Iphone coming to Vodafone

Dermoth

Hi, I got a call from Vodafone today and during the call they said that the exclusivity with 02 is up in a couple of months and that they will have this on the network. Then today it appears that the same thing is being said about T-Mobile in the UK. Anyone know if this is the case? Thanks.

G-Money

I hope its true. Just did a search and T-Mobile UK is apparently in talks about selling the iPhone 3G on their network, so not the 3Gs

CivilEx

There is a good bit of chatter around about this today, but reading between the lines I'd say that "discussions are ongoing" is the phrase most commonly being used. Personally I think it's not a matter of "if" but when the exclusivity agreement with O2 will finish and other carriers will get in on the action

Tom Dunne

I'll believe it when I see it.

O2 Ireland have the iPhone for just over a year.

They have invested millions in their network, advertising, training, marketing, etc. They are not going to let that go any time soon.

My prediction? It will be at least another 2 years before O2 Ireland relinquish their control of the iPhone.

Dermoth

You know I wasn't so sure myself. But I specifically said that the 3GS exclusivity must have only begun and the guy said that the information they had internally was that the 3GS was part of the deal. He said that 02 were coming up to 2 years - a post here says it's more like one - so I'm not sure if that's right. But the context of this call was that Vodafone called me (Ispend a lot with them) to make sure I was happy. I said I wanted a new handset. He said the N97 would be out shortly. I said that they needed to bring it out to compete with IPhone and he said - well actually no...and that's where he said it was pretty certain they'd have it.

Dermoth

02 announced the IPhone in Feb 2008 - so even if it were a two year deal it's still over 6 months away. Ahh...too good to be true. Off to Italy to get one unlocked and put in my Vodafone sim, I think.

F-Stop

Dermoth wrote: »

Off to Italy to get one unlocked and put in my Vodafone sim, I think.

Yeah, I went to Carrickmines to do that.

Maldini2706

It has been rumoured before alright. I wonder if 2 networks having the iPhone would lead to a bit of competitive pricing.

towel401

pfft. hope they start selling them unlocked in the apple stores then too

Biro

Doesn't matter really, vodafone are expensive. And they block the VOIP traffic. I'm with them, but changing to O2 for the 3GS.

towel401

O2 are also expensive. but people put up with it because they get the iPhone they want

dulpit

As far as i know (based on listening to TWiT and stuff) the exclusivity deal for the iphone on AT&T expires soonish (like a few months) and it could then go to other networks in USA...

Would the deals worldwide all be expiring around the same time? Strikes me as silly to have this deal... If more networks were selling the phone then wouldn't they (Apple) sell more phones??

wittymoniker

Biro wrote: »

Doesn't matter really, vodafone are expensive. And they block the VOIP traffic. I'm with them, but changing to O2 for the 3GS.

pardon my ignroance, what are the implications of this, no skype?

mika27

wittymoniker wrote: »

pardon my ignroance, what are the implications of this, no skype?

I would guess no skype or the likes over 3G but I doubt they could block it over wi-fi, open to correction on that one.

CivilEx

Skype works on Vodafone

Dades

It would be very interesting to see whether Vodafone could improve on O2's offerings, or whether the problems with stock, tariffs etc would just be the same but branded in red.

CivilEx

Dades wrote: »

It would be very interesting to see whether Vodafone could improve on O2's offerings, or whether the problems with stock, tariffs etc would just be the same but branded in red.

It looks a little like Vodafone or another network would only carry the 3G rather than the 3GS and that O2 would retain the rights to the 3GS.

If this was the case, stock certainly shouldn't be a problem...or would there be that much interest

Purple Gorilla

Here's my guess,
O2 Ireland didn't sign a separate contract with Apple. We aren't that big a market so I'm guessing O2 Ireland signed the exclusivity deal along with UK and maybe Germany and Slovakia.
Remember, exclusivity deals on O2 are usually done through Telefónica Europe I believe. I'd say it just took a few extra months for O2 to get their network upto scratch for the iPhone, wasting a few months of their exclusivity contract. This would be plausible because O2 UK's contract is up with Apple and the iPhone 3G will be available on Orange and T-Mobile in a few months.

Apple is apparently pissy with O2 because they got the Palm Pre on their network so that could lead to the break-down in relationship. Apple still want to maintain some exclusivity with the iPhone so the 3GS will stay on O2 but the iPhone 3G will appear on Vodafone by Christmas to maximise sales for Apple Also, if you remember WWDC, Apple said they were aiming for businesses and the corporate world with iPhone so they will obviously try and get on Vodafone which is regarded as a more businessy network

CivilEx

Yep, I'd agree with all that, definitely more Business orientated on Vodafone.

I wonder how many iPhones are already being used on Vodafone on a day to day basis?

