Cheapest iPhone discussion

leemsutton

A family member works for Apple in the states, and whilst he's in the mac side of things and not the iphone bit, he says in June 2010 there will be a completely new iphone released - new shell, new software new everything. Longer battery life and much quicker to use.

He says that between now and June all the iphone suppliers will be doing excellent deals to get rid of the current 3gs stocks ordered to make way for the new versions.

So hold off and wait for a couple of months.

kg1984

theonlyrick wrote: »

If you surf a lot, check emails, or use many online apps, and do this stuff away from WiFi, remember that you'll have to pay for data in your tariff, which pushes the price up.

If you're a heavy data user, it can add significantly to whichever tariff you move on to at the end of your 12 or 18 month contract.

Incorrect. The iPhone comes with a very generous data allowance per month included in the tariffs (on o2 it is subject to fair use, on Orange it is 750MB/month).

If you're moving at the end of your contract, o2 offer an iPhone simplicity deal for IIRC £25/month, again including unlimited data.

Crazyangel

I'm considering getting the iphone with Tesco mobile. After the 12months is up, are you offered an upgrade like other networks?

I had read on a website previous to the Tesco release that if on the Tesco 18month contact they will upgrade you to the new iphone (if released in June) for free, however you pay an extra £200 odd if on 12mnth one. Anyone know if this is true? Or even if they DO an 18mnth contract?!

jumblejack

jbobe wrote: »

Well after 4 arguments with 02 I finally got what I wanted, plus more!

FREE brand new 32gb 3gs
18 month contract
£35 per month - 600 mins 500 texts

I'm happy

Total cost over contract works out at £630 and you are tied for 18months and, for most, that is only for a REFURBISHED phone.

Yet Tesco's total cost over contract works out at £647 and you are only tied for 12 months -£407 upfront & £20 month. That is for a NEW phone

I could get the above deal through o2 as I have had the iphone with them for 3 years but I am not too sure that it is the best option considering the Tesco deal? Hmmmm, decisions, decisions!!!!!!

dvs

Rochdale_Pioneers wrote: »

lol - respect! I don't think I am saying iPhones are rubbish - they have put a rocket up the bum of the mobile industry. Not for me as I want a physical keyboard anyway, I was just curious as to why people seem enthusiastic to pay vast sums for them when the benefits of say the higher memory ones are a fraction of what you pay.

For example, O2 do them SIM free. The 32GB one is £100 more than the 16GB one. But a 16GB MicroSD card as used in absolutely every other smartphone is £30 at most. Kerching £70 for nothing to Apple. I totally get the "we like it" attitude - as someone wedded to WinMo I'm hardly one to talk. I just don't get why people let Apple fleece them. People don't generally like getting fleeced, so why do they let Apple keep doing it? Is it the fashion appeal of the white earbuds?

Micro SD memory is cheaper than the memory they use in the iPhone. At the time of release, it was calculated that the extra memory did cost about the same the additional retail cost. Whilst the cost of memory is falling, you have to remember the extra £100 includes VAT and additional costs associated with a higher retail cost (retailers/supplier costs and profits etc).

MSNovice_2

People are mentioning getting in contact with the Retentions Department at O2 - how exactly does one do that?

Is it something you are offered from the Customer Services phone number, or do you have to threaten to leave O2 and then they automatically connect you?

Mobiles.co.uk_company_representative

jumblejack wrote: »

Total cost over contract works out at £630 and you are tied for 18months and, for most, that is only for a REFURBISHED phone.

Happy to be corrected but I think you'll find it's not possible to obtain a refurbished iPhone. All stock that would normally go for refurb is returned to Apple, where I guess it's remanufactured (new battery, case, screen etc) and sold As New.

Regards,

db21111

I'll be calling retentions in April/May to upgrade

I'm told that on a £35 per month contract, I downgraded from £45 as recommended on MSE, it will cost me £184 (approx, can't remember exactly). I'll likely go back to £45 but the customer services girl couldn't tell me how much it'd cost me for the 3gs 32gb, she said 16gb would be free.

To be fair I should've downgraded a while back, my 18 month contract is due up mid May... I planned to downgrade after 9 months as per MSE rec's, as to what would be the cheapest way around getting the iphone 3g 16gb. So... next time I'm putting a reminder in my calendar!!

Golden8

While in New Zealand, my brother bought unlocked i-phones for the whole family, which they are using in UK and Europe. Apparently it is illegal in New Zealand to sell locked phones. I don't know if you can buy from New Zealand on the internet, that would make it really easy.

Rochdale_Pioneers

dvs wrote: »

Micro SD memory is cheaper than the memory they use in the iPhone. At the time of release, it was calculated that the extra memory did cost about the same the additional retail cost. Whilst the cost of memory is falling, you have to remember the extra £100 includes VAT and additional costs associated with a higher retail cost (retailers/supplier costs and profits etc).

Oh come off it. Every competitor device uses flash memory in MicroSD format. You can have unlimited memory simply buy more cards. What are they fitting in the iPhone if not flash - old fashioned micro drives?

Had Apple chosen to, they could have built the iPhone so that you can change the battery and add more memory. Locking both things in the case ensures that they can charge you more. Its a marketing scam!