Archive for the ‘uk’ category

Vodafone UK Launches iPhone, 50,000 Estimated on First Day

January 16th, 2010

vodafone-iphone

And the UK adds Vodafone to their official iPhone carriers list, rounding out O2, Orange, and resellers like Tesco, and users are excited enough that sales were expected to hit 50,000 on the first day.

Anyone switch over, or finally getting an iPhone just to run on Voda?

[Vodafone via BGR]

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Vodafone UK Launches iPhone, 50,000 Estimated on First Day


Tesco to Sell iPhone in Time for Holidays

November 25th, 2009

iPhone Tesco

The US sent the iPhone to Walmart and the Shack, so it stands to reason the UK would retaliate with their own mass-market venue, Tesco. In other words, Brits can now stock up on razors, lettuce, and O2-powered iPhones all at the same time.

Our only question remains — how long before America raises the stakes again? How long before you can hit a drive-through at 4am and the mechanical clown speaker asks “ya want an iPhone with that? Supersize to 32GB?”

[Tesco via BBC via Engadget]

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Tesco to Sell iPhone in Time for Holidays


O2 Begins the Great British iPhone Unlock

November 13th, 2009

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Chris from Mobiletech Addicts let us know that, as previously reported, O2 is coming through with the iPhone unlocks. Once their web form is submitted, they send a text (it took all of 15 minutes form him), then:

I put in a Vodafone Sim Card into the phone and fired up iTunes, a couple of minutes later and the [above] message appeared.

Congrats UK residents, you’re free at last!

(Now if only Rogers Canada would find a pair and do likewise right…)

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

O2 Begins the Great British iPhone Unlock


O2 UK to Start Unlocking iPhones Nov. 10. Rogers Canada — Not.

November 10th, 2009

O2 UK iPhone Unlock

Making good on their promise from a few days ago, O2 UK has launched a website where customers can get their iPhone’s officially unlocked starting November 10, 2009. Here are the details:

  • Pay Monthly customers can get the unlock any time, but you have to keep paying O2 for the length of your remaining service contract.
  • Pay Go customers can get the unlock after 12 months, for a one-time £15 fee (deducted from airtime balance).

To begin the process, customers need to complete the online form (via the link above). The process will take up to 14 days, but customers will get an SMS confirmation when it’s completed, and they can then place a non-O2 SIM in their iPhones, hook up to iTunes, and finish the unlock.

Curious as to whether the other major new iPhone multi-carrier market would be following suit, TiPb contacted Rogers and received the following reply:

Rogers policies haven’t changed in this regard.

One step forward, one step back. Hopefully Rogers will reconsider and take a page from O2’s consumer-friendly approach.

Meanwhile, if you go for the new O2 unlock, let us know how the process works out for you!

[Via Chris Oldroyd]

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

O2 UK to Start Unlocking iPhones Nov. 10. Rogers Canada — Not.


O2 UK to Allow iPhone Unlocks When Other Carriers Launch

November 9th, 2009

iphone_sauron_o2

With the UK moving from the iPhone exclusively on O2, to one launching on Orange UK tomorrow, with Vadafone UK/Ireland and perhaps 3 also in line, what does this mean for existing iPhone users and their carrier-locked iPhones? Thankfully, it looks like O2 is doing to do right by you:

Once the iPhone becomes available on other UK networks, we will allow O2 customers to unlock their iPhones, although of course they will still need to honour any outstanding contract period they have. At the end of their contract period, they are entirely free to move to another operator — though naturally we hope they won’t want to!

Excellent news for the UK, and we can only hope other countries and carriers, like Rogers, Bell, and Telus in Canada, will swiftly follow suit (we won’t hold our breath though…)

We’re not sure how this process would be handled, for example, would an iPhone user need to physically go to an O2 service rep to have their iPhone unlocked via in-store iTunes tools? If anyone has an answer, let us know.

[Times Online via Stuartino in the TiPb forums]

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

O2 UK to Allow iPhone Unlocks When Other Carriers Launch


iPhone to Hit Orange UK November 10

October 27th, 2009
Long anticipated, longer rumored, the iPhone is finally set to hit UK’s Orange network this November 10. Carphone Warehouse and Phones4U are both expected to offer the Orange version of the Apple iPhone, though there’s no word yet on pricing (they’re — sigh — looking to “add value” rather than “reduce cost”). With O2 exclusivity ended [...]

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

iPhone to Hit Orange UK November 10


TiPb Presents: iPhone Live! #69 — Two Billion Served!

October 2nd, 2009

Join Chad and Rene for 2 billion apps, Tweetie and TomTom pricing, the latest on the iTablet and Light Peak, AT&T MMS redux, Orange and Vodafone UK, plus your questions! Listen in!

Credits

Thanks to the the iPhone Blog Store for sponsoring the podcast, and to everyone who showed up for the live chat!

Our music comes from the following sources:

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb Presents: iPhone Live! #69 — Two Billion Served!


O2 UK: We Still Have iPhone… and Palm Pre!

September 29th, 2009

iphone_sauron_o2

Pop-quiz: You’re O2 and you just lost iPhone exclusivity in the UK, and now have to compete with both Orange and Vodafone for users’ iPounds. What do you do? Why, tell them you still have the iPhone… and are getting the Palm Pre?!

We’re proud that we’ve been able to offer an exclusive iPhone deal to our 20 million customers for the last two years. We always knew that iPhone exclusivity was for a limited period of time, but our relationship with Apple continues and will be an ongoing success. We have over 1 million iPhone customers and they remain very important to us.

We aim to offer our customers the best devices on the market, including becoming the home of Smartphones and we are really pleased to now add another device in the Palm Pre. We also offer award-winning customer service and benefits, which is why more people choose O2 than any other network in the UK.

What say you UK readers, if you’re thinking of taking your iPhone to another network, will offering you the Palm Pre change your mind?

[via Engadget Mobile]

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

O2 UK: We Still Have iPhone… and Palm Pre!


Vodafone UK, Ireland Also to Start Offering iPhone in Early 2010

September 29th, 2009

iphone_risk_may_roundup

Vodafone has just announced that they will begin selling Apple’s iPhone 3G and 3GS in the UK and Ireland in Early 2010.

This comes on the heels of a similar announcement by Orange UK, and means iPhone users across the pond will soon have 3 carriers battling it out for their love and data affection. And hopefully prices will reflect that.

So, UK readers, with O2, Orange, and Vodafone all on the table, who’re you going to go with?

[Thanks everyone who sent this in!]

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Vodafone UK, Ireland Also to Start Offering iPhone in Early 2010


Orange UK to Offer the iPhone

September 28th, 2009

Orange UK is set to start offering the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS according to ITProPortal. Previously exclusive to O2 in the UK, that deal is said to end on Oct. 9, clearing the way for some competition in the UK market. (At least beyond T-Mobile smuggling in a few units from Germany…)

Orange was previously the exclusive French iPhone provider until Bouygues-Telecom got into the game, and these latest deals seem to indicate Apple is serious about increasing their customer base…. at least outside the US. (Though it’s admittedly easier internationally where almost all providers are GSM and on similar frequencies).

Rumors about Orange getting the iPhone hit TiPb back in May, but there remain no details yet on when and how much. If you’re in the UK, however, let us know if you’re planning to make the jump to Orange when you can.

[Thanks bengillam for the tip!]

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Orange UK to Offer the iPhone