and no mention of any subsidized pricing. Considering that they no longer have the profit sharing deal with Apple, AT&T should be dropping the contract price and subsidizing the phones. The big winners in the release of the 3G iPhone are AT&T and Apple. The customer is getting screwed for the sake of a little extra battery life and a faster connection in only limited markets of AT&T's network. That being said, I'll still fork out the bucks for a 3G iPhone.

How exactly can they drop the price of the contracts AND subsidise the phone?
That makes no sense at all.
If they are paying Apple $200 to subsidise the phone they they need to get that back on the contracts, so they will not get cheaper.

[Jensonb]

Originally Posted by jameshopkins

This is pretty fair considering. What will happen to the old iPhone, have to send it back to Apple/o2?

Anyone like to guess how much the PAYG will cost? 8gb - £269?

I'm saying £269 for the 8GB and £329 for the 16GB on Pay/Go. Seems the most likely outcome. I certainly doubt it'll be more than that

[Abster2core]

Originally Posted by flynifr

Once again we will get screwed by AT&T! If we get a 3G iPhone we have to sign a new contract for $10 more per month and no mention of any subsidized pricing. Considering that they no longer have the profit sharing deal with Apple, AT&T should be dropping the contract price and subsidizing the phones. The big winners in the release of the 3G iPhone are AT&T and Apple. The customer is getting screwed for the sake of a little extra battery life and a faster connection in only limited markets of AT&T's network. That being said, I'll still fork out the bucks for a 3G iPhone.

You have to be joking.

Just who do you think should pay for the development of the network? Ever wonder why 3G is not as prevalent as some people think it is? You want to use another carrier? Go for it. That is if you can find one that has 3G anywhere near as good or extensive.

Why in the world do you think that everything should be subsidized? Do you remember how much the price of data plans were reduced at the launch of the iPhone? Have you costed out the high-end Nokia's or RIMs?

[enzomedici]

Originally Posted by Abster2core

You have to be joking.

Just who do you think should pay for the development of the network? Ever wonder why 3G is not as prevalent as some people think it is? You want to use another carrier? Go for it. That is if you can find one that has 3G anywhere near as good or extensive.

Why in the world do you think that everything should be subsidized? Do you remember how much the price of data plans were reduced at the launch of the iPhone? Have you costed out the high-end Nokia's or RIMs?

In the US, Verizon's network blows AT&T's away in Florida. I don't even try to call any place where I might be on hold because the call will most certainly get dropped by AT&T. On Verizon, that's a very rare event.

Overall, AT&T sucks ass and I can't wait until their exclusivity deal on the iPhone in the US runs out.

[irnchriz]

Im all signed up for the iPhone 3G upgrade come July. Im on the £45 deal and will be getting a white 16GB phone. I will probably unlock my current 8GB handset and use my BT broadband anywhere sim card with it (only costs a fiver a month) and give it to my Son.


Pretty reasonable deal. Normally the network won't do you a deal on a new handset untill your contract is almost out. Or they charge you loads for the handset.



If they do start selling the 8GB handsets sim-free or PAYG at £269 that will be really cheap. A nokia N95 8GB, sim free costs almost 400 quid.

[mstone]

Originally Posted by Abster2core

Just who do you think should pay for the development of the network? Ever wonder why 3G is not as prevalent as some people think it is? You want to use another carrier? Go for it. That is if you can find one that has 3G anywhere near as good or extensive.

My question is will I get any better signal for regular calling with 3G, because I'm currently seeing zero bars all around Orange County especially indoors.

[Abster2core]

Originally Posted by enzomedici

In the US, Verizon's network blows AT&T's away in Florida. I don't even try to call any place where I might be on hold because the call will most certainly get dropped by AT&T. On Verizon, that's a very rare event.

Overall, AT&T sucks ass and I can't wait until their exclusivity deal on the iPhone in the US runs out.

Well the only evidence that I would offer to you is not anecdotal, e.g., the Review: Which 3G network is best? from Computerworld Mobie & Wireless.

In addition, as Jobs presented in the keynote, "Users love their iPhones. 90% customer satisfaction. "What products today have 90% satisfaction?" 98% are browsing; 94% using email; 90% text messaging; 90% using 10 or more features. "You can't even *begin* to figure out how to use 10 features on a normal phone."

You don't get that level of customer satisfaction if your carrier sucks!

[bdkennedy1]

I like how they play around with the word "free".

Signing a new contract and paying a more out of your pocket every month is not free. All this is is an upgrade to your service.

