“O2 expects the launch of broadband and Apple’s iPhone to maintain its momentum during the second half of the year, after it outperformed the market over the past three months,” Nic Fildes reports for The Independent.
“O2 refused to confirm that it has won the right to sell Apple’s music-oriented handset exclusively in the UK, despite evidence appearing in source code on Carphone Warehouse’s website,” Fildes reports. “Peter Erskine, chief executive of O2, said: ‘We’re excited about this product and we certainly hope to be marketing it later in the year when it launches.'”
“O2 is the UK’s largest mobile phone operator, and grew its sales by over 10 per cent in the three months to June,” Fildes reports.
Full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Hugh” for the heads up.]
Excellent news!!
Im with O2 and havent upgraded my phone for 2 years – so guess whos gonna upgrade to an iPhone at the end of the year!
O2 is not the uks largest provider by far
vodafone tmobile are both bigger
O2 are the biggest close behind is vodafone t mobile are way behind and also o2 are gaining market again after years of losing it
YES! As an 02 customer for the last 5 years I’m gonna be gettin me a sweet deal when the iPhone comes out!
Never had a problem with 02, I even get a signal in Snowdonia!
Cannot wait!!!!
Fantastic news. O2 have by far the best network coverage. They’re going to have to sort out those ludicrously priced data plans though.
I know someone who’s on O2 business and they have just been pressured into upgrading or loose it kinda deal! He got the prada in the end.
O2, i’m guessing, will be trying to save the new iPhones for new customers… same as every company does… They offer new customers far better deals than if your already with them.
O2 would be great in Ireland as well. But I guess that takes time until the iPhone arrives in this comparably small country.
@Rob Nash
“O2, i’m guessing, will be trying to save the new iPhones for new customers… same as every company does… They offer new customers far better deals than if your already with them.”
Before the US iPhone launch there was the same speculation about AT&T. It turned out not to be true. Anyone, current customer or new, had/has the same opportunity to obtain the iPhone.
If true, maybe Apple can pressure them to make their website stop sucking. Extremely horrendous user experience.
“Report: O2 has won exclusive rights to Apple’s iPhone in UK”
No, this isn’t official. Please stop writing misleading headlines like this.
*sigh*
How I wish Canada had more than one GSM cellular provider. I fear Rogers will play hardball with Apple, just because they can.
[sheds a tear for Fido]
“Apple’s music-oriented handset”?!?!?
If you read carefully the article, nothing is confirmed or annouced yet. 02’s chief executive says: “We’re excited about this product and we certainly HOPE to be marketing it later in the year when it launches.”
02 even declined to confirm they had won the exclusive rights.
Of course, if you talk strategy, the iPhone would be a plus in their market share growth, but it’s no done deal yet. Ask a Vodafone exec. what he thinks, he’ll probably just say exactly the same.
That doesn’t mean O2 hasn’t won the rights, just that nothing is confirmed or announced, so the article’s title is a little enthusiastic and misleading.
Dob
Hopefully o2 will persuade Apple to go with a 3G handset right from the off – or I’ll hold off upgrading for a few months until they introduced one.
I doubt there’ll be much of a discount on the iPhone handsets for upgrade customers though… 🙁
Why are we going with an exclusive provider again? Because of visual voicemail? There batter be another reason, because voice mail is so yesterday!
re: I know someone who’s on O2 business and they have just been pressured into upgrading or loose it kinda deal! He got the prada in the end.
O2, i’m guessing, will be trying to save the new iPhones for new customers… same as every company does… They offer new customers far better deals than if your already with them.
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Well if they try that on me I will just cancel my O2 contract and go into a mobile phone shop and just get a new contract with an iPhone.
Rubbish idea, why do they have to partner with one company?