Cheapest iPhone discussion

jonthedog

Just got my iphone 4 from three mobile yesterday and have been playing around with it. Generally great, but there are some features that I've got used to on other mobiles that are sadly lacking.
I can confirm that if you take a pair of sissors to a normal sized pay and go SIM card you can create a micro SIM that works fine in the iphone 4 (it has to be a 3G SIM card, though). It helps if you have some sort of template, of course...:eek:

I can also confirm that the three network allows you to 'tether' your iphone to your computer via bluetooth or USB (faster) so that your computer can use your 3G data connection when you are out and about. :T No reason why you couldn't use this to replace your home broadband if you have good 3G reception and are not a massive downloader/streamer...I was getting average speeds of around 1.7Mbps according to the bbc iplayer test; not the fastest by a long chalk, but acceptable for light use. I believe that the other networks charge you to do this, so is definately something to consider. Don't know if anyone else can confirm whether other networks allow this and how much they charge?
I was a big user of the bbc iplayer on my last mobile, but unfortunately the iphone 4 is not quite up to the job as Apple don't seem to like flash streaming very much. According to the bbc website, this is the situation:
http://iplayerhelp-stg.external.bbc.co.uk/help/mobile_iplayer/mobile_phone
To summerise, for the iphone you can only stream 'catch up' TV and Radio via wifi, not 3G (although apparently only Vodafone and Three allow 3G streaming of iplayer anyway), and you definately can't download, or 'sideload' programmes.:mad: It seems there are some apps and websites that help you get around this; I found a great one called FStream that allows you to stream live radio over both wifi and 3G (including all the BBC channels...particularly useful as Apple neglected again to put an FM receiver in the phone). There also seems to be a website called TV Catch up that streams live TV over both wifi and 3G (all bbc, itv, and 4 channels). But, as far as I can see, no easy way of doing catch up via 3G. Maybe I was just spoilt with my old Nokia, but I think this might be a deal breaker for me and the iphone will be winging it back to Mr Jobs.:A
Incidently, at home my reception on three on the iphone 4 is 3/5 bars as opposed to 7/7 on my Nokia, without touching either phone...not an entirely objective test as there's no way of knowing what either bars actually mean, but it doesn't bode well if venturing out with the iphone to areas of less than perfect reception.

sanpat

I am having difficulty getting the 8GB 3GS from any tesco shop or online as they either say never heard of it as they only do 8GB 3G or they will not be getting it in the stores. When I phoned Tesco mobile they said that they never got any from apple?

They go on to try and sell me more expensive 16GB or 32GB 3GS which not interested in.

Anyone else having similar problem. I have tried Purley, Sutton Cheam and Orpington.

Anyone been able to get one from Tesco as per moneysaving expert cheapest price at 20/month 259 for phone??

Max_1066

sanpat wrote: »

They go on to try and sell me more expensive 16GB or 32GB 3GS which not interested in.?

Apple are only selling the 3GS as a 8GB model as they try to push anyone wanting 16GB or 32GB towards the iPhone4

http://store.apple.com/uk/browse/home/shop_iphone/family/iphone?mco=MTgxNTgzMzY

If Tesco has 16/32GB 3GS I would suggest these were stock items before the iPhone 4 was released ... so there should be room to negotiate.

Blade3

jonthedog wrote: »

Just to add balance, I've been with 3 mobile for the last 3 years and 'imo' I've had consistiently better reception than any of my friends on other networks. In the unlikely event you can't get 3 reception it uses Orange's network, so you get the best of both.
But why listen to opinions, when the Ofcom study in the cheap iphones article that links to this thread states that Three mobile have the best 3G coverage? I guess that makes it a 'fact'.

Agree with jonthedog , these blogs and forums are all just opinion people have with sometimes hidden incentives for doing so too...i am aware a lot of co's post themselves thru made up accounts praising themselves or plugging their service etc so advice is to be wary - you really really dont know WHO it is giving that opinion, so best take it all with a pinch of salt!

gjchester

Blade3 wrote: »

For that price and maybe a little more I'd just get the iPhone4 , if youve been a customer of Tmob then haggle with them too as sure you'd get a better 4 than 3GS

The Iphone 4 is in short supply, Apple are selling everyone they make despite the known issues over the reception.

You are extremly unlikely to get any discount by haggling on the 4, if they had shelf loads to shift maybe but the fact is they don;t have to discount it to sell and they know it.

Loyalty counts for nothing these days

Squish_21

Squish_21 wrote: »

Anyone got any good deals on the iphone 3GS recently with O2?

I am a current O2 customer (been with them 6yrs), eligible for upgrade, ideally i'd like a free 3GS and remain on my current £25 per month contract?

Anyone blagged anything similar to this or better?

I didnt do very well. O2 didnt offer me anything other than the deals on their website due to their new policy of offering exisiting and new customers the same!:mad:

francodevil

Squish_21 wrote: »

I didnt do very well. O2 didnt offer me anything other than the deals on their website due to their new policy of offering exisiting and new customers the same!:mad:

walk away then.

and get one from either tesco or '3';)

Exhortation

Squish_21 wrote: »

I didnt do very well. O2 didnt offer me anything other than the deals on their website due to their new policy of offering exisiting and new customers the same!:mad:

See what the other networks have to offer (someone on here haggled with Three and got their £35 contract with a free iPhone instead of the £99 they should've paid) and then go back to O2 and go through Retentions to see if they'll match it.

Toe-Jam

Exhortation wrote: »

See what the other networks have to offer (someone on here haggled with Three and got their £35 contract with a free iPhone instead of the £99 they should've paid) and then go back to O2 and go through Retentions to see if they'll match it.

As far as i Know, O2 do not discount the Iphone 4, the best you could hope for would be free 02 to 02 calls added to your account or something like that.

Max_1066

Toe-Jam wrote: »

As far as i Know, O2 do not discount the Iphone 4, the best you could hope for would be free 02 to 02 calls added to your account or something like that.

I've been with O2 for years and had 3G and 3GS iPhones from them. I had a long discussion with O2 retentions however they agreed that they couldn't offer me anything even when I requested my PAC number.

So I've just ordered an iPhone4 from Vodafone as their tariff is slightly better than O2 and you can get £40 cashback via Quidco. Hopefully Vodafone customer service won't be as bad as people say it is !!!