Back when the iPhone first launched in the UK, many users were disappointed by the comparatively high price Apple and carrier O2 were charging. One of the key messages from the iPhone 3G announcement, then, was the confirmation that the same $199 (or equivalent) entry point would be matched in all markets. O2 have just unveiled their monthly contract details, including confirmation that the carrier will be subsidising the 8GB iPhone 3G to free on certain contracts, as well as revealed that for the first time the handset will be available on pay-&-go prepay.
O2 are yet to release details of pay-&-go iPhones, but we do know the pricing for the contract version. A new £30 plan has been introduced, which means there are now four contract choices (£30, £35, £45, £75); on the two cheaper plans the iPhone 3G will cost £99, whereas on the two higher-priced plans it will be free. That assumes a new eighteen month contract.
All tariffs include unlimited browsing, unlimited Wi-Fi access, visual voicemail and reduced roaming rates with O2′s International Traveller Service. Existing iPhone owners will be able to upgrade to the new 3G model without penalty, as long as they sign up to a new 18-month contract; they’ll pay the normal price for whatever tariff they choose.
this is great!! the new iphone is gunna cost less than my ipod touch 16 gb!!!
lol lucky my ipod touch is broken and im getting my money back to get a new iphone!!
What about those of us who bought V1 and are not elligable to upgrade until we’re old men? Are we going to have to wait until our lives/contracts are over?
Ben, existing iPhone owners in the UK get to upgrade to the 3G version before their contract is up. Details here:
http://www.o2.co.uk/iphone/existingiphonecustomers
i guess when O2 bring out PAY AS YOU GO the iphone price will go up from £99 to £159 pounds.
right?
Alex… apparently, the price will stay the same throughout, according to Apple’s “commitment” to providing a new “affordable” iPhone”. I.e. you will pay the same price for the iPhone (8GB = £99, 16GB = £159) for the phone itself, and then you pay an extra £?? a month for a contract, OR however much you choose to pay on Pay-As-You-Go.
The real question is, what with the browsing and GPS capabilites that the iPhone has, what will the data prices be? Fair enough, the voice minutes and texts will probably be the usual 10 or 12 pence, but I bet they’ll sting ya hard for the data that you will use, to “make up” for the fact that you are not tied up in an 18 month contct with them. Work it out, and you will fins that you could pay between £699 and £1350 over the 18 months for a contract.
If you’re thinking about Pay-As-You-Go, think bout this… take away the price of the phone (i,e. £159 for a 16GB) from the cheapest contract, which is £699, and you’re left with £540 to spend on minutes, texts and data over 18 months. I reckon you’ll spend a lot more on pay as you go if you want to really get the benefits out of using the iPhone as a “pocket computer”, which it is.
My advice – stick with contract. You’ll save a lot of money and there is no hassle with Credit and constantly Topping-Up. Plus, if you decide to get a more expensive contract, the price of the handset drops dramatically – or is even free! You may think 18 months is a long time – but it goes quick and you certainly won’t get bored of the iPhone!
By the way – I’m not an O2 contract salesman, but I think I should be! Lol.
Hope that mini-essay helps, sorry about the amount of writing!
Josh.
lol you should be one!!!
thanks alot mate :D
now i need to find a way to get £30 a month again :(
im only 15!!
Paper round didnt work out lol
anyway thanks alot
NOTE:
When I was talking about the “£540″ “left over” to spend, I was saying in in the context of a contract with a 16GB iPhone – on the 8GB one, you will actually ALSO have £540. Yet another reason why it is better to go with contract – you get a great deal whether you have the 8 OR 16 GB!
Josh.
Haha, no problem :)
But you’re right, £30 is still a lot of money to a 15 year old. I’m only 16, and can’t wait to get one myself! It’s just finding the money…
Well good luck anyway!
Josh.
Remember that unless you’re getting your contract in your parents name, you have to be over 18 to start a contract. A credit check is required on iTunes when you register and activate it.