Live from the iPhone UK launch
Steve Jobs has revealed full details of the iPhone's UK launch - and we were there to blog it live
12.16 Right, I've managed to get hands on with an O2 iPhone and, unsurprisingly, it's exactly the same as my imported phone except for the iTunes Wi-Fi Store icon (which sadly didn't work). Did learn a few more facts though - including the fact that O2's hotspot partner is The Cloud, which operates 7500 hotspots that are available to O2 iphone customers for free (well, kinda for free - you pay for it in your £35 a month contract). Also, Steve Jobs mentioned that 3G chipsets with low battery drain won't be available for 18 months. I hope he's wrong - I need a 3G iPhone.
All in all, the launch was everything I expected: a November 9 launch for the UK iPhone, a price of £279 for the handset and a subscription of £35, £45 or £55 a month depending on included calls and texts (data is unlimited on all, but subject to a 'fair use' limit no doubt). The only real surprise was the addition of Wi-Fi roaming. And the bad news - for me - is that Apple intend to close the hole that allowed the iPhone to back hacked. So I may not be using mine on Vodafone for very long... Fingers crossed it'll last until November 9!
10.40 Although today is a UK-only announcement, Apple will be in three more European countries 'next quarter'
10.30 Responding to a question about whether the iPod Touch will steal marketshare from the iPhone, Jobs says they're different - 'The iPhone is a phone. And it does email.' In fact, he says, the iPod Touch will be a training ground for potential iPhone users. Not sure I quite buy that one, but if someone's going to eat Apple's market, it might as well be Apple itself.
10.28 O2 is rolling out EDGE on its GPRS network, but it won't be fully complete in time for the launch on 9 November - in fact, it'll have just 30% coverage. Outside of this area you'll get crushingly slow standard GPRS.
10.27 Steve Jobs on the hacked iPhone 'Some people will try to get in. It's our job to keep them out.' Better not apply any software updates to my iPhone, then!
10.26 The wireless iTunes Music Store will be available on the iPhone at launch.
10.23 The UK iPhone will be activated through iTunes just as in the US, throwing open the possibility of unlockiing it and using it with another network - although it's unlikely that Apple will allow this to happen long term as it will lose revenue from the contract (which is 18 month rather than US 2 year contract).
10.17 We have confirmation from O2 that the 7,000 wireless hotspots (brand unknown) will be free to iPhone users - which is a great deal I think.
10.16 Jobs is now explaining why no 3G - and he's claiming that it's because the 3G chipsets would halve battery life. He says that EDGE is fine for google maps and email, but not so great for the web - hence the iPhone having Wi-Fi
10.10 While I'm stuggling to get a data connection, the guy from o2 is talking about how great the network is, how great the iPhone is and how important the partnership with Carphone warehouse. There will be three tarrifs - £35, £45 and £55, all with unlimited data tarrifs
10.06 It is available on O2; 8GB will be £269 inc VAT; on sale november 9
10.05 Customer satisfaction on iPhone is higher than any other Apple product
10.00 Steve jobs is actually here and he's bigging up the iPhone. Unfortunately our data connection here is pretty dodgy - so the idea of 'internet in your pocket' is kind of appealing right now.
9.58 Pretty much everyone is in, but there are still 2 minutes before the fun starts.
9.37 I'm now inside the Apple Store on Regents Street, watching my fellow journalists file in to take their seats for the announcement. No word yet on whether Steve Jobs will be here - though I kinda doubt it.
----
The greatest gadget in the world - ever - is set to set to be unveiled in the UK at 10am. But which network will it be on, how much will it cost and will it be 3G? (O2, £250, no - in my humble opinion).
Tune in to my live blog coverage from 9.30am to find out. And don't forget to keep refreshing the page.
You can find our guide to the iPhone here.
Comments
The Creative Life
5 years ago
Here we go. "It's the final countdown"!!
mwjdavies
5 years ago
F5 button ready!! Lets have some good news!
mwjdavies
5 years ago
02 store is down!!! If that isnt a iPhone sign I dont know what is!
benwestlake
5 years ago
Maybe the 02 store is having technical difficulties...............(not)!!!!!
mwjdavies
5 years ago
I doubt Steve Job is there too, but have seen pictures that the guy who did the iPhone tutorials is there! Would be good if Steve did show up though to our humble shores!
DoktorD3ath
5 years ago
Ready and waiting for good news (I hope). Any bets on a 16Gb version?
mwjdavies
5 years ago
Please Please Please be 16gb, 3G, and available NOW!!! I've took the day off for this press conference, I so want this phone! Card out, & ready to order! Be good to me steve!!!
mwjdavies
5 years ago
Apple store is down!! :D
The Creative Life
5 years ago
Available this month, would be the best news.
