Three will carry iPhone 4 in the UK, O2 cuts off unlimited data

While American iPhone users are limited to a single carrier, the UK offers plenty of choice to customers. Three has announced that they will carry iPhone 4, with pre-orders beginning on June 15th. O2, Orange, T-Mobile and Vodafone were all confirmed on the 7th.

Even poor math students will notice that UK iPhone customers now have five carriers to choose from. Of course, all of the UK's carriers are GSM. We only have two of those here in the States (AT&T and T-Mobile).

Three is the first to announce a pre-order date (the same as in the US) and, as Engadget notes, typically undercut the competition when it comes to price. It all adds up to a bevy of choice -- and a potential price war -- for UK customers.

In another adjustment, O2 just announced a new pricing model, citing "clarity" and "sustainability" as key advantages. It's caught the attention of our UK readers (thanks everyone!) as it removes the unlimited option for data usage, much as AT&T did last week. The top plan now maxes out at 1GB of data, with buy-up options for 500MB or 1 GB coming in the fall.

Of course, like AT&T, O2 is framing these changes as optimizations to the real data needs of its customers. As of now, the lowest O2 bundle (500MB) provides at least 2.5 times what the 'average O2 smartphone customer' uses. In fact, O2 claims 97% of their smartphone customers won't need to buy additional data allowances under the new arrangement.

"With the wide range of Internet based services now available on mobile devices we're providing customers with generous clear data bundles that give customers freedom," said O2's CEO Ronan Dunne in the company's press release. We're not sure what was so opaque and ungenerous about "unlimited data."

In June, O2 will introduce three inclusive data bundles for new and upgrading smartphone customers. You'll find their latest information here.

Have fun on release day, folks, and may the best provider (for you) win your business.

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Source: http://blog.three.co.uk/2010/06/10/iphone-4-on-three/

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While American iPhone users are limited to a single carrier, the UK offers plenty of choice to customers. Three has announced that they...

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tim

I am on Orange with my iPhone 3GS and its not very good, however o my iPad I have 3 (three) and its always full 3G, its so fast, as soon as 3 comes out on iPhone 4 i am swapping, i'm very impressed with the service in London

July 17 2010 at 9:28 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Dannel

I believe in the UK, one would say:
"Even poor maths students will notice.." ;)

June 11 2010 at 9:23 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Jason

"Even poor math students will notice that UK iPhone customers now have five carriers to choose from".

Actually there's six carriers. You forgot to mention Tesco Mobile.

June 11 2010 at 8:36 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

jaap

O2 only offer capped data plans for the iPhone 4, but existing customers who don't change their phone or tariff, keep their current (unlimited) plan.

I would like to keep my data uncapped, so I'm thinking I could buy an iPhone 4 direct from the Apple Store and convert the sim from my 3GS to microsim. O2 -I imagine- won't know I'm using a different phone..?

Any flaws in this plan?

June 11 2010 at 2:23 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

bdavisjnr

O2 ... You suck!

June 10 2010 at 4:50 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Chris Caswell

How bout for 3 in Sweden? I just signed up and I'm waiting to see how long it'll be.

June 10 2010 at 3:55 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

charlie.lowndes

I've had my unlocked iPhone on 3 for ages now, and its been brilliant. I'm absolutely stoked that the iPhone 4 is officially on 3 and will be getting one as soon as.

June 10 2010 at 3:29 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

mrtotes

Oh and Tesco (the supermarket) also carry the iPhone 3G and 3GS on their MVNO (o2 hardware) so chances are we'll have a choice of six providers before long.

June 10 2010 at 2:39 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

2 replies to mrtotes's comment

Rob47

Not really tesco piggyback o2s towers it's their network with another name.

June 10 2010 at 9:28 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

mrtotes

@Rob47

I mentioned it was O2s network - and as they offer customers different price plans it defintely increases consumer choice to find a plan that matches their own needs -assuming Tesco carry iPhone 4.

June 11 2010 at 1:57 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Paul Lloyd Johnson

Bye bye O2. I'm going to Orange, who unlike you actually have a proper 3G network.

June 10 2010 at 2:19 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

mrtotes

I'm on PAYG, my average usage has been a relatively high 440MB average a month. So 500MB should be fine for me even on a busy month and whilst I do think the 3% should just pay for their excessive use I can understand the logic.

The kick in the balls for me is that along with this the new PAYG tariffs on O2 don't include any 'free' voice minutes and must be topped up every 30 days to keep the new limited data connection working. This isn't PAYG and is just hassle.

I wanted to stay with O2 as they seem to have the best WiFi offerings but I'm defintely going to look more widely now. With 3UK joining the party hopefully I'll be able to shop around for a deal to at least match what I had before.

June 10 2010 at 2:14 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply