Apple and O2 announced today that O2, the leading wireless carrier in the UK, will be the exclusive UK carrier for Apple’s revolutionary iPhone when it makes its debut in the UK on November 9. iPhone combines three devices into one-a mobile phone, a widescreen iPod, and the best mobile Internet device ever-all based on Apple’s revolutionary multi-touch interface and pioneering software that allows users to control iPhone with just a tap, flick or pinch of their fingers. Apple sold its one millionth iPhone just 74 days after it went on sale in the US on June 29.
“We’re thrilled to be partnering with O2 to offer our revolutionary iPhone to UK customers,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO, in the press release. “US iPhone customer satisfaction is off the charts, and we can’t wait to let UK customers get their hands on it and learn what they think of it.”
“Our strategy at O2 is to bring our customers the best products and experiences,” said Matthew Key, CEO, O2 UK, in the press release. “The iPhone is a breakthrough that is changing the way people use their mobiles forever, and we’re thrilled to have it exclusively for O2 customers in the UK.”
iPhone users in the UK will be able to activate their new iPhones using Apple’s iTunes software running on a Mac or PC in the comfort and privacy of their own home or office, without having to wait in a store while their phone is activated. Activating iPhone takes only minutes as iTunes guides the user through simple steps to choose their tariff, undertake a credit check and activate their iPhone. Once iPhone is activated, users can then easily sync all of their phone numbers and other contact information, calendars, email accounts, web browser bookmarks, music, photos, podcasts and TV shows just like they do when they sync their iPods with iTunes.
In addition to all the revolutionary features that made iPhone so popular in the US, iPhone users in the UK will have access to Apple’s latest music offerings on iPhone including the recently launched iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store. The iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store offers customers the ability to browse, search, preview, purchase and download songs and albums from iTunes over the built-in Wi-Fi on their iPhone. No computer is required and when the customer connects their iPhone back with their PC or Mac, their music automatically syncs back into their iTunes library.
iPhone is scheduled to go on sale on November 9 and will be sold exclusively in the UK through Apple’s retail and online stores, O2 and The Carphone Warehouse’s retail and online stores. iPhone will be available in an 8GB model for 269 pounds sterling (inc VAT, US$542) and will work with either a PC or Mac. Three new iPhone tariffs will be available from O2 starting at 35 pounds, which all include unlimited anytime, anywhere mobile data usage and, in a market first, free unlimited use of the UK’s largest single public Wi-Fi network, covering over 7,500 cafes, restaurants, airport lounges, pubs and other locations across the UK.
iPhone activation will require an Internet connection; an iTunes Store account or a major credit card; the latest version of iTunes and a Mac or PC with a USB 2.0 port and one of the following operating systems: Mac OS X v10.4.10 or later; Windows XP Home or Professional with Service Pack 2 or later; or Windows Vista Home Premium, Business, Enterprise or Ultimate Edition. iPhone requires a new 18-month contract with O2. Existing O2 customers will have the option of keeping their existing phone number and upgrading their account to work with iPhone while new customers can also simply and easily transfer their current mobile number to O2.
@Jim
No, I know. Sorry.
Personally I’m ok with the price of the phone, as it’s the monthly charges that really cost in the end anyway. What does rather stick in the throat is the comparison with AT&T;’s monthly charges: for $60, the Americans get 450 minutes, 200 texts and 5000 minutes at the weekends and evenings. Perhaps O2 are trying to recover that 40%?
@Bert
Yeh I guess you’re right. I was going to buy an iPod touch instead and keep my k800i for now.
I might just wait till my contract is up in February and see what is on offer then. Hopefully will drop the price after the Christmas rush.
I was actually hoping Steve would announce Leopard release date, maybe bringing it to London so Jonathan Ive feels at home :-0
“it has got to be the most expensive phone ever in the UK.”
just wait 60 days. price drops by 30%
£299. for both iPHONE and iPOD touch16GB. in UK
$399 for both iPHONE and iPOD touch16GB. in US.
As agressive as possible in UK too.
I am very happy living in US.
“As an American expat living in the UK, I have observed that the British generally don’t realize just how high their standard of living is.
The prices for iPhone UK seem mostly comparable to US prices, but I wonder if sales might be affected by some kind of “early adopters’ potential pre-price-drop preemptive remorse…”
I agree 100%. British citizans don’t realize how goo dthey have it here moneywise. I’m from Portugal, and u get less than £300 for a minima wage. I earn about the same as my mom in here, she works full time, has been a teacher for 30 years. I work 10 hours a week. What does that tell you. Where did u get the idea that in Europe they work fewer hours…lol. It’s true that things here I much more expensive, but by far…the standart of leaving is higher, much, much higher. I go back to europe quite often, I know what I’m talking about.
Why do you think the UK is the target of immigrants in Europe. The Iphone is more expensive here, but I don’t think that is simply because Apple is greedy…it will be the same price in Germany (€400).
Excellent News!
Im in the que on 9th November!
