Cheapest iPhone discussion

TommyPB

Max_1066 is dead right. Personally, this is one of the worst "features" of the iPhone - the overly expensive and long contracts offered by the network providers. There's generally very little value in getting the iPhone.
Which is why I suggested the 12 month is a good way of avoiding the lock in. And the value of a SIM only package is just superb in comparison. Obviously the problem is the initial cost of the phone, but personally, I would rather save steadily over the previous few months in anticipation of the phone to buy it outright and therefore save £20+ a month on a SIM only contract.
The pricing plans are very carefully worked out by all the providers to give them some margin, and I think it's outrageous that the only way you can get the 16GB phone for free on an 18 month contract is by paying £65 a month. Sure, you get a lot of minutes, but it costs you just under £1200. Compare that to every other smartphone on the market that (with some tactical haggling) you can normally get for free on a £25 a month 18 month contract. By that simple comparison, the iPhone (albeit with a few additional features) is apparently the equivalent of £720 ( (£65 - £25) x 18 months ) more expensive than an HTC Desire(!) I think not…
I realise that it sounds like I’m trying to put everyone off the iPhone, but I’m just trying to make the point that it’s important to try and get the best value on something that is inherently fairly bad value.
But as has already been said, it all really depends on what suits you. Maybe what I suggested before isn't technically the cheapest. But you are calculating it for an 18 month contract (I assume for comparison), but the point is that it is a 12 month SIM only contract for which there is no equivalent full iPhone contract. Also, if you take my point of selling the phone once your contract is up, you should get much more after 12 months than you would after 18 or 24 months.
Anyway, I'm not trying to argue, just raising the point. Of course, as the posts above quite succinctly say, it's whether you can afford the initial cost.

A question of my own now, has anyone had any experience of upgrading an existing standard contract to a SIM only one? Is there any bargaining power to be had? For example, I am currently on Orange who do not seem to offer as much variety as O2 with regards to SIM only. If I were to quote an O2 contract, would Orange match it?

phnormal_2

Any one bought from phones4u and returned the phone within 7 days?? They say they dont have a 14 cooling off period!!!

Jon_01

phnormal wrote: »

Any one bought from phones4u and returned the phone within 7 days?? They say they dont have a 14 cooling off period!!!

In store ? That's right, cooling periods are for things bought online or over the phone where you can't see what you're getting.

There's never been one for things in store, some will do a good will swap. But what are they going do with a second hand phone ?

INT1

No there is a 14 day cooling off period, as the phone contract is under the consumer credit act 1974, there is.

You might be referring to the selling distance regulations.

Toe-Jam

INT1 wrote: »

No there is a 14 day cooling off period, as the phone contract is under the consumer credit act 1974, there is.

You might be referring to the selling distance regulations.

The phone is not under the Consumer Credit Act. It is a service agreement between The User and the Phone Company.

You do however have at least 7 days to change your mind when you take out a new contract. If its an upgrade its different and the rules don't apply.

phnormal_2

amazing the 3gs I got yesterday they said I can return it tues and get the 4g thursday!! so all i have to pay is an exta £60. Cool!

Jon_01

Toe-Jam wrote: »

You do however have at least 7 days to change your mind when you take out a new contract.

Not if you take it out in a store, no cooling off period.

adamnsu

Apple really now how to wind up people with their overall marketing plan. And the phone companies are reaping the advantage off many people.

I would honestly like an iphone 3GS but would not be tricked by my operator Orange to forced into a 24 month contract and pay £35+£89 for the handset.

db21111

I'm up for renewal with 02, 18 month 3g contract ran out recently and i've been on simplicity for a month. Now.. looking at the great spreadsheet that was produced and linked on another thread (Thanks!) I think my thoughts about going with the 600 mins ULTD text 500 mb contract... now I'm wondering if I go the retentions route but with a different tactic.

My ideal contract would involve the 32gb iphone 4 (though if it's worth it i'd settle for the 16 as that's been enough for me), 500/600 mins, unlimited text, and unlimited data (yes I know, grr)

Do you reckon I could negotiate a better contract by going for a 3gs... then selling my 3g and the new 3gs.. and buying the 4 outright?

What potential pitfalls are there? I haven't read anything about the video calling being another other than via wifi, which suggests to me that it's regardless of contract and only dependant on each party using an iphone 4. I assume o2 would swap my sim for a micro sim too?
Thanks

JamesHP

I'm looking to switch to Vodafone from O2 on Thursday for the iPhone 4, yet I need to pay up the last few months on my O2 Simplicity 12 month contract. If I kept my O2 contract running when applying for Vodafone in store, would if affect my ability to be accepted on Vodafone? Or should I cancel with O2 before applying with Vodafone? I'm just worried about selling my current phone, Vodafone rejecting me and not having a backup, being scuppered with no phone. Seen as I'm 18 with only two SIM only mobile contracts on my credit history, one rolling with T-Mobile then replaced by a 12 month O2 Simplicity.