Cheapest iPhone discussion

Fire_Fox

Any wrote: »

Hi,
Can pls someone tell me if they had they Iphone unlocked and how much did they pay?
My local phone shop says they cannot unlock the 3.1.0 software version (or something like that) yet.
I am looking at the Tesco 3G 8Gb PAYG phone, any idea what software does that have (not mentioned on their website)?

Also someone else told me that you can just pay £25 top up and they will then unblock it for you... but Tesco website says they will only do it after 12 mths.. Have I missed something?

If you do not get your handset unlocked officially every time Apple update the software the phone will lock again. Have you read yesterday's announcement about OS 4.0? The 3G phones will not be able to have all the new functions including multi-tasking.

Can I ask why you want a PAYG handset? My Tesco contract 16GB 3GS cost £320 then only £20 a month for one year. Your 8G 3G is £325 and you will surely have to spend at least £10 a month topping up or on a SIM only contract? Also consider resale value. Have you read Martin's article on the main MSE site that this thread is based upon?
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/deals/cheap-iphone
Also have you read this article which advises that O2 are the cheapest place to get an unlocked handset:
http://www.allaboutiphone.net/2010/01/how-to-get-the-cheapest-officially-unlocked-iphone-in-the-uk/

decsdad

rose28454 wrote: »

I rang 3 today to get my PAC code as I have got one of the O2 sims on offer. However when I said I was leaving they offered me an IPhone. It is the 16gb 3GS £25.00 per month for 700 minutes talk or text and unlimited internet, wifi, e-mails etc. Phone is £99.00 and contract is 24 months. Does that sound good?

Three doing iphones, cant see it on the website ?

Any

Fire_Fox wrote: »

If you do not get your handset unlocked officially every time Apple update the software the phone will lock again. Have you read yesterday's announcement about OS 4.0? The 3G phones will not be able to have all the new functions including multi-tasking.

Can I ask why you want a PAYG handset? My Tesco contract 16GB 3GS cost £320 then only £20 a month for one year. Your 8G 3G is £325 and you will surely have to spend at least £10 a month topping up or on a SIM only contract? Also consider resale value. Have you read Martin's article on the main MSE site that this thread is based upon?
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/deals/cheap-iphone
Also have you read this article which advises that O2 are the cheapest place to get an unlocked handset:
http://www.allaboutiphone.net/2010/01/how-to-get-the-cheapest-officially-unlocked-iphone-in-the-uk/

I don't need latest version of Iphone and all that rubbish. I want an Iphone mainly for browsing internet and the Iphone has the best screen for that, so I am not all that bothered by not having OS 4.0 or 16Gb of memory.

I want a PAYG handset because I already have SIM only O2 contract where I get 900 mins, 1600 text and unlimited internet for £20 pm.

I wanted to go with Tesco because it's £25 cheaper then O2 and you get another £5 off currently and Tesco points - but obviously if you cannot unlock it like every other phone then it's a no no.

kidcat

decsdad wrote: »

Three doing iphones, cant see it on the website ?

Its not on the web, I have been offered one by three too but the deals they were offering were not as good as o2 or tesco were doing, at least not as a retention deal. I could get the same deal or slightly better from a couple of places so I didnt feel inclined to stay with three, I felt that if they wanted to keep my custom then they should be offering a better deal.

Darrenb2410

kidcat wrote: »

Its not on the web, I have been offered one by three too but the deals they were offering were not as good as o2 or tesco were doing, at least not as a retention deal. I could get the same deal or slightly better from a couple of places so I didnt feel inclined to stay with three, I felt that if they wanted to keep my custom then they should be offering a better deal.

Just been told by Nicola at 02 retentions, that they will not be doing the 3gs refurbished handsets through retentions any longer. Apparently, they will go on the main 02 website along with the current 3g refurbs. These will not be priced as good as the deals previously seen.:(

Miss_Imaginative

Darrenb2410 wrote: »

Just been told by Nicola at 02 retentions, that they will not be doing the 3gs refurbished handsets through retentions any longer. Apparently, they will go on the main 02 website along with the current 3g refurbs. These will not be priced as good as the deals previously seen.:(

Interesting! I've just this minute got off the phone to Rob at O2 Retentions, who said they *might* be getting more 3GS Refurbs in, they just don't know when! He also said they didn't get particularly many of them in (or very often), but who knows if he was just pacifying me and hoping I'd jump at his offer for a brand-new 3GS.