Purple Gorilla

Well I can personally confirm it. My brother just went into Vodafone to get his Sim Card fixed and the Sales People were asking him if he had heard about the iPhone 3G coming to Vodafone and if he'd like to register interest

Dades

Purple Gorilla wrote: »

the Sales People were asking him if he had heard about the iPhone 3G coming to Vodafone and if he'd like to register interest

LOL - register interest! Sounds distubingly familiar to how the other crowd started their rollout.

The question is will it all end with Apple skimping on stock supplies and angry listees throwing strops in Vodafone stores. :pac:

Purple Gorilla

That's what I thought when he told me :P

All I know is, this is great. Vodafone have the money and the willpower to implement Visual Voicemail. Hopefully that'll force O2 to actually invest in their network! Competing tariffs will drive down prices hopefully too! Then we'll see real competition.

TrueDub

Purple Gorilla wrote: »

All I know is, this is great. Vodafone have the money and the willpower to implement Visual Voicemail.

How do you know this?

Purple Gorilla

TrueDub wrote: »

How do you know this?

I looked into my crystal ball. Both companies have the money to do it but if Vodafone offered VV it would appeal to business customers and would be seen as an advantage over O2

towel401

voicemail is old news anyway, who really still uses it?

sure it was great in the days when phones had 3 hours of standby, nobody could send texts and phones were always out of coverage. but i dunno like i never really used it, always felt uneasy speaking into someones voicemail incase i ended up saying something that sounded stupid. someone could record a conversation the same way and take out a little snippet but for some reason that just isn't the same

exiot

Nevermind what network its on, they need to introduce about 10 more iPhones before poor students like myself can afford the current iPhone!

towel401

exiot wrote: »

Nevermind what network its on, they need to introduce about 10 more iPhones before poor students like myself can afford the current iPhone!

get an ol beat up 2G, unlock and put a new housing on it

Biro

CivilEx wrote: »

Skype works on Vodafone

On vodafone broadband?
It doesn't work via fring, and they actually say in their terms and conditions that voice over IP is prohibited.

Biro

towel401 wrote: »

voicemail is old news anyway, who really still uses it?

Lots of people.

Kid Nothing

towel401 wrote: »

voicemail is old news anyway, who really still uses it?

sure it was great in the days when phones had 3 hours of standby, nobody could send texts and phones were always out of coverage. but i dunno like i never really used it, always felt uneasy speaking into someones voicemail incase i ended up saying something that sounded stupid. someone could record a conversation the same way and take out a little snippet but for some reason that just isn't the same

Ah in fairness voicemail is essential to many businesses, getting in contact with people in meetings, etc. I still use it fairly regularly.

Have to question what kind of impact a generation old phone could have on Vodafone, realistically it'll be almost 2 years old if they launch it around Christmas.

CivilEx

Kid Nothing wrote: »

Have to question what kind of impact a generation old phone could have on Vodafone, realistically it'll be almost 2 years old if they launch it around Christmas.

It might have more impact than you might think on the business side... There are absoloutely loads of companies out there with Vodafone for years who traditionally buy SIM free phones to get the specific handset they want. Up to this, the iPhone really hasn't been available sim free to your typical purchasing manager unless he was willing to hop on a plane to Italy to get one for you....not likely :rolleyes:.

I'd be more than surprised if there wasn't a steady stream of Enterprise users buying iPhones if Vodafone had them for sale in the morning...

Leiva

+1

I know for a fact my company (75+ phones) would pick up iphones tomorrow if available from Vodafone .
Having a bit of a nightmare with Bollockberry Storms may also explain why we would be anxious to get iphones

up them Schteps

Hopefully vodafone will introduce bills with good value bundles. Like texting etc. I'd probably stump up €40 a month for sh1te loads of texts to all networks and 40mins of calls.

whiterebel

TBH it would be fine if VF just put it into their normal plans like they do with every other phone but Blackberry.Allow you to add the ISP bundle for €10/month, and I'd be a very happy camper.

darcy.jonny

i had a 2g unlocked iphone working on vodafone ...... didnt tell them anything etc about it . after using it for various fetures i got a txt from vodafone direct saying u have the iphone blah blah if u would like any assistance with vodafone setting for the iphone please contact us blah blah ...............

my take on this would be , if they can recagnoise then on there network and give out the setting etc. then there planing on rolling them out on there network sooner rather than later ....... look for a christmas roll out but expect crapy price plans to begin with ...... but ready to go versus prepay on o2 iphone prices might be intresting , if anything ild expect o2 to drop the price of a standard 3g 8gb ... be logical if u think about it ......... vodafone launch iphone 3g for arguement sake 400 euro o2 are more intrested in selling 3gs and have stock piles of 3g iphones ..... decided to sell for 350 just to keep business

anyway fuvcken things are far to expensive no matter what anyone says . been around to long now retailing at premium costs and an extra 100 euro for the 3gs ...... 3 megapixel as to two ???? whats the point still crap
faster browser ..................... tryed it cant say theres a huge difference tbh

ild love google or someone to actually make a phone to chalange the ipone other than the crap out there ......... maybe microsoft will haver there go someday looking at the oqo paslmtop ild say its a matter of time before some1 tryes that as a phone

banquo

iPhone + google voice (someday...) + skype = ultimate phone.

