Apple iPhone

[editor]

I have a historic crappy business account, spoke to O2 this morning and they're happy to change me over to regular consumer account, clearly it doesn't give me much, hence the need to change

I bet they're happy to keep you - I've never known anyone pay so much on a monthly account!

I trust that they aren't expecting you to commit to any time plan as you change tariffs?

 

[Kanda]

I bet they're happy to keep you - I've never known anyone pay so much on a monthly account!

I trust that they aren't expecting you to commit to any time plan as you change tariffs?

Dunno, I'll just sign up for the iPhone 18 month deal if I like the phone, I wouldn't move away from O2 regardless, I beleive, and this is purely my opinion that I am not going to argue, that they have by far the best coverage.

 

[editor]

Dunno, I'll just sign up for the iPhone 18 month deal if I like the phone, I wouldn't move away from O2 regardless, I beleive, and this is purely my opinion that I am not going to argue, that they have by far the best coverage.

O2's coverage is good, but if you want the phone for business use, you''d be mad not to look at Vodafone who offer 3G instead of O2's incredibly patchy and much slower EDGE.

I'm very impressed with Vodafone to be honest (I'm testing the Palm 500v on that network now).

 

[Kanda]

I don't need it for business, I have Laptops, Blackberrys or whatever for that.

Treebeak constantly has problems with Vodafone and my flatmates always have problems with T-Mobile. As well as the numerous problems I've had over the years with other networks and phones. It's one of those better the devil you know things

No way am I dropping a year on someone else when technically O2 have been 100% for me, I'll sort the billing out though, been a bit blind to it tbh..

 

[editor]

I don't need it for business, I have Laptops, Blackberrys or whatever for that.

You can get a much better spec'd phone (albeit not as pretty or shiny) for a whole load less money.

The iPhone hasn't got A2DP, 3G, GPS, push email, MMS, video, video calling, no memory card storage and you'll be buying a phone comes with closed software and one that locks you into a 18 month deal.

Sure, it's mighty purdy to look at, but when it comes to actual smartphone functionality, loads of phones do a whole load more for less moolah.

PS I've been on T Mobile for over a decade and have found them fine.

 

[Kanda]

Sure, it's mighty purdy to look at.

Yes, yes it is. (I'm like a gadget magpie )

 

[Treebeak]

Yes, yes it is. (I'm like a gadget magpie )

/nods

The reason I'm not allowed to leave even a minimal amount of clothing at Kanda's house is cos his cupboards are stuffed with shiny things that he uses a couple of times and then waits for the next shiny thing to come out.

He has three ipods already.. I dont think its possible for an upgrade come out and he doesnt buy it. You're fighting a losing battle I'm afraid, Ed

 

[Treebeak]

P.S Ed, please dont buy any more cameras and show them off on the boards.. Kanda doesnt need more than two!!

 

[Kanda]

P.S Ed, please dont buy any more camera's and show them off on the boards.. Kanda doesnt need more than two!!

I was well up for a new camera too!!!

 

[maximilian ping]

mmm tasty. 02 have told me i can switch to an iphone contract with no penalty and no charge for the handset despite the fact i'm only 5 months into my current 18 month 02 contract (altho it will cost me a £10 more a month for the same free 600mins, 500 texts).

i think i'm going to go for it. i don't need the phone for business, spend most the time in London, and i reckon it will be a good laugh to have an iphone, altho i might get mugged for it

Nov 9 - yes please

 

[editor]

i think i'm going to go for it. i don't need the phone for business, spend most the time in London, and i reckon it will be a good laugh to have an iphone, altho i might get mugged for it

That's the trouble with carrying around a hugely expensive phone: you're always worried that someone's going to nick it - and then there's the fear of damaging the thing.

I've known people persuade themselves that they need a high end phone because they need to have all the techie features with them at all times - and then take their shitty old phone to the pub 'just in case.'

 

[maximilian ping]

i would feel like a bit of turnip getting my shiny iphone out on the bus. if i was a phone thief i'd mug me

 

[editor]

i would feel like a bit of turnip getting my shiny iphone out on the bus. if i was a phone thief i'd mug me

Well, there's the rub.

You buy a phone because it can do lots of cool stuff when you're out and about, but then you're unable to do half the cool stuff when you're out and about because you become an instant target for muggers.

 

[stdPikachu]

I haven't read nay of the press releases cos this doesn't really interest me that much, but who is atually selling the hardware? Do you buy it in Apple shops as in America, or do you have to buy it through an O2 reseller?

It's just that if you can buy it direct from Apple, surely you can avoid getting into an O2 contract by simply never registering the phone, and then unlocking it to use with the tariff of your choice...?

 

[Kanda]

O2, Carphone Warehouse and Apple retail outlets.

 

[Sunray]

I haven't read nay of the press releases cos this doesn't really interest me that much, but who is atually selling the hardware? Do you buy it in Apple shops as in America, or do you have to buy it through an O2 reseller?

It's just that if you can buy it direct from Apple, surely you can avoid getting into an O2 contract by simply never registering the phone, and then unlocking it to use with the tariff of your choice...?

I'd have to piss about getting a 2g SIM again. 3G sim's are different I think, well I got a new sim when I got this phone.

O2 according to the Inquirer are hurriedly upgrading their software across their network to support EDGE.

Its hardly cutting edge in its *phone* operation, its got some nice features but I reckon that once the initial hype has faded, its gonna gather dust on the shelves. The UK public is quite price sensitive to things like this and they are aiming at the general public price.

 

[tarannau]

I
Its hardly cutting edge in its *phone* operation, its got some nice features but I reckon that once the initial hype has faded, its gonna gather dust on the shelves. The UK public is quite price sensitive to things like this and they are aiming at the general public price.

