Three Network iPhone Release

mcdoogle

Thought you'd all like to know - Three are releasing the iPhone too. Dude at work rang them earlier telling them he was leaving them for O2 cos he wanted one and they offered him one. Must be releasing them to the general customer population soon.

Creamy Goodness

i also hear that a dude rang up boards.ie and they said that they are releasing the iphone too next month.

sorry to be so sarcastic but we get these kind of threads here every week, and there's never an ouce of truth to them.

the "dude" at work got talking to a phone jockey, whose job is soley to try meet sales and will spin any old yarn to get you signed up.

you will hear it here/associated irish new websites first before you hear it from 3/meteor/tesco/insert other mobile telco here.

decker81

Actually it is true and it is official - the iphone is coming to three this Summer/Autumn. And I have verifiable sources for our sarcastic friend! The Sunday Business Post - read the article;

http://www.sbpost.ie/