UK iPhone sales reportedly strong

Compared to other European countries, especially Ireland and Germany, the iPhone tariffs in the UK are excellent: I went for the 1,200 minute £45 rate because of the additional £100 subsidy i.e. I worked out that I would be paying only £4.50 per month extra (over 18 months) for the extra 600 minutes and, if you even only occasionally stray above 600, that is worth it.

BTW, I absolutely would not have bought the iPhone if I considered the tariffs a rip-off, and I think that is the primary reason why the iPhone is doing so well here. The iPhone telcos in Ireland and Germany would do well to pay attention.

So, what's thelatest rumour about the iPhone on Orange in the UK?

Mate of mine rang Orange yesterday to tell them he was leaving for O2, reason: iPhone. The agent said he could be making a mistake and although wouldn't confirm anything, pointed him to a website containing the Orange iPhone rumour about October being when it will be announced.

Anyone else heard anything since the original posting?

Does anyone know what O2's policy on unlocking the iPhone is if you buy it on a PAYG basis?

For other phones, I understand O2 requires you to have been a customer 12 months. For the iPhone, I heard that they categorically will never unlock it, but this doesn't seem to be stated anywhere on their website.

Anyone confirm?

I went into the o2 shop last Saturday with my partner to upgrade from my first gen iPhone to 3G, and it was almost funny that at one point we both looked around the shop and EVERY sales person was selling an iPhone to a customer. It as as if no other phone existed in that shop. Almost put me off getting one actually.

I just got 4 iPhones for our company (only 4 employees). Speaking to O2's iPhone team and their stores they currently have good stock in the UK of 8gig and the black and white 16gig models! So they have plenty to sell.

Strong...

9 weeks x 27000 = under 250000!

Good but is that strong? Maybe it is in UK mobile terms. Do we have any comparison?