booyah1024

the source of this is some vodafone monkey in a store/call-centre.

everyone knows they are the last to know about anything like this.

ofjames

any update on whether there was any truth to the alleged-imminent arrival of iphone to vodafone?

banquo

If and when it does come to Vodaphone, I wouldn't be surprised to see it at almost the same price as 02. Price gouging ftl and they can still charge these prices with the demand for it. It's not like there's a surplus of iPhones that they just can't unload.

How much is a 3g prepay on 02 again? Something like 500e?

Leiva

I called my Vodafone Business manager about this rumor and the answer I got was not conclusive , it as on the line of ...........

At the present time there is no official release from Vodafone regarding the Apple iPhone but 02 exclusivity to the Apple iphone has expired .

What you make of this is your own conclusion ...personally i think a company like Vodafone will eventually get the iphone on their network , when is the big question ?

banquo

Id say that they almost certainly will get it - lotsa cash to be made off it. Easy money considering that Apple's products are awesome, and that their (also awesome) PR costs the resellers nothing.
I

I'd get one on vodaphone - going off meteor in protest to the latest eircon news, and 02 have a bad rep (lived with a guy who got an iphone - phone bill was over 500e for two days spend in london)

mobileplaza

i think branding may be an issue, u know vodafone like to bundle there own software onto phones & i cannot c apple letting them?

whiterebel

mobileplaza wrote: »

i think branding may be an issue, u know vodafone like to bundle there own software onto phones & i cannot c apple letting them?

I would think that would be the least of their worries. Sit down and start developing Mac/iPhone versions of their software, or let Apple and devfelopers take the strain? I think I can guess which one they would go for. I think the last word here will be Apple shareholders. If they reckon they can sell more by making the iPhone non-exclusive, then they will.

j14

I've just ported from Vodafone to O2 today for the iphone but when I rang Vodafone to cancel my contract they told me the iphone is in testing for use on the vodafone network and will be available "very soon".
I then asked was it the 3GS and was told that O2 will retain exclusivity of the 3GS but Vodafone will be getting the older 3G model.
I wanted a 3GS so I changed over.

Simon201

I can't really see Vodafone doing great business with this arrangement. Like, if you're into a phone like the iPhone you're really going to want the newest and the best one. They'd want to bring it out at a really competitive price, with good contracts for it to do any good. And by competitive, I mean competitive with other phones that they sell, not iPhones with another carrier.
On a side note, is it the carriers who demand exclusivity if they sell the iPhone for Apple? or is it Apple themselves. I just cant see why Apple would want it that way. They would surely sell more phones by letting any carrier in any country choose if they want to sell it, like any other phone.

Zonda999

Can anyone see the iphone 3G even going onto meteor anytime soon? If its now on two networks(all be it in slightly watered down form in the 3G), then why not on 3 or four!(See what i did there:D)

Kingkong

If vodafone plans on leading people on by allowing this rumour mill to develop over months and then announce it is only releasing the iphone 3G and not 3Gs its going to piss off a lot of people.

A warning for Vodafone in particular the marketing department, companies get no thanks for raising customer expectations and then failing to deliver on them. A half arsed approach of saying the iphone is coming with no other info will only be tolerated for so long.

Fingleberries

Kingkong wrote: »

If vodafone plans on leading people on by allowing this rumour mill to develop over months and then announce it is only releasing the iphone 3G and not 3Gs its going to piss off a lot of people.

A warning for Vodafone in particular the marketing department, companies get no thanks for raising customer expectations and then failing to deliver on them.

All the Vodafone marketing guff is very specific that it is the 3Gs that is coming, no mention of the 3G.

Besides - overpromising and underdelivering seems to be part of the Irish way of releasing the iPhones. (Not that I'm talking about o2 in any way at all. Oh, no ... not at all ... well maybe a bit)
*ahem* Visual Voicemail *ahem*, *cough* Tethering *cough* No stock issues at launch *cough, cough*

Leiva

Surley this is enough proof that Vodafone IRL are getting the 3GS not the 3G !

Tom Dunne

Kingkong wrote: »

If vodafone plans on leading people on by allowing this rumour mill to develop over months and then announce it is only releasing the iphone 3G and not 3Gs its going to piss off a lot of people.

A warning for Vodafone in particular the marketing department, companies get no thanks for raising customer expectations and then failing to deliver on them. A half arsed approach of saying the iphone is coming with no other info will only be tolerated for so long.

Feel free to tell Vodafone directly.