UK's O2 places orders for "hundreds of thousands" of iPhones
O2, the largest mobile carrier in the UK and exclusive provider of Apple's iPhone for the region, says it expects the touch-screen handset to become its fastest selling phone yet when it goes on sale this Friday at 6:00 p.m.
Speaking to the Financial Times, O2 chief executive Matthew Key estimated a "a couple of hundred thousand" iPhones would be sold in the first two months, adding that his firm along with its retail partner have ordered "hundreds of thousands" of units from Apple in preparation for the Nov. 9 launch.
Carolina Milanesi, an analyst at Gartner, found Key's forecast to be on the conservative end, and instead believes between 350,000 and 400,000 iPhones could be sold in the UK by January. Part of that success will have to hinge on O2's retail partner in the region, Carphone Warehouse.
In a separate interview with the Telegraph, Key recalls openly admitting to Apple chief executive Steve Jobs that O2 would need to use Carphone Warehouse as a retail partner to maximise distribution if it were selected as the exclusive iPhone carrier for the UK.
Key's openness reportedly chimed with Apple, which later revealed to have already mystery-shopped all O2's stores in the UK -- something Jobs also did for himself before Apple formally announced its intention to use O2 as its exclusive provider for iPhone in the region.
"He's a hugely impressive guy, hugely impressive guy," Key said of Jobs. ''He clearly knows his stuff in a level of detail that for someone at that level is mindblowing, and he has a great incisiveness in terms of what the customer wants and needs in products."
The O2 chief said he knew immediately after his first two-hour meeting with Jobs that iPhone was a device he absolutely had to offer to his customners.
"In the UK market, where the top four networks have pretty much equal shares, it offers a great way for me to get a hell of a lot of high-value customers on to O2 and drive up data usage," he said.
Speaking to the Financial Times, O2 chief executive Matthew Key estimated a "a couple of hundred thousand" iPhones would be sold in the first two months, adding that his firm along with its retail partner have ordered "hundreds of thousands" of units from Apple in preparation for the Nov. 9 launch.
Carolina Milanesi, an analyst at Gartner, found Key's forecast to be on the conservative end, and instead believes between 350,000 and 400,000 iPhones could be sold in the UK by January. Part of that success will have to hinge on O2's retail partner in the region, Carphone Warehouse.
In a separate interview with the Telegraph, Key recalls openly admitting to Apple chief executive Steve Jobs that O2 would need to use Carphone Warehouse as a retail partner to maximise distribution if it were selected as the exclusive iPhone carrier for the UK.
Key's openness reportedly chimed with Apple, which later revealed to have already mystery-shopped all O2's stores in the UK -- something Jobs also did for himself before Apple formally announced its intention to use O2 as its exclusive provider for iPhone in the region.
"He's a hugely impressive guy, hugely impressive guy," Key said of Jobs. ''He clearly knows his stuff in a level of detail that for someone at that level is mindblowing, and he has a great incisiveness in terms of what the customer wants and needs in products."
The O2 chief said he knew immediately after his first two-hour meeting with Jobs that iPhone was a device he absolutely had to offer to his customners.
"In the UK market, where the top four networks have pretty much equal shares, it offers a great way for me to get a hell of a lot of high-value customers on to O2 and drive up data usage," he said.
Comments
I'm in the UK with a 3G phone, and would switch off 3G if I knew how. I just don't need it, and with free access to The Cloud, I'm thinking 3G is even less important. Looking forward to Friday.
What's with this "region" talk as well? Makes it sound more like a state of the EU. Whilst our politicians might be pushing for a United State of Europe, the people are protesting. The UK, whilst made up of four countries, is itself a country as well.
What's with this "region" talk as well? Makes it sound more like a state of the EU. Whilst our politicians might be pushing for a United State of Europe, the people are protesting. The UK, whilst made up of four countries, is itself a country as well.
Is the fourth country Northern Ireland? Is O2 releasing iPhone there as well?
What's with this "region" talk as well? Makes it sound more like a state of the EU. Whilst our politicians might be pushing for a United State of Europe, the people are protesting. The UK, whilst made up of four countries, is itself a country as well.
Hear! Hear!
While being a U.S. "mutt" myself, for a lack of a better term, my mother, God Rest her Soul, was UK born and bread. While a Greencard alien here in the USA, she took great pride of her natural birthplace (born in Nottingham and raised in Bedford), English Ancestry and the Queen!
My only downside is that half my "family" is 3000 miles away and while a phone call, card or letter is nice, sadly, it still is not the same as being able to get in the car and 'drive' to grandmothers house or visit an aunt, uncle or cousin.
Cheers to all who will be in line for O2's iPhone launch! Being iPhoneless myself (personal reasons), I do enjoy it's wonders when visiting my local Apple Store.
... when it goes on sale this Friday at 6:00 p.m.
In fact, the signs in O2 stores says it goes on sale at 6:02 p.m. on Friday.
Get it?
Getting a bit sick of AppleInsider's Advertising Popups - Porn now ... lovely.
There's nothing like porn to spice up our boring lives, eh?
Getting a bit sick of AppleInsider's Advertising Popups - Porn now ... lovely.
Pretty much, every browser has popup blocking.
I'm in the UK with a 3G phone, and would switch off 3G if I knew how. I just don't need it, and with free access to The Cloud, I'm thinking 3G is even less important.
I don't know much about the Cloud but it sounds like a huge benefit we don't have here in the states with ATT. Free wi fi access is still difficult to find at times.
Getting a bit sick of AppleInsider's Advertising Popups - Porn now ... lovely.
You probably have some spyware on your computer that's causing that.
Besides all the major web browsers support Pop-up Blocker. You can also install yahoo or google toolbars that have that function. Can't believe there are people out there still being plagued by Pop-ups.
In fact, the signs in O2 stores says it goes on sale at 6:02 p.m. on Friday.
Get it?
Cool. It could have been worse: 0202 hours....
For the first time, the iPhone is going to have to compete side-by-side in the same retail space not just against other phones from the same provider, but also against other networks altogether. That's going to be interesting to see.
On another note, been told by someone who works at Carphone Warehouse that Apple have completely shafted O2 and Carphone Warehouse. All profits from the contract go straight to Apple, with O2 only making money if we go over the agreed plan. Carphone Warehouse would normally get £12 for every new contract, but with the iPhone, they're only getting £3. That's how desirable the iPhone is over here to companies.
Well, even if the low end of this forecast comes to pass, I'd like to see what all our snotty/snooty "3G+GPS+5MP+MMS+3rdParty-or-bust" pals in the EU have to say!
Whether it sells 200,000 or a million, it still doesn't change the fact it's feature-lite, restricted and way, way, way overpriced.
Incidentally, on Ars they were reporting that the iPod Touch was to get free WiFi access via The Cloud.
Roll on February.
What's with this "region" talk as well? Makes it sound more like a state of the EU. Whilst our politicians might be pushing for a United State of Europe, the people are protesting. The UK, whilst made up of four countries, is itself a country as well.
I think you will find that those 4 countrys make up a Union hence the term United Kingdom which is not a "country"
Pretty much, every browser has popup blocking.
As well as ad blocking.
Notable exception is that little iPhone. Really makes me hate AI when I am on the road!
Getting a bit sick of AppleInsider's Advertising Popups - Porn now ... lovely.
Safari menu > Block Pop-Up Windows
Now that wasn;t so hard. I suspect AI has limited control over exactly which ads appear.