'Huge demand' forces O2 to pull plug on iPhone 3G pre-orders
O2 began taking pre-orders for Apple's new iPhone 3G through its website early Monday but was forced halt the service just hours later as UK consumers flooded the carrier's servers and quickly consumed initial supplies.
O2's pre-order system falls flat
iPhone 3G hopefuls awoke Monday to emails and text messages from O2 announcing that they could pre-order their new Apple handset beginning at 8:00 a.m. local time this morning.
"If you want to place your order, all you need do is click on the link below on your Mac or PC, select the tariff, select the iPhone 3G model and sign a new 18-month contract online," the carrier said in its messages.
Successful pre-orders were to be delivered by a courier on launch day, Friday July 11th, and customers were to be able to complete activation through iTunes from their homes.
Minutes later, however, O2's automated upgrade system for existing iPhone owners buckled under pressure and was taken offline, leaving those customers without a means of placing their upgrade order.
At the same time, the pre-order system for new iPhone customers continued to function without a hitch, frustrating existing owners who were suddenly at a disadvantage given that O2 said it was taking pre-orders on a "first come, first served basis."
Faced with these issues, O2 hours later would shut down its pre-order system completely. A message on the carrier's website now informs customers that due to "huge demand," iPhone 3G is currently out of stock online. Customers are asked to check back for more information on Thursday, July 10th.
O2's iPhone 3G tariffs
The UK carrier has priced the 8GB iPhone 3G at £99 and the 16GB model at £159 with a £30 monthly tariff that includes 75 minutes, 125 text messages, and unlimited data.
A £35 tariff offers the handsets at identical prices and includes 600 minutes, 500 text messages and unlimited data.
Customers who step up to the £45 tariff get an 8GB iPhone at no cost, or a 16GB model for £59. The monthly plan includes 1200 minutes, 500 text messages and unlimited data.
Either iPhone 3G model is free with O2's £75 top-tier tariff that includes 3000 minutes, 500 text messages, and unlimited data each month. All tariffs require that customers agree to a new 18-month contract.
O2 also previously announced that iPhone 3G will also be available under its Pay & Go subscription model at £299.99 for the 8GB model and £359.99 for the 16GB model. Full details are available here, though it appears that O2 has delayed this offering until "later this year."
O2's pre-order system falls flat
iPhone 3G hopefuls awoke Monday to emails and text messages from O2 announcing that they could pre-order their new Apple handset beginning at 8:00 a.m. local time this morning.
"If you want to place your order, all you need do is click on the link below on your Mac or PC, select the tariff, select the iPhone 3G model and sign a new 18-month contract online," the carrier said in its messages.
Successful pre-orders were to be delivered by a courier on launch day, Friday July 11th, and customers were to be able to complete activation through iTunes from their homes.
Minutes later, however, O2's automated upgrade system for existing iPhone owners buckled under pressure and was taken offline, leaving those customers without a means of placing their upgrade order.
At the same time, the pre-order system for new iPhone customers continued to function without a hitch, frustrating existing owners who were suddenly at a disadvantage given that O2 said it was taking pre-orders on a "first come, first served basis."
Faced with these issues, O2 hours later would shut down its pre-order system completely. A message on the carrier's website now informs customers that due to "huge demand," iPhone 3G is currently out of stock online. Customers are asked to check back for more information on Thursday, July 10th.
O2's iPhone 3G tariffs
The UK carrier has priced the 8GB iPhone 3G at £99 and the 16GB model at £159 with a £30 monthly tariff that includes 75 minutes, 125 text messages, and unlimited data.
A £35 tariff offers the handsets at identical prices and includes 600 minutes, 500 text messages and unlimited data.
Customers who step up to the £45 tariff get an 8GB iPhone at no cost, or a 16GB model for £59. The monthly plan includes 1200 minutes, 500 text messages and unlimited data.
