UK iPhone users to see better value service plans
Amongst a general re-shuffling of contract pricing, O2 has announced that iPhone customers are going to be getting a better deal on their contracts. The UK contracts were, at launch, notably slim on both calls and texts when compared to other O2 packages. Whilst the higher price was due in part to the inclusion of the Cloud WiFi and unlimited data, there was speculation that the prices were higher to pay for Apple's take of the monthly revenue on the service plans.Thankfully, that's all about to change in February, as O2 has brought its iPhone tariffs in line with regular O2 deals. For those on the cheapest £35-per-month package (such as yours truly), minutes get tripled to 600 and texts to 500 per month, and the £45-per-month package gets bumped to 1200 minutes and 500 texts (previously costing £55). O2 has decided to remove the £55 option of the past, and will reduce their future bills to £45, or allow them to move to the £75, 3,000 minute / 500 SMS package. If you have your iPhone on O2, you'll want to check out this page for the complete low-down.
[Via twitter / Macworld and thanks to all those who sent this in!]
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Amongst a general re-shuffling of contract pricing, O2 has announced that iPhone customers are going to be getting a better deal on their...
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Nik, I totally get what you are saying but remember most the people on this forum and most likely you are "tech" or "geek" people. I put myself in this category. We have very different needs.
I have worked in the mobile industry for about 8 years and around 55% of people buy on whatever the best deal is (don't care about the phone), 20% buy on looks, 20% buy on features (varies from battery life to 5mp camera, GPS etc) and maybe 5% if I am being very generous of non corporate customers will buy a phone for what is known as "data abilities". These features are things like "Modems, Web Browsing, IMAP, POP3, Blackberry Services, Outlook intergration and Syncing"
The iphone falls into the looks and data abilities section. But it is clear that apple want people to buy the phone, use it without worrying about data costs. Its the whole "it just works" thing that goes with apple. Because of this, that is why they will never sell it like a normal phone.
All I am saying is that there are alot of people out there that will buy an iphone and never set up email on it. People that use hotmail!
If you check out the link below I think there is something shocking like 40% of uk iphone users do not exceed 25mb.
http://www.tuaw.com/2007/12/28/british-iphone-users-love-their-data/
So based on that all the "techs"/"geeks" or "mac fans" who want an iphone now have the device so that market is most likely exhausted, now apple/o2 need to gain the ipod users who are more than likely are mainly people who want the best deal. This then rules out any more sales increase for the iphone in the UK, but then apple do not want to be a mass market player but would assume they want to capture those millions of ipod users out there! Even with this change in O2 contract the min cost of 899 remains and is still a huge amount for these "deal" people so unless the prices of the actual phone drops soon then that market will be lost, handing over almost 300 pounds at time of purchase is alien to most UK consumers, but paying for 35 pounds a month for a decent contract is not (maybe some creative marketing would help, trade in deal for those ipod users 50 off for your old ipod! or upgrade your N95 for 100 pounds off!)....
January 30 2008 at 9:03 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI also have bashed the iphone hard since its launch (still not seen one on the street yet). This is however very good news but you have to wonder if its because a) They were just milking the fan boys for launch or b) sales are not quite up to scratch.
As several other people have said, they really do have to think about the price of the handset. I just got a 12 month contract with a free Nokia N82, with 800 minutes and 500 texts and 200mb internet for £30 per month. I did have to haggle but still if you look at the specs of the phone and the total price, the iphone just cant compete.
Yes I know my package does not have wifi but I think you can get cloud for about £7 per month. If needed.
Personally I think o2 should have a iphone basic package for say £10 less with no wifi or data. People would go crazy for that!
David
I'm going to disagree there -- the iPhone *needs* data to function. Not in a "this is a requirement of Apples" way necessarily, but if you want to use the iPhone to its full, having no Data or included wifi would drive people mad. Email? Nope. Internet on the go? Nope. Google Maps out and about? Nope.
Given that the networks want to drive up data usage, even if Apple were to say 'it can be sold without data in the contract' (which they wouldn't) the networks certainly wouldn't do it.
My vodaphone contract £20pm 175 mins/200 text any network is up in June so it's off to 02 I will go after I've saved up for the iPhone of course. I also have a virgin contract 300 mins/300 text any network for £10pm (unbeatable). The all you can eat wifi is the killer deal for me on that but if they lopped £5 off, then I'd be over the moon.
January 29 2008 at 7:42 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyYAAAAAAY!
YAAAAAAY!
oh and YAAAAAAY!
It's amazing deal. In Germany for 35 pounds worth of contract (50 EUR) I get 100 minutes and 40 sms. That's what is called lean. Just I hear no angry voices in this country...
January 29 2008 at 4:35 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyN95 8GB is not a brick. I wanted Iphone so I got Ipod touch. It's not false economy. Ipod touch 16 gb and nokia n95 8gb compared to iphone 8gb. Ipod touch is same price as iphone nokia n95 8gb was free. What I have is same as iphone in ipod touch + 8gb, nokia was free and I get 5mpix camera, video recording, 3g, mms and gps with garmin navigator that is unbelievable and soon tom tom mobile 7. Plus I pay wifi 4.99 a month for any device. Money wise I prefer nokia n95 and Ipod touch than iphone on it's own. Touch interface is great but as a phone iphone is not a great device.(you can't change battery)
January 29 2008 at 2:22 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI pay £9 a month to use my unlocked iphone on vodaphone ;-)
January 29 2008 at 1:56 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyFor years we jave taken the mic out of the americans for their brick mobiles so for them the iphone is a amazing. UK and erope has been so far ahead on phones for years now that at phone you havr to pay for on a contracts that bad are just not going to sell. 3 will give you a much better deal that the iphone ones at £17.50 a month with a free phone. Apple need to drop the iphone price (not gonna happen) and o2 need to do some deals to entice people.
January 29 2008 at 12:38 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyNice announcement, although it is staggered, some users won't be upgraded until mid march at the latest :( good news all the same though.
-------As an existing iPhone customer, we are really pleased to tell you that we are upgrading your existing iPhone tariff during February and you will benefit by mid March at the latest.
It looks like they are also doing Bolt-Ons for the iphone tariffs as well including unlimted SMS for £7.50 more a month
http://www.o2.co.uk/iphone/boltons
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