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)
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. \
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.
... 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?
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.
Quote:
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!
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.
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.
At last the possibility of being freed from O2's useless 3G network!
Quote:
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.
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.
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.
It would depend on the laws in the UK, the places where they can be unlocked have a legal requirement to do so.
Quote:
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.
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.
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?
Comments
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!
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)
... 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?
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!
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.
http://shop.vodafone.co.uk/shop/mobi...ones-iPhoneReg
...just announced.
http://shop.vodafone.co.uk/shop/mobi...ones-iPhoneReg
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.
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.
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.
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.
Does the Chinese iPhone include MMS?
If China Telecoms offer it, then yes. If not, no.
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.
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.
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?