Either iPhone 3G model is free with O2's £75 top-tier tariff that includes 3000 minutes, 500 text messages, and unlimited data each month. All tariffs require that customers agree to a new 18-month contract.
O2 also previously announced that iPhone 3G will also be available under its Pay & Go subscription model at £299.99 for the 8GB model and £359.99 for the 16GB model. Full details are available here, though it appears that O2 has delayed this offering until "later this year."
Comments
The fact that existing customers were 'promised' to be alerted as soon as the system was active, but they pulled the upgrade system down, allowing only new customers to order their iPhones is shocking. O2 should be ashamed of how poorly they treated us.
What a bunch of ammeters. Come one Apple, is this really the type of network you want to be dealing with?
Don't these people PLAN anything?
Fair enough have the contract phones with the networks but for God's sake sell UNLOCKED phones at the APPLE STORE. That way anyone that wants to spend a bit more up front to get out of having to deal with these muppet networks can.
I'm going to wait for 5 months and pick up a 32GB one. They might have sorted this mess out by then.
Simon
Because a) if any unexpected problems arise, the early adopters can find them and b) the phone will be $80 cheaper in one month
I hope there IS a shortage (here in the US) to help me stick to my plan to wait 2-4 weeks
Because a) if any unexpected problems arise, the early adopters can find them and b) the phone will be $80 cheaper in one month
Your reasons are nonsense.
There is simply no way there will be a drop in prices in the next 2 - 4 weeks. They did it with the first one and there was outrage. With the amount of emphasis they have put on the price, it won't move until the next revision comes out. And any problems found with the phone initially with be fixed with software updates, so you're at no advantage there either by waiting.
Damn, O2's prices are amazing.
YOu also get access to the UKs top two Wi-Fi hotspot providers all inclusive too! Its great!
(Disclaimer: BT and The Cloud may not be "the UKs top two Wi-Fi hotspot providers", but they seem to be everywhere and are pretty huge!
guess i'll have to go to my O2 store on Friday!
'huge demand' cannot possibly be an excuse when they knew how many had pre-registered (and sent the texts!)
Seriously suggest o2 get on the blower to Cupertino, ensure they get the stock and rebuild a usable, light-weight shopping cart without the text authentication and heavy ajax... by Thursday!
What an outstanding case of chronic FAIL - seven years as an 02 customer has taught me this is perfectly normal operating procedure for them (and 99% of UK utility companies), but shouldn't things be a little different with Apple involved?
This is what happens when they give people a good deal on the tariffs.
Think Apple should intervene if it is the case that O2 only took money from new customers as implied by this post, this tweet http://twitter.com/SteveMarshall/statuses/851994929 and my own experience today.
'huge demand' cannot possibly be an excuse when they knew how many had pre-registered (and sent the texts!)
Seriously suggest o2 get on the blower to Cupertino, ensure they get the stock and rebuild a usable, light-weight shopping cart without the text authentication and heavy ajax... by Thursday!
What an outstanding case of chronic FAIL - seven years as an 02 customer has taught me this is perfectly normal operating procedure for them (and 99% of UK utility companies), but shouldn't things be a little different with Apple involved?
its not the end of the world, worst comes to worst, you'll have to queue up and get one on friday
What a bunch of ammeters.
Yes, they should have been able to keep current with orders.
He reckons Apple are not going to give them that many iPhones for the launch anyway and have asked O2 and Car Phone Warehouse measure early interest to gauge the response. Sounds like Apple are cacking themselves needlessly.
Anyone still think the first gen iPhones will be worth more over time? I've got one, a 4 GB.
Your best best was to sell it while there was no supply for the last 2 months. Maybe in 50 years it will be a collectors item, but I wouldn't count on that. Now that it will be released this week and iTunes 7.7 presumably has to be released on Thursday, not Friday, in most time zones to have it available for the NZ midnight launch/
I doubt very much that I will be staying with O2 once my contract has expired, too.
Your best best was to sell it while there was no supply for the last 2 months.
D'oh!