Filed under: iPhone
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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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Stu J said 8:44AM on 1-29-2008
I could almost cry with happiness!
May go to the o2 store on the way home ... here's hoping I find the £270 on the way!
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jamie Bishop said 10:31AM on 1-29-2008
woohoo!
how about a £25 tariff for same minutes as the previous £35.
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Andrew Green said 10:41AM on 1-29-2008
The page on O2's website reintroduces the phrase "subject to excessive usage policy" with respect to "unlimited" data. I do hope that the new packages aren't just a way of dropping the truly-unlimited data transfer that we've had until now...
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kissfour said 9:06AM on 1-29-2008
May go to the o2 store on the way home ... here's hoping I find the £270 on the way!
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pedja said 9:49AM on 1-29-2008
Well they got enough money already, but I think it's to late for this move as Nokia N95 8GB is free and out on all networks with possibility to be unlocked directly from operator for small fee. Nokia N95 8GB includes all the things that are not present on Iphone. (3G, MMS, Video recording and GPS) Many people bought Ipod touch instead and now Apple realized that they misjudged UK mobile market. If they want to compete with Nokia Apple needs to reduce the price of Iphone, longer they wait less iphones they will sell. In future they need to research more, as competition in UK and Europe is much stronger.
I wanted Iphone but on the end I got Nokia N95 8GB and Ipod touch, for another 12 months I am not going to buy Iphone and if Apple policy on (£269) in future doesn't change I will get another nokia and second generation of ipod touch. In my opinion Iphone first generation will not sell well as price plans on their own can't change disappointment of loyal apple customers who in the recent months see apple as a greedy money monster.
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jamie bishop said 10:35AM on 1-29-2008
but the N95 is a brick, it may have more features but is not as user friendly, I am a mac user so it's the perfect solution for me. Isn't paying a tariff on a N95 and buying a touch a false economy? The iPhone is the best of both worlds.
Don't you have to pay extra for the GPS on the N95?
S1 said 9:46AM on 1-29-2008
Good news for us at last...
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Jono said 9:28AM on 1-29-2008
Hooray!
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Howard Berry said 9:41AM on 1-29-2008
Very good news indeed :)
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Zoe said 9:37AM on 1-29-2008
Damn, I bought an ipod touch because the tarriffs on the iphones were too crap, the affordable £35 one anyway. And now I've got a new contract on my phone, too.
Rah.
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effzehn said 9:39AM on 1-29-2008
I envy you british iPhone users. Hopefully, this good message will arrive in the T-Mobile HQ soon and it shall be answered with noble deeds as well.
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Stuart Bell said 9:46AM on 1-29-2008
As a low-usage phone user, I'd have been more impressed if the old basic package had been offered at, say, £25 a month. As it was, I have a iPod touch - which is great, and gets better with every s/w upgrade - and I won't be thinking about an iPhone until I've had my £200 value out of the IPT. By then, of course, the iPhone will be 3G with a bit of luck,
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Gary said 9:48AM on 1-29-2008
I've basjed Apple/O2's UK pricing a lot , but this is definitely a step in the right direction, and if it wasn't for the promise of an updated handset later in the year, I'd be seriously tempted to pick one up.
As for the N95, my friend just got one and while it's a decent handset with a lot of useful features, the implementation is classic Nokia - clunky. Even ignoring the touch screen issue, I found it a pain to navigate to anything and the music/maps/browser functions are laughable compared to the iPhone.
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harrywolf said 1:55PM on 1-29-2008
Yes - the Nokia IS a brick.
Thats the point - you can save a few quid over the term of the contract, but the mental anguish at using a clunky kludgy phone - is it worth it?
I think Apple have made a decent start in the UK - and they are obviously aware of concerns over price.
The 3G will be out in the summer, there will be deep discounts on trading in your old iPhone (or sell it on eBay and make a small profit).
The SDK is out soon - this thing is a computer with a phone attached - its a totally new product and really should not be compared to the Nokia or any other cell phones.
That £75 contract would be amazingly cheap here in Vancouver - if I want 3000 minutes a month it will cost me approx. £300, with Rogers.
And I have to supply my hacked iPhone with no warranty.
Josh* said 9:53AM on 1-29-2008
now this is more like it. Shame I've got an iPod touch and an n95 now. Perhaps when my current contract's up in October there'll be that 3G 16GB model that can replace both devices?
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Josh* said 9:57AM on 1-29-2008
Actually thinking about it, I wish they'd still offer 200/200, just at a lower price, say £25. I mean, no way will I use up the 600/500 allowance, and hey, you're still paying the same £35. Sneaky o2, heh.
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Robert said 10:01AM on 1-29-2008
Great news!
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mvn said 10:15AM on 1-29-2008
Are the networks finally getting the message that this phone and associated contract is too expensive? Hence the huge numbers of phones being unlocked as people will pay the phone cost but not the contract.
A bit of smoke and mirrors this bit of PR, the cost of ownership has not changed, its still 899 pounds for the min contract (269 for phone & 18mth contract @ 35), the cost to the network to adjust voice or txt levels within a contract is small so its a bit of PR to win a few more sales. Welcome to those already in contract but just not quite enought for those waiting on a real price drop (will stick with that Nokia for now!)....
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TD said 10:28AM on 1-29-2008
Hmm, wish this was from launch now. I'm too scared to buy before a 3G one available later this year. But might that be USA only for a bit.
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S1 said 10:30AM on 1-29-2008
Just checked with 02, if you are on one of the higher tariffs you can jump down to one of the lower tariffs as of the 1st of Feb! I'm personally on the £55 (now £45) tariff but I feel this is a step in the right direction... now just - sms delivery reports, in call contact adding and the capability of seeing if your a caller waiting!
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