DoktorD3ath
5 years ago
o2 8gb 269
mwjdavies
5 years ago
November 9th £269! 02
DoktorD3ath
5 years ago
Tom must be having some problems at his end...not mastered the iPhone keyboard yet? Or something more nefarious...
mwjdavies
5 years ago
No 3g :(
Marshall
5 years ago
Well Engadget.com have trumped Stuff here i had to get the news from elsewhere... Shame Tom had no signal unless there was some journalist sabotage going on? lol They beat T3 at least.
mwjdavies
5 years ago
"Cloud is the WiFi provider, and yes, it's free."
Rik_95
5 years ago
Seems like it's still going to be cheaper to import and unlock an iphone to use with my existing contract then. I wonder if unlocked iphones on o2 will work free with the hotspots?
JoshS
5 years ago
I think i'm still going for the Touch, I thought maybe an iphone with the right network and at least full EDGE coverage (3g preferred ofcourse). That said I still think there is a viable market for the iphone alongside the touch in europe...
mwjdavies
5 years ago
02 store back up with iPhone info!!
jamiescott134
5 years ago
i'm at skool, in an it lessson, and i am trying to avoid ma teacher watching me see this!!!! i am well high!!!!!!!!!!
jamiescott134
5 years ago
apple/uk site has iphone online now!!!
JoshS
5 years ago
it's all a bit underwhelming really isn't it?
jbr1ght
5 years ago
three tarrifs - £35, £45 and £55. Does anyone have anymore details on this. This would be the deal breaker. Currently I'm on £70 for over 1,000, if I can't get that many minutes then it'll have to be a touch:(
Rik_95
5 years ago
From what i've heard: £35 - 200 mins, 200 texts £45 = 600 mins, 500 texts £55 - 1200 mins, 500 texts and all tariffs come with "unlimited" data (maximum of 1400 pages per day)
Rik_95
5 years ago
I'm with Orange too, but have a relative going to San Francisco next week. Gunna give them my £200 to pick up an iphone for me. Unlock it for free, continue using my orange contract and sell my upgrade phone! I can't stand 02 anyway. (Orange aren't much better though lol)
Dms
5 years ago
Just to make sure i understand this, we have to buy the phone at £269 then take out a contract for £35 per month? Total cost £899.
Rik_95
5 years ago
yeah thats right, £269 before you sign for the contract!! and thats assuming you only want/need 200 mins of talk time & 200 texts a month for your £35. It seems the £45 p/m is the best for the average user. But Personally, that seems a ridiculous price point. There are far better contracts out there (with arguably better phones) for the same (or less) money
robpears
5 years ago
Wow! RIP OFF BRITAIN at its best! The contracts are a joke for what they give you O2 have got to be joking and anyone with that kind of money that is stupid enough to pay it doesn't deserve to have that ammount of money!
JoshS
5 years ago
seems like an ipod touch and a reasonably priced contract or pay-as-you go phone is a much better option if you want to save your doe but get a piece of that gorgeous interface. this whole o2 partnership i think has turned a lot of ppl cold...
grahamester
5 years ago
My concern is, people in the UK aren't used to paying for a phone outright and then still having to subscribe and go through a credit check. Some people could think that when they buy the iphone, that's it and they're all set. In america AT&T had a prepaid tarrif if you didn't like any of the contract options, o2 aren't even entertaining the idea, and there is no reason not to, after all they are not subsidizing the handset. I asked apple, o2 and the carphone warehouse the same question. What happens if someone forks out the £269 for the iphone, gets it home and then fails the credit check, would they be stuck with a worthless phone or would they be entitled to a refund. No-one has wanted or been able to answer that question to date. Apple in my mind has just taken a giant leap closer to MS and thats not a good thing.
rattd
5 years ago
I'm losing count as to the ammount of times I've seen Tom Dunmores face on the news shows. You media Whore!
Marshall
5 years ago
The more i hear about the iphone and the contracts for O2 the more i think this has been the most over-hyped and ultimately disappointing phone release ever. I'm reading that the iphone/O2 doesnt do mms? and a minor but very annoying thing is it cant send to multiple recipients on plain ole text messages? So basically unless you are in town to get a wireless signal you'll only ever be using gprs speeds. Are O2 really going to spend millions on Edge? I dont think so not when they spent 4 billion(?) on a 3g license and infrastructure. The iphone's only selling point now seems to be a touch interface, whupdee doo!!! I think i will save money and get a phone that does everything the iphone does bar a touchy screen and enjoy 3g, a better camera, wireless and more (e.g. the n95).
Rik_95
5 years ago
It could be worse, we could be German - paying 400 Euros (£279) for the iphone and then having to sign a 2yr contract with T-Mobile!
mwjdavies
5 years ago
I just bought my iPod touch from trafford centre :) Happy Days!
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2 years ago
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