What’s all the shake up with how we normally buy phones in the UK. What’s wrong with the good old ‘sign up for X tariff with Y amount of free minutes, texts and media – and get your desired phone completely free!’ – plus we only sign up on a 12 month contract and upgrade every year!
If this is the American way – it sucks!
I’m waiting for iPhone 2.0, cheaper tariffs and one year / 18 month contract!
What kind of data network will it be using? Is there EDGE in Britain?
O2 are having to upgrade their network at the moment to implement EDGE – possibly one reason for the increased cost of the iPhone in the UK. I think most people are going to hang back and wait for the 3G version though – it makes more sense – I know I am!
Why did you EXPECT Apple to do the things the way everyone else does them? Furthermore, yes, the way ONE company does something is the way ALL AMERICAN companies do things. *shaking head* Thank goodness I know all Brits aren’t as stupid as you are, but if I used your logic I would have to conclude that.
AT&T;should have included their hotspot network for iPhone customers. AT&T;DSL customers can get unlimited access to AT&T;WiFi hotspots (which include McDonalds and many other locations nationwide) for only $2/mo. But no such subsidy/deal for iPhone or cell phone customers. 🙁
The thing to consider – especially for those people who may be getting an iPhone Touch as well as their existing phone – is that on this basis the extras of the iPhone are coming out at £70. For a combined device doing what it does, I don’t think that’s bad. It’s the data plans that get me. I’m someone who only uses a mobile for real emergencies. I’m not someone who is constantly wanting to talk to people, chat, text etc. If I do during the day then I use my work phone. At home I have a home phone. I already pay for broadband, I can’t see myself adding £35 for effectively another internet connection one – a slow one at that.
The 1400 pages a day is ok by me, even if you were on the net 16 hours a day that’s about 1.5 pages a minute.
Bitch and moan, bitch and moan.
Apple didn’t give the phone away free with a handjob, so Apple sucks and Jobs is a greedy SOB.
What a bunch of spoiled, bratty asses you are. If you don’t like the deal don’t buy the damn thing and shut up.
The overall package is OK, especially with unlimnited Cloud data access.
Cheaper than the Nokia crap for sure, and Cloud wifi is everywhere in the UK these days.
Apple are going to clean up, just watch!
Funny how it is that the…
“it’s the most expensive phone in the world posts”
…all come from Internet Explorer browsers!?!?!??
);
Ive never needed 3g and never wiil.
I use a phone as a ‘phone’ ( now there is an original idea – making calls on a mobile phone!) and not some portable ‘does everything device’.
So im getting an iPhone in November.
3g is usless as far as im concerned, and its not a deal breaker – especially as wifi is built into the iphone anyway – WHICH IS ALOT FASTER THAN 3G.
Just wait, in 74 days the price will drop by 100 pounds.
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The Beatles don’t REALLY exists. they’re just an urban legend.
There were just as many posts in America saying the iPhone was overpriced and wouldn’t sell. Then on June 29th the iPhone hit the streets and Apple has sold more than a million in the very short interim. No mobile phone has sold as well. And I’ve not met or heard from an iPhone owner who, after having enjoyed the iPhone for some time, thought he or she overpaid. The iPhone is not cheap, but it is not overpriced. It is a joy to use, and you can’t say that about many mobiles.
399 US equals 200 sterling. Add 17.5% VAT gives you 235 sterling. So the additional cost in 64 pounds. Remember in the US you typically add sales tax onto the price where it applies. So in California you would pay an extra 8.25% which would be 33 bucks (or 15 pounds). So that takes the difference down to 50 pounds.
I bought a Prius here in California and it cost me 26K. The same vehicle cost around 20K sterling when I last checked. That is a larger markup by far compared to the iPhone.
Overall, doesn’t seem too bad a pricing.
With this announcement I’m starting to think that, aside from us Canadians being a way smaller market, Rogers is not willing to provide/add-on unlimited data. At 10$/10MB Rogers has a cash cow they’re not wanting to slaughter.
For all those whinging about the price…
Unlimited data plans from Orange cost £50.00 per month on their own without any voice minutes attached, so getting “fair-use” unlimited for £35.00/month plus access to The Cloud’s relatively large hot-spot network and 200 minutes & SMS messages is a saving of £600.00 per annum and £900 over the life of the contract.
For some people, that saving would allow them to purchase an iPhone for themselves and a partner and allow them to buy an iPod Classic and a nano to boot.
Two things always amaze me:
1. People, for some unfathomable reason, expected Apple to redesign the iPhone to include 3G chips just a few months after its initial introduction; and
2. People bitch about how much a two year contract will cost them in total money. What, like you’re not going to have mobile phone service anyway?
The iPhone plans are pretty well priced when compared, feature to feature, with other data/voice plans, and actually are often better. Hmmm, much like a Mac v. Windows machine – initially you have seen better prices, but when you really look at what you get, the Mac is a better deal, even disregarding the fact that you don’t have to mess with Windows.
“The Beatles don’t REALLY exists. they’re just an urban legend.”
I’d like to think they’re at least an urbane legend by now.