iPhone on Vodafone - Details

Gulliver

Got a call on Friday from a Vodafone Rep with details of their iPhone offer because I registered my interest months ago on the site. They seem to be calling a few people at random from the list.

They have a deal with some crowd called IOS (I think - I'm crap with names) to supply the phone - the first wave of phones will NOT come from Vodafone themselves.

Handset will cost €199 - no mention of size
Tarrif is either:
Perfect Choice Access Plus @ €34.99 or
Perfect Choice Access Plus 150 @ €49.99
see here for details.
18 month contract

It seems to be a decent price on the handset, but I'm wary of paying €35 for 18 months. He said the supplier will ring back during the week to see if I will take the phone.

Is this a good offer?

khennessy86

, what do u get on that 35 euro month plan is it something similar to perfect choice 100, did they give any idea of a release date.

thanks

brianwalshcork

02 have 175 minutes to any network or landline, 100 texts for €45.
The 2GB data allowance is worthless if they don't allow tethering, so that isn't a major plus over O2's 1 GB.

The roaming data doesn't look great either..

Gulliver

No mention of when they'd be sending them out.

There are no included minutes on the €35 plan and 2GB data on all their plans. The full details of the plan are in the link in the original post.

conical

This is a spectacularly disappointing offering from vodafone, they had the opportunity to introduce competition to the iPhone market (and potentially to win a huge amount of customers) but they have managed to come up with an even less impressive package than O2.

I can't see any reason why someone would choose the Vodafone package over the O2 one (and that's speaking as a vodafone customer)

banquo

Demand is still high for iPhone - they've no reason to offer a lower price

Gulliver

I also feel that the whole "We got a third party supplier to speed the process up because we value your interest" schtick was a bit much. The supplier is going to ring me during the week to see if I want the handset - I'm guessing they're going to put the hard sell on. Something that Vodafone would like to keep it's hands clean of, I'd imagine.

Rew

I got the call as well but didn't manage to get that much detail out of the guy! Waiting for the 2nd call.

Oafley Jones

brianwalshcork wrote: »

02 have 175 minutes to any network or landline, 100 texts for €45.
The 2GB data allowance is worthless if they don't allow tethering, so that isn't a major plus over O2's 1 GB.

The roaming data doesn't look great either..

Corrected. I'd nearly be tempted if O2 offered what you originally posted.

Fingleberries

conical wrote: »

This is a spectacularly disappointing offering from vodafone, they had the opportunity to introduce competition to the iPhone market (and potentially to win a huge amount of customers) but they have managed to come up with an even less impressive package than O2.

I can't see any reason why someone would choose the Vodafone package over the O2 one (and that's speaking as a vodafone customer)

I agree fully. It's such a typically Oirish solution: After a company has a monopoly for ages another company comes in to the market, not to provide competition but to get a slice of the overpriced pie.

Vodafone see they have no real reson to offer lower prices, because people are willing to pay ridiculous prices still.

That €35 tarrif with no minutes, but 2GB limit, is a complete joke - unless you want to use Skype all the time.

Sorry, Vodafone, Must try harder.

epopnomis

Well I've just got off the phone with those lads and they told me it would be 100 minutes and 100 texts a month with the 35 euro tariff and vodafone to vodafone free calls.... Not as bad as originally thought.....

epopnomis

Apologies I misheard her, it is no minutes with that tariff a travesty of a tariff, shame on you vodafone. After waiting for so long this is the best they can offer.

deep1

epopnomis wrote: »

Apologies I misheard her, it is no minutes with that tariff a travesty of a tariff, shame on you vodafone. After waiting for so long this is the best they can offer.

Did you play back the recording?
cheers thanks

brianwalshcork

Oafley Jones wrote: »

Corrected. I'd nearly be tempted if O2 offered what you originally posted.

Sorry Oafley - you are right... I was working from memory - I don't text much.

I'll edit the original post.

whiterebel

No minutes on a mobile phone tariff? How clever is that......

Rew

I was asking people in Vodafone what the story with this is and they knew nothing about it, said it sounded like Vodafone retail.

cojomo2

Wow those plansvare a total rip off!
Starting at 35 euro with no minutes? Granted you get v to v calls/txts and 2gig data , but it's damn expensive!

Do voda allow tethering? If not then the 2gig is pointless .

chavezychavez

Got the same phone call last week, and am waiting on the second call. Along with the crap price plans they are offering and 18 month contract, I think there may be another potential issue here.

Will these iPhones come with Vodafone's fingers in its firmware? If so, how good/bad will they run. I have had a few Vodafone mobiles that ran like a dog due to the Vodafone firmware.

Also, how often do Apple upgrade the iPhone? If us "special" customers who get first dibs on it actually buy, how long before the phone is basically out of date?

Rew

Haven't seen any operator specific firmwares for the iPhone so I doubt it. They do want apple to let them include Voda 360 but I doubt that would happen before Jan.

dublander

chavezychavez wrote: »

Also, how often do Apple upgrade the iPhone? If us "special" customers who get first dibs on it actually buy, how long before the phone is basically out of date?