[yama]

That's one hell of jump in minutes and texts between the £30 and £35 tariffs. An extra 5 quid gets you an awful lot.

Or inversely, the £30 deal is a horrible rip-off

[JoeDRC]

The new tariffs seem a lot better, I'll be off to my local O2 store come the 11th!

[Abster2core]

Originally Posted by bdkennedy1

I like how they play around with the word "free".

Signing a new contract and paying a more out of your pocket every month is not free. All this is is an upgrade to your service.

Where did it state that the service was free?

Lets see.
• From Buffalo to New York city, the distance driving via I-90 and I-81 is approximately 400 miles and takes about 7 hours.
• Or you can take the New York Thruway which is 26 miles longer and get there in about 6 hours.
• The difference is primarily made up of the extra 15 or so exits and entrances you have to take on the shorter route vs two on the Thruway.
• Of course the Thruway will cost about $18 in tolls compared to 2-3 tolls (about $3-4) on the slower route.
• So I get there faster, less gas, probably frustrations, but it costs me a few bucks more.
Hmm. Wonder if I can get a subsidy for using the Thruway?

Anyway, you can keep your old iPhone and not pay anymore then you currently do.

[Mr Underhill]

Originally Posted by jameshopkins

This is pretty fair considering. What will happen to the old iPhone, have to send it back to Apple/o2?

Anyone like to guess how much the PAYG will cost? 8gb - £269?

Well it would be nice to think they stick to Mr Jobs statement when he said the iPhone will cost no more than $199 worldwide. This translates to a smidgen over £100 at today's rates. Mind you I'll eat hay with a donkey the day that happens.

Hopefully O2 will see the long term picture and keep the iPhone price down on pay-as-you-go plans. They'd get a minimum of £250-£300 per year from me. That begs the question that if i'd spend that much on pay as you go with O2, then why not go on contract. The simple reason is i like freedom of choice.

The word lock-in kind of makes me nervous. I don't care what the Apple survey said when 56% of people thought iPhone was too expensive. They obviously asked the wrong people. It's a combination of the two.

Expensive iPhone + average over priced long term contract = low iPhone sales.

Let's hope their listening. Still encouraging news non-the-less.

[iMachine]

Originally Posted by Mr Underhill

Hopefully O2 will see the long term picture and keep the iPhone price down on pay-as-you-go plans.

One rumour is that the Pay & Go price will be more than £99 but less than £200, and O2 staff may know the actual price as soon as next week. Less than £200 guarantees that it will be my next phone

[cameronj]

Originally Posted by parky

How exactly can they drop the price of the contracts AND subsidise the phone?
That makes no sense at all.
If they are paying Apple $200 to subsidise the phone they they need to get that back on the contracts, so they will not get cheaper.

I think you misunderstand the OP's post. He is clearly demanding something for nothing, and here you are talking dollars and sense. No way he'll understand what you mean

[zeasar]

Originally Posted by iMachine

One rumour is that the Pay & Go price will be more than £99 but less than £200, and O2 staff may know the actual price as soon as next week. Less than £200 guarantees that it will be my next phone

erm... where did u get that rumor? I would be getting it if its under £200 for sure.

[monstrosity]

inc VAT or not?

[maxx66]

I'm guessing that to upgrade from a £45 a month contract to get a new 16gb iPhone I'll be paying £59 for the new handset? Can anyone confirm this?

Also, I'm really hoping that on the main o2 iphone page where it says:

'Upgrade early to 3G - Get the new 3G iPhone before 11th Oct. 2008'

That the date is just a typo, and that that doesn't mean that current users will be the last ones eligible for new handsets.

[pixelnyc]

Glad the european's are excited about all their choices. While we sit here in the "home of the free" stuck with a single option, 2yr contract. Something went really wrong along the way and somehow my iPhone is to blame.

[aegisdesign]

Originally Posted by iMachine

One rumour is that the Pay & Go price will be more than £99 but less than £200, and O2 staff may know the actual price as soon as next week. Less than £200 guarantees that it will be my next phone

Seems unlikely to me but if so that would suit me nicely. My usage varies a lot month to month so PAYG is a better fit. I'm usually within a wifi network so unlimited data is pointless and their Web bolt-on is only £7.50 a month if I need it.

[Jensonb]

Originally Posted by monstrosity

inc VAT or not?

If those are the prices they're gong to quote, inc.

[parky]

Originally Posted by Jensonb

If those are the prices they're gong to quote, inc.

They are the official prices on the O2 web site and they include VAT