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U.K. Grocery Chain Tesco Bags iPhone

J.R. Bookwalter — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:44:53 -0600

Next time U.K. shoppers drop into their local Tesco store for a loaf of bread, they’ll also be able to pick up an iPhone at the same time, courtesy of a new partnership with local carrier O2.

The deal, announced today, will bring Apple’s iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS to more than 100 Tesco Phone Shops by the end of the year. Tesco Mobile is the retailer’s mobile virtual network operator, who will also offer the device online through its Tesco Direct site.

Tesco’s pay-as-you-go service may be branded Tesco Mobile, but it relies on the O2 network, similar to how MVNO Virgin Mobile operates using Sprint’s network here in America. Tesco is the world’s fourth-largest retailer, making the deal Apple’s next step toward even wider distribution in Europe.

It also marks a new advantage for partner O2, who lost their U.K. exclusive on the iPhone recently and now competes for customers with rivals Vodafone and Orange.

The End Is Near! For The UK iPhone Exclusivity Anyway

Danny Estrada — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 18:05:08 -0500

Mobile Entertainment has claimed to have seen documentation providing proof of a deadline for O2's exclusive hold on the UK iPhone for October 9th. This would mean that carriers like Orange or T-Mobile could begin selling the iPhone by the end of the year. O2 has been the official carrier for the UK iPhone since 2007, and while some have believed that they would continue their reign until 2012, there looks like general exclusivity will end before 2010.

Mobile Entertainment's sources continued to reveal that O2 could continue to hold exclusive rights to the iPhone 3GS, while the other carriers begin to sell the iPhone 3G. These reports are consistent with reports announced last month that T-Mobile has been in negotiations to begin carrying the 3G, and that they have already begun to hand out unlocked iPhone 3G's to some customers... but mainly high paying, high profile clients who are threatening to throw massive synchronized hissy fits at Liverpool Station.

O2 has neither confirmed nor denied these reports and has had a spokesperson state that "All I can say is that O2 has a multi-year exclusive on the iPhone... and this remains in place."

Via MACNN

iPhone Breaking Up with O2's Exclusivity

Christine Chan — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 20:20:13 -0500

In six weeks, Apple will be giving two other UK carriers - Orange and T-Mobile - the older 3G model of the iPhone to help boost sales as their exclusivity contract with O2 will end in September 2009. Both of these carriers are already selling iPhones in other countries.

This does not mean that O2 will lose the right to sell the iPhones to sell. In fact, they are retaining the exclusive right to sell the new 3GS model.

Even though they don't have the phones yet, it seems that Orange and T-Mobile have already begun to pitch the iPhone to potential customers, and T-Mobile call centers have been telling their customers that they will soon stock the iPhone.

Of course, O2 is clearly not happy about this news. With new carriers that provide the iPhone, this will surely raise a challenge that O2 must overcome by being more competitive with their rates. They will also fear that the competition will undercut them on the prices of the older models.

UK customers would be happy to hear this though, since there are many that are put off with O2's 'prohibitive' pricing and instead look for unlocked iPhones to use with other UK operators.

Is this a sample of what will eventually happen to AT&T's US exclusivity? We'll see.

via MobileToday

UK iPhone Soon Availble at T-Mobile?

JC Domingo — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 12:02:21 -0500

T-Mobile UK told The Register that they are talking with Apple about securing the iPhone 3G on their network in as little as a few months. O2 still seems to be secure as the exclusive iPhone 3GS supplier for the British Isle.

Like AT&T’s relationship with Apple, O2 has had exclusive rights to the iPhone since 2007. Rumors in the US indicate that the device will not be available for other carriers until 2011, when the 4G network is emerges.

If the iPhone were to be available on another carrier, which would you choose?

Pay-As-You-Go iPhone in the UK

John Pitko — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 16:02:47 -0600

Apple UK announced today its first Pay as you Go iPhone 3G with prices ranging from £342.50 ($500) for the 8GB model and £391.45 ($570) for the 16GB.

Apple, and exclusive iPhone UK carrier, O2 started laying out plans earlier this year to bring this much demanded product to the UK in a Pay-As-You-Go version.

Now a reality, the plans will include unlimited browsing and Wi-Fi for the first 12 months after you activate your iPhone, but limited to only the UK area. After the first 12 months, the data plan changes to £10 per month.

Customers in the market for one of these must complete the following steps:

- Purchase an iPhone 3G from the Apple Online Store.
- Connect iPhone 3G to your computer, which opens iTunes. Follow the on screen instructions to set up your iPhone 3G.
- On your iPhone 3G, change the data settings (see Activation), then top up by a minimum of £10 to activate your iPhone.

Seems simple enough. Now if we could only get that deal here in the United States.

Rumor: O2 To Pre-Approve iPhone 3G Buyers

Lisa Weddle — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 12:55:02 -0500

Not to be outdone by AT&T’s rumored 8AM iPhone 3G launch in the US, the UK’s O2 is now reportedly set to open their stores at 7AM, an hour earlier than usual, on July 11 to eager customers.

This rumor comes second hand from a poster in the Mac Rumors forum who claims to have received the information from an O2 employee. According to the employee, O2 will be signing up customers for iPhone 3G service starting July 1. By July 11, the credit check and service contract would be in place so users can waltz into their local O2 store and pick up their new iPhone.

The source also claims that O2 stores will be receiving shipments of 5,000 iPhone 3G’s per location. That’s a mighty number, causing some to question the validity of the source. Although the employee also states that O2 stores received the same number for the original iPhone launch in November.

If the winners in this picture are O2 customers, then the losers are the UK Apple stores. Because there is no O2 account activation system and a lack of proper training for employees, Apple may be forced to sell only pre-paid iPhones in their stores.

Via AppleInsider

iPhone 3G Data Roaming -- Surprise, It's Pricey

Lisa Weddle — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 13:06:23 -0500

The Times Online warns UK iPhone users of the high price of downloading data outside of the country. Apple’s UK partner, service provider O2, allows unlimited downloads within the country, but once abroad downloading fees are applied. Charges range from £3 (roughly $6) per MB on data downloaded in the EU to £6 in the rest of the world.

Data download fees are nothing new. But iPhone users are particularly susceptible to the fees because of the iPhone’s fast download speeds and large screen make it so darn fun and easy.

Video is not the only culprit, music downloads will cost an overseas Brit as well. Steve Weller of Uswitch told The Times Online that downloading a single track within the EU would cost the user about £9 and £18 (about $35) globally. That’s a pretty penny for that new Coldplay album!

There are options for those who want to download date around the world. O2 offers several options including a 50MB package that costs £50 per month.

Remember, the iPhone has a Data Roaming Off switch in Settings>General>Network, in case you find yourself in another country. American iPhone owners can also sign up for the global data plan from AT&T if they plan on spending a substantial amount of time out of the country and can't live without YouTube in their pocket.

UK Interest in iPhone 3G Increases

Roberto Baldwin — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 11:21:38 -0500

According to O2, consumer interest in the iPhone 3G in the UK has eclipsed interest in the current by an unprecedented rate.

Well, maybe not unprecedented when you realize that the iPhone 3G can be had for free in the UK on the O2 mobile network.

More than 130,000 people have pre-registered their interest in the new iPhone. Compared to the 35,000 people who pre-registered for the original iPhone and it seems the iPhone 3G could be a huge hit in the UK.

The iPhone 3G will hit the British Isle on July 11.