+1

Got the call also & really considering getting one but don't wanna sign up for 18months and find out a new model is launched before the summer!

philiporeilly

dublander wrote: »

+1

Got the call also & really considering getting one but don't wanna sign up for 18months and find out a new model is launched before the summer!

Good point!

mad muffin

Apple have been launching a new phone every year around June-Aug. Time

JKBB

I got a call from Vodafone offering me one of the iPhones they have now for €199 and €49.99 a month. It was pretty disappointing that they are entering the market and charging more than O2; hardly what competition is supposed to be. I was pretty excited about getting myself an iPhone, but at the rates they are charging I can't see it happening. It is spectacularly galling when you look at O2.co.uk to see that, for the equivalent of €38, you get 600mins, 600texts and unlimited download. Is there anything that will make them stop ripping us off here in Ireland?

epopnomis

JKBB wrote: »

I got a call from Vodafone offering me one of the iPhones they have now for €199 and €49.99 a month. It was pretty disappointing that they are entering the market and charging more than O2; hardly what competition is supposed to be. I was pretty excited about getting myself an iPhone, but at the rates they are charging I can't see it happening. It is spectacularly galling when you look at O2.co.uk to see that, for the equivalent of €38, you get 600mins, 600texts and unlimited download. Is there anything that will make them stop ripping us off here in Ireland?

If people stop buying is the answer to that question, unfortunately that doesn't seem very likely..... I vote for an iphone boycott.... Who's with me?

Nonoperational

I really doubt apple will let them put vodafone software on it. The whole iphone experience is the smooth apple software thats why it is so restrictive.

Oafley Jones

gpf101 wrote: »

I really doubt apple will let them put vodafone software on it. The whole iphone experience is the smooth apple software thats why it is so restrictive.

You're correct. Apple would never allow custom carrier firmware let alone physical branding*.


*Chinese market excluded.

tfeldi

This plan would actually work perfectly for me: I would use the Iphone mostly for the surfing the net and to call Vodafone numbers. Free minutes to landlines and other mobile numbers are only of little value to me. So, why should I pay for them?

construct06

i see o2 uk are unlocking iphones.

Is this an option for o2 ie?

I have a co. phone with vodafone and am lloking to purchase an iphone 3gs and use this as my co. phone.

is there any difference to using internet on the iphone as to any other phone eg. if i had internet enabled on my current phone can i just use the same settings.

I seen a good website on this.....
http://www.davidbehan.com/blog/get-an-iphone-on-vodafone-ireland/

flywheel

call quoted: Eur 50 for the iPhone (on upgrade) not detail on which model... 500 min / 500 txt / 2GB for about Eur 85 a month...

seems to be lots of diff into floating around so i'm waiting for stuff to be published first

J-blk

Yep, just got a similar call but no real details offered - they right off the bat told me about the third party supplier and if they could transfer my details to them... I told them no and I'd rather wait for the official launch (not getting one then either, the 4th gen. will be just around the corner anyway)... BTW, they offered an extra 200 minutes & texts for 3 months on my current plan as a "good will gesture" for taking the call but not upgrading now...

Rew

DubFit wrote: »

call quoted: Eur 50 for the iPhone (on upgrade) not detail on which model... 500 min / 500 txt / 2GB for about Eur 85 a month...

seems to be lots of diff into floating around so i'm waiting for stuff to be published first

The price varies depending on the contract you pick cost of the handset varies between 49 and 199

Maldini2706

Are they going to do PAYG? Are Meteor and 3 getting the iPhone too?

flywheel

Rew wrote: »

The price varies depending on the contract you pick cost of the handset varies between 49 and 199

indeed, although i wasn't asking a question just adding some info i was given on the phone than wasn't posted before!

bkehoe

Did they give any indication of when the phone is actually available - are they available right now? And I'm curious as to whether the handsets might be unlocked if they're not coming directly through vodafone....

GrahamG

The supplier says that it will be received within ten days from when it is paid for. No idea if they are unlocked though.

flywheel

apparently no Tethering supported according to supplier

Beckyb

I got 'The' call today. was told an independent rep would call within 5 days and if I signed up I would have the phone within 14 days.

Can't wait!!

the merchant

Got the call from IOS on Wednesday, paid them by paypal yesterday, got the phone today. I got the 16gb 3gs Black for €99. 300 texts, 300 mins, free v to v calls and 2gb download for 64.99/month.

I'm new to iphones but as far as I can see it's a factory unlocked device, no vodafone branding anywhere and I had to set the mms, vodafone live settings etc. myself.

hefty_langer

the merchant wrote: »

... I had to set the mms, vodafone live settings etc. myself.

You mind putting yer MMS settings up here? I've tried setting this up but my MMS keeps failing. Vodafone live settings are working fine...