I'm sorry, but have you got any proof of this statement? My impression, particularly in terms of consumer electronics, is that the UK isn't that price sensitive at the higher end. The first wave of much belittled (and very pricey) ipods flew off the shelves fun in the UK for example. I've always been led to believe that the UK's actually pretty willing to spend considerable moolah on overpriced first mover/pioneer products.

 

[stdPikachu]

I've always been led to believe that the UK's actually pretty willing to spend considerable moolah on overpriced first mover/pioneer products.

I think this is true of the early adopter crowd, but I think alot of tech-savvy gadgety people, such as the Ed, are giving this a wide berth for now. There's a large amount of distrust for single-carrier options as far as mobiles are concerned which the US don't seem to have a problem with.

Time will tell I suppose, but my gut reaction says that Apple/O2's tactics won't go down so well in the UK.

 

[editor]

The first wave of much belittled (and very pricey) ipods flew off the shelves fun in the UK for example. I've always been led to believe that the UK's actually pretty willing to spend considerable moolah on overpriced first mover/pioneer products.

There'll always be some early adopters keen to shell out big bucks for new gizmos, but this is much different to the iPod in as much as punters are expected to shell out a lot of wonga for the phone, shift network operators and commit to a 18 month contract at a mighty hefty premium.

I imagine the fact that they'll end up with a phone on a network that's considerably slower than the competition might dampen their enthusiasm a tad too.

 

[tarannau]

I think you've the target market wrong - they're not aiming for the geek/tech-savvy crowd, who've got products they can use already with a little tinkering.

This is largely a style product atm, aimed at the well off and creative industry markets. it's not about the having the most bells and whistles, nor the best tech specs - it's about having a product with ridiculously easy usability and a 'wow' factor that pioneers will lap up. Think largely time-poor professionals who just want a gadget to work immediately out of the box and give them something aspirational to play with.

It's too rich and too early for me, but I've played with the iphone. The responsiveness, speed and multitouch interface genuinely does give you that 'wow' when you use it. The bigger threat to Apple is that the similarish Ipod Touch may cannibalise the market for its own product

 

[editor]

Think largely time-poor professionals who just want a gadget to work immediately out of the box and give them something aspirational to play with.

Sounds like you've been swalling too much Apple PR flannel!

Since when is a phone "aspirational"?

 

[tarannau]

Oh come on, I've already said I don't see the phone as one for me - I'm not swallowing anything, more stating the obvious. It is a product which will generate interest and a 'I want one' reaction - the column inches generated by this product alone should tell you that it's seen as more than just another phone.

You honestly telling me that Apple isn't an aspirational brand with strong appeal to creative professionals and the fashion markets? I'm not trying to feed the hype machine, more pointing out that for most the purchasing decision won't be predominantly based on cold functionality or even price.

 

[kyser_soze]

Since when is a phone "aspirational"?

While the mobile market itself is commodified, there is a large niche of designer handsets out there, which are UTTERLY aspirational in the way they're marketed - think Nokia 8800 in it's lovely shiny case for example. The iPhone may well be able to repeat the neat trick of the iPod of remaining an aspirational but mass-market (i.e. commodified) product...

 

[Crispy]

Sounds like you've been swalling too much Apple PR flannel!

Since when is a phone "aspirational"?

It's bullshit, but it works on some people. They probably bought an Audi TT, even though there are faster, more comfortable, more practical cars for the money. They probably wear gucci shoes that make their feet sore. It's all about status symbols. Apple is cool. The iphone is cool. Owning one makes you cool. That'll do.

The ipod pulled off its trick by being far better than the competitors in an immature market. However phones are a mature market, with very strong competitors - they'll have a harder time.

 

[editor]

You honestly telling me that Apple isn't an aspirational brand with strong appeal to creative professionals and the fashion markets?

I didn't say that.

I said that I thought your comment about "time-poor professionals" wanting "something aspirational to play with" was PR bollocks, and I still think it is.

And deep down, I reckon you know that too

 

[Kanda]

Meh, it just looks cool (a cool gadget, not a *look at my gadget how cool is this* way) and I want to play with one.

I've changed my phone so many times over the years and they're all much of a muchness... so yeah, I'm an *early adopter*, not time poor, but fancy a go on it and it's not gonna cost me any more than my current contract or inconvenience me. If I don't like it, I'll flog it on and get something else...

 

[jæd]

I didn't say that.

I said that I think your comment about "time-poor professionals" wanting "something aspirational to play with" was bollocks, and I still think it is.

And deep down, I reckon you know that too

Why is it bollocks...? I know lots of time-poor professionals... And I know at least one of them who wouldn't say no to an Iphone... (ie, me).

 

[Xanadu]

Since when is a phone "aspirational"?

When it comes with an audi tt?

 

[tarannau]

You haven't met some of my bosses then. Let's take my current example - he's a sloaney type can barely use a pda (the Palm's still in the box, along with an HTC) yet continually buys the latest products. He's already salivating about the iphone.

There are (unfortunately) a lot of people like him up the corporate ladder, particularly in the creative industries. People who like gadgety technology but won't spend any time learning how to use it.

Hell, I've recently shown my boss how to consistently access the 'right button' mouse commands on his mac keyboard. He's only been using macs for about 12 years...

 

[editor]

Why is it bollocks...? I know lots of time-poor professionals... And I know at least one of them who wouldn't say no to an Iphone... (ie, me).

It's "bollocks" because tarranau was the one repeating the PR-bullshit flannel.

I've no doubt such people exist though.