MSE News: iPhone 4 to launch this month, but on which networks?

Jon_01

Yeah, I know. But there's is no way that any phone (and it is only a phone, let face it) is worth more than 500 quid. I can't even justify that to myself.

MercilessKiller

Get it on contract then? They'll be some good deals and hopefully a bit of a price war, plus cashback with quidco :x

Jon_01

Can't. I work for one of the networks. We have a special employee acc's with cheap calls/texts/internet but we're restricted on phones and get nothing off them. So payg is the only way. . .

Percy1983

Mercilesskiller... When did you move to Leeds Mr Jobs?

In reality I struggle to see how anybody justifies the iphone, it may just me my inner accountant but I always add the price of phone + the full term of the contract to get a total cost. My current £119.88 a year gives me all I need and the price of a can easily be 3-4 times more. Is it 3-4 times better than my current phone... I think not.

MercilessKiller

Percy - I hate Apple I just love the iphone...

Its easy to justify but this is a thread to discuss the release/prices/etc... Please don't come here just to flame it...!!!

You get what you pay for

fogdonkey

Hi Folks,

I work for a mobile company and can safely say i get asked about the iphone on a daily basis. I struggle (continually) to overcome the sheer demand for this handset. Yet very few people i speak to can actually list a feature about this phone (irrespective of version and yes i am including version 4) that is actually unique.
I have to conceed that the iphone is slick, it is good looking and on the right network can also be very quick. However Jon 01 is spot on when he says that there is little justification for a phone over £500. The HTC Desire is my phone of choice, not because i work for HTC or because i hate apple (i own 2 ipods), but because on balance the handset is simply superior. Few iphone users have ever explored the market outside iphone, many simply want one because of the commercialism of the brand and the media coverage around it.

When you break down the the iphone and compare its features, the HTC rivals the latest version and supports an equally easy to use, stable and versitile operating system that is Android.

The sooner we move away from buying things based on brand rather than capability, the sooner we can save money. The Desire is £30 per month on most networks, no up front charge for the handset and will sync with itunes. Isnt it madness to spend so much more for something which is fundamentally the same in all areas.

I am sure this will no doubt provoke argument, so i challenge anyone keen on getting an iphone to explore the wider handset market first, visit your local retailer and play with the live phones (many networks do this now) and make an informed choice. If you still thing the iphone is better then get it, but at least you will have the knowledge to back up your (expensive) decision.

fogdonkey

Percy1983 wrote: »

Mercilesskiller... When did you move to Leeds Mr Jobs?

In reality I struggle to see how anybody justifies the iphone, it may just me my inner accountant but I always add the price of phone + the full term of the contract to get a total cost. My current £119.88 a year gives me all I need and the price of a can easily be 3-4 times more. Is it 3-4 times better than my current phone... I think not.

Percy, with the greatest respect you are paying that price because you have probably been with your network many years and have battered them for a loyalty discount on your plan. The result is that they will never offer you a premium handset or a huge amount of inclusive mins/texts/web because of your monthly contribution. Your plan suits your needs and thats great, but your needs are not the same as those who are discussing the purchase of a premium handset that will support much more content than many of the other phones on the market.

for many, they will pay much more to get much more. I guess if you have never used your phone for much more than calling and texting it will be hard to comprehend why people would choose to spend this way.

MercilessKiller

I have an iPhone, a Blackberry and a Sharp GX30 (which is my favourite phone.. wish they carried on making them! haha).. I had an HTC Hero, HTC TTYN II, Sony P900 and a range of other phones that I've tried and tested.

for me, the iphone beats them all hands down.. why?
1) Apps (I know Android has apps but iPhones tight controls do mean there aren't any crashes and they are all clean)
2) iPod - I've used iTunes for years so easy syncing with itunes was a big plus for me...
3) Genius - Not on any other devices
4) iBooks
5) OS
6) Quality of handset... Had the original since it came out and not only is it still in great condition but the battery hasn't suffered a bit...!!!!

Ok some devices beat the iphone on some of the above points, but no device beats the iphone on ALL of the above points... it is a great allround device and as I said, I'm far from an Apple fan boy! I hate Steve Jobs, and I hate some of the lies he tells like why they control apps on the appstore (he mentioned its because he didnt want kids to watch !!!!!!..)

Finally, you work for HTC... Of course you'd defend it.. you couldn't not The bias is in your blood!

fogdonkey

MercilessKiller wrote: »

I have an iPhone, a Blackberry and a Sharp GX30 (which is my favourite phone.. wish they carried on making them! haha).. I had an HTC Hero, HTC TTYN II, Sony P900 and a range of other phones that I've tried and tested.

for me, the iphone beats them all hands down.. why?
1) Apps (I know Android has apps but iPhones tight controls do mean there aren't any crashes and they are all clean)
2) iPod - I've used iTunes for years so easy syncing with itunes was a big plus for me...
3) Genius - Not on any other devices
4) iBooks
5) OS
6) Quality of handset... Had the original since it came out and not only is it still in great condition but the battery hasn't suffered a bit...!!!!

Ok some devices beat the iphone on some of the above points, but no device beats the iphone on ALL of the above points... it is a great allround device and as I said, I'm far from an Apple fan boy! I hate Steve Jobs, and I hate some of the lies he tells like why they control apps on the appstore (he mentioned its because he didnt want kids to watch !!!!!!..)

Finally, you work for HTC... Of course you'd defend it.. you couldn't not The bias is in your blood!

I am flattered that you think i work for HTC. I am actually a Store Manager for a network high street store (but i am sure you will understand if i dont say which one). I guess the point i was making in my previous post is that there is 'another way'. Its not to patronise those who make the choice to get an iphone. I agree with you in that the iphone is a lovelly piece of kit but my argument was that many users have purchased the handset without making an informed choice.

I dont necessarily advocate getting an HTC branded phone, although i own a Desire, but give me some credit as a person who works in the industry and has hefty discounts off any phone my network ranges, it must say something for the HTC Desire/Android OS if i selected that handset over the iphone. Android as an operating system offers the applications iphone users have become accustomed to but because they are developed by both google and the individual, and shared in an open market and the majority are free to download. Their stability is normally ok and the quality of the apps are rated by previous users, so you know if something is rubbish before downloading it. One app in particular allows the syncing of android phones with itunes.

All new phones have a 2 year warranty. If something has gone wrong in your phone your provider is obliged to help fix it, providing you didnt cause the fault. I think the iPhone is great and i respect anyone who gets one but only if it is the right phone for their needs (like you).

In summary, my post was not about belittling those who buy iphones, but to criticise those who spend their money without researching other similar/better/different products first. In my experience many iphone customers dont know why they want one, they just do. My point is you wouldnt buy a Ferrari without test driving a Aston Martin, Lambo and Porsche first.

fogdonkey

In answer to the question on this forum...

T-Mobile, Voda, O2 and Orange have all declared. Expect to pay a minimum of £45 per month over a 24 month term to get the 16GB version free. Cheaper contracts will have a one off charge for the phone. Min contract price £35 per month + cost of phone £100+ depending on GB.

Hopefully with all the networks getting behind the lauch we should see some unique price points rather than the almost "fixed" prices we see now with the 3GS. Also consider the 3GS is still a pretty good phone and prices will drop on this as the model becomes obselete.