I'm using
APN: mms.vodafone.net
username: dublin
password: dublin
mmsc: http://www.vodafone.ie/mms
MMS Proxy: 10.24.59.200

from one of the stickies here but still not working?

flywheel

the merchant wrote: »

Got the call from IOS on Wednesday, paid them by paypal yesterday, got the phone today. I got the 16gb 3gs Black for €99. 300 texts, 300 mins, free v to v calls and 2gb download for 64.99/month.

I'm new to iphones but as far as I can see it's a factory unlocked device, no vodafone branding anywhere and I had to set the mms, vodafone live settings etc. myself.

hi can you take a moment to check if you can Thether it to your computer please? (use the iPhone as the internet connection for your computer) - just see if the tether option is in the settings, or you you want to test a web page loading if you have a Mac... NB: don't go crazy as you have a limited Data allocation and they may not support this feature officially, still waiting to hear back from them...

Using iPhone as a Modem

You can use iPhone 3G or later as a modem to connect, or tether, your computer to the Internet. You can connect iPhone to your computer using the Dock Connector to USB Cable, or via Bluetooth.

Tethering works over the cellular data network. You can’t share a Wi-Fi connection to the Internet. If you have a 3G connection, you can make and receive phone calls while tethering.

NOTE: To use iPhone as a modem with a Mac computer, it must be running Mac OS X version 10.5.7 or later.
Set up a tethering connection:

1. In Settings, choose General > Network > Internet Tethering.
2. Slide the Internet Tethering switch to On.
3. Connect iPhone to your computer:

USB: Connect your computer to iPhone, using the Dock Connector to USB Cable. In your computer’s Network services settings, choose iPhone.

On a Mac, a pop-up window appears the first time you connect, saying “A new network interface has been detected.” Click Network Preferences, configure the network settings for iPhone, then click Apply. On a PC, use the Network Control Panel to configure the iPhone connection.

Bluetooth: On iPhone, choose Settings > General > Bluetooth and turn on Bluetooth. Then refer to the documentation that came with your computer system software to pair and connect iPhone with your computer.

When you’re connected, a blue band appears at the top of the screen. Tethering remains on when you connect with USB, even when you aren’t actively using the Internet connection.

Monitor your cellular data network usage:
In Settings, choose General > Usage.

ref: http://www.apple.com/iphone/iphone-3gs/tethering.html

Also, did they give you a support numbe to call (rahter than general customer care)?

Thanks

flywheel

was working with one of the IOS "Vodafone" iPhones last week and Tethering is not supported out of the box (as discussed here [Apple Discussions]

you also have to call IOS for any support queries and Vodafone customer care are not yet taking calls related to iPhone issues

flywheel

p.s the iPhone is now free on signing up to the 300 min/text contract or above...

Dman001

Once more carriers get Android phones and the iPhone we will start to see more competitive pricing.

JoeTurner

Got the call from Vodafone today - sales rep mentioned phone would be free if I took Access Plus 300 price plan. Asked him if it was 16 or 32gb model and he said he thought it would be 32gb version....

Will be interested to see if IOS come up with the same offer when they phone me within 5 working days!

Malari

I got the call and the minimum tariff for me would be a 20 Euro jump from my current plan per month. Don't think it's worth it - an extra 240 Euro a year, give or take.

I forgot to ask about the minimum contract. Anyone know?

JoeTurner

Malari wrote: »

I forgot to ask about the minimum contract. Anyone know?

18 months....

Deep Thought

hefty_langer wrote: »

You mind putting yer MMS settings up here? I've tried setting this up but my MMS keeps failing. Vodafone live settings are working fine...

I'm using
APN: mms.vodafone.net
username: dublin
password: dublin
mmsc: http://www.vodafone.ie/mms
MMS Proxy: 10.24.59.200

from one of the stickies here but still not working?

Hi

You are missing the port number at teh end of the MMS Proxy:

It should be 10.24.59.200:80

Once you have changed it, you must re-boot the phone (on and Off) to set the configuration

SZ

hefty_langer

Thanks, I'll give it a shot and report back once I'm back in the country next week - appreciated!

shadey

brianwalshcork wrote: »

02 have 175 minutes to any network or landline, 100 texts for €45.
The 2GB data allowance is worthless if they don't allow tethering, so that isn't a major plus over O2's 1 GB.

The roaming data doesn't look great either..

Can someone please advise if tethering can be "turned on" on these phones?

I'm about to order an iPhone from VF, it is the 16GB one, they are giving to to me for free. I have chosen the 300 minutes + texts option, 2GB, €54 ex vat a month. I ave looked at the O2 equivalent and it seems to be more than competitive.

I am completely open minded about VF versus O2. I just want the best deal. From reading early comments here you would assume VF are ripping you off on this and O2 are the better option, but reading O2 site would suggest differently.

Any comments or suggestions welcome so that I make the right decision.

Rew

You can get them though your business account manger as well if anyone is in that boat.

Loave to hear the story with tethering if anyone hears anything.

BoardsMember

Min contract is 18 months.

I have it on good authority that tethering will be available as soon as VF start issuing these officially, ie when they have their VF iPhone infrastructure in place and the exclusivity period runs out (March I think).