iPhones on Orange next week

Rik · Nov 02, 2009, 11:39:27

The BBC reports:

QuoteIPhone 3G and 3GS handsets will be available to Orange customers from 10 November, marking the end of a two- year exclusive deal with operator O2.

Orange said it would offer the handset to pay as you go, pay monthly and business customers.

Customers taking out 24 month contracts worth £30 or £45 a month will get the handset for free.

The Orange tariffs are very similar to O2. The cheapest 24 month contract is £34.26, compared with £29.36 with O2.

"Since we announced the iPhone on Orange we have already seen more than a quarter of a million customers register their interest on our website," said Tom Alexander, head of Orange UK.

Simon · Nov 02, 2009, 11:43:52

Good, and hopefully BlackBerry will follow suit. I don't like these exclusive deals.

Sebby · Nov 02, 2009, 12:37:27

This is good news. O2's 3G network is so poor, and this is something that the iPhone needs. O2 don't seem all that interested in investing either. There was something quite nice about the initial exclusivity of the iPhone, but it's not necessary anymore.

Gary · Nov 03, 2009, 07:07:10

The iPhone we be available on Vodafone in the new year as well.

Sebby · Nov 03, 2009, 18:52:04

Usually I'd avoid Orange and Vodafone because of their horrible branding, but I suspect Apple won't allow it.

Simon · Nov 03, 2009, 19:13:12

That's why I want a BlackBerry Storm 2 on O2, Seb.

Sebby · Nov 03, 2009, 19:14:11

Why don't other mobile phone manufacturers stop networks branding the software? A small logo on the handset itself is fine, but what Vodafone and Orange do to the menus is verging on criminal!

Simon · Nov 03, 2009, 19:21:34

It's the logo on the handset I hate most. Software branding can be got rid of.

Sebby · Nov 03, 2009, 19:36:05

It can, but why should we have to? And it's said to void the warranty. It just seems silly!

Simon · Nov 03, 2009, 21:46:39

With the BlackBerry, you can upgrade and downgrade the software with the Desktop Manager (BlackBerry's PC software). You 'install' the phone software onto the PC, then all you have to do is find 'vendor.xml' in the program files, and delete it. This removes most of the vendor branding, except for the start up splash screen, which is hard coded into the phone.

Gary · Nov 04, 2009, 00:40:36

Quote from: Sebby on Nov 03, 2009, 18:52:04
Usually I'd avoid Orange and Vodafone because of their horrible branding, but I suspect Apple won't allow it.

Same as me Sebby, Orange have the best 3G network but around here the signal is appalling, maybe O2 will get its thumb out of its

with its 3G network, which I can get 1 mile away in either direction

psp83 · Nov 04, 2009, 08:37:30

QuoteThe Orange tariffs are very similar to O2.

Except that the network doesn't go down on O2 when it rains!

Gary · Nov 04, 2009, 09:24:53

Quote from: psp83 on Nov 04, 2009, 08:37:30
Except that the network doesn't go down on O2 when it rains!

Orange operates at a higher frequency as does T Mobile, which is more prone to problems in bad weather and bad building penetration.

Sebby · Nov 04, 2009, 14:42:21

I found T-Mobile's network to be far superior to O2's, though.

Gary · Nov 04, 2009, 22:41:30

Quote from: Sebby on Nov 04, 2009, 14:42:21
I found T-Mobile's network to be far superior to O2's, though.

Depends on area I guess Sebby, here `T-Mobile is awful, you can never win, but any 1900mhz system will perform in worse in general, also the phones will use battery power faster as it takes more juice at that frequency.

Sebby · Nov 04, 2009, 22:44:48

Yep, I'm sure you're right. I think perhaps it's just our area. What I can say is that O2 3G is so bad I have it permanently switched off. It's a disgrace!

Captain K · Nov 06, 2009, 01:43:19

Just got an email from Orange with the prices - as anticipated, very similar to O2. Vodafone emailed me as well indicating that their price structure is to be published in the coming weeks. Market pundits reckon that Vodafone will publish lower prices to tempt people to wait until after Christmas to get the Vodafone version when its released. Thats what I'm hoping anyway.

Gary · Nov 06, 2009, 07:17:53

Quote from: Sebby on Nov 04, 2009, 22:44:48
Yep, I'm sure you're right. I think perhaps it's just our area. What I can say is that O2 3G is so bad I have it permanently switched off. It's a disgrace!

So do I Sebby I just cant be bothered with turning it on when I'm in town unless I'm left in the car for shopping and I'm bored, even then it does not seem that fast

saying that O2 are good on the loyalty factor where as Orange last time I was with them did not even know what a mobile was I thought, and as for Vodafone......need a black Amex card to use them, their tariffs are expensive, and the CS was not great when I was with them. `tbh I think they all have big weaknesses and are putting less and less into the system, but skimming maximum profits