I've been with o2 since the days of Genie/BT Cellnet as a PAYG customer and a contract customer for 3 years now - I'm now up for renewal and explained that I've been unhappy with the customer service the last 18 months (I've had to send my C905 away for repairs 4 times and the service I received for that was just shocking).

Anyway, he offered me for a brand-new iphone 3gS (16GB, black):
24 month contract, £89 up-front cost for phone at £35 a month, 600 minutes, unlimited texts and unlimited web access.

I'm not particularly impressed by that to be fair, as it's the same tariff they're offering to a new customer! But, as seen on here, Apple do fix the prices... I was just hoping there'd be *some* lee-way in terms of customer loyalty (not to mention usage, as I use barely 300 texts a month). Said no thanks for the time being. I'll give them another ring at some point and see what happens.

Miss_I

Darrenb2410

Miss_Imaginative wrote: »

Interesting! I've just this minute got off the phone to Rob at O2 Retentions, who said they *might* be getting more 3GS Refurbs in, they just don't know when! He also said they didn't get particularly many of them in (or very often), but who knows if he was just pacifying me and hoping I'd jump at his offer for a brand-new 3GS.

I've been with o2 since the days of Genie/BT Cellnet as a PAYG customer and a contract customer for 3 years now - I'm now up for renewal and explained that I've been unhappy with the customer service the last 18 months (I've had to send my C905 away for repairs 4 times and the service I received for that was just shocking).

Anyway, he offered me for a brand-new iphone 3gS (16GB, black):
24 month contract, £89 up-front cost for phone at £35 a month, 600 minutes, unlimited texts and unlimited web access.

I'm not particularly impressed by that to be fair, as it's the same tariff they're offering to a new customer! But, as seen on here, Apple do fix the prices... I was just hoping there'd be *some* lee-way in terms of customer loyalty (not to mention usage, as I use barely 300 texts a month). Said no thanks for the time being. I'll give them another ring at some point and see what happens.

Miss_I

That is interesting.!! I was about to bite the bullet and go for a new one, but was like you offered the standard deal, with an extra 200 minutes for loyalty. Not great when you only use 400 a month max anyway. Again, it comes down to what advisor you speak to relays different messages. I spoke to someone on Tuesday, who strongly hinted to ring back today ! I still might give it another week or so, on the basis that they do come back into stock every 3-5 weeks.:question:

nickmack

Miss_Imaginative wrote: »

I'm not particularly impressed by that to be fair, as it's the same tariff they're offering to a new customer! But, as seen on here, Apple do fix the prices... I was just hoping there'd be *some* lee-way in terms of customer loyalty (not to mention usage, as I use barely 300 texts a month). Said no thanks for the time being. I'll give them another ring at some point and see what happens.

Unfortunately, there's very little latitude on pricing. You might get a few mins or texts thrown in but Apple take a fairly strict line with pricing on new devices.

Whilst I don't necessarily disagree with Apple for not devaluing their product with discounting, they just need to come up with a handset that is worthy of the premium.

Fire_Fox

Any wrote: »

I don't need latest version of Iphone and all that rubbish. I want an Iphone mainly for browsing internet and the Iphone has the best screen for that, so I am not all that bothered by not having OS 4.0 or 16Gb of memory.

I want a PAYG handset because I already have SIM only O2 contract where I get 900 mins, 1600 text and unlimited internet for £20 pm.

I wanted to go with Tesco because it's £25 cheaper then O2 and you get another £5 off currently and Tesco points - but obviously if you cannot unlock it like every other phone then it's a no no.

I confess to not being an expert, but my understanding is that the iPhone is not the best for browsing the net, I believe the Android phones are superior and I *think* one of the HTC models has a larger screen. Certainly even with 3GS iPhone I find browsing pretty slow it's much quicker to search via apps, but coming out of one and into another is also slow without multitasking.

d123

Fire_Fox wrote: »

I confess to not being an expert, but my understanding is that the iPhone is not the best for browsing the net, I believe the Android phones are superior and I *think* one of the HTC models has a larger screen.

I would have to disagree, I have an iPhone 3GS and a HTC Hero (and have trialled the new HTC Desire).

There is a HTC HD2 with a physically bigger LCD screen but it runs Windows Mobile :eek: so probably best avoided.

The iPhone is still a better device with regard to browsing (of course, only in my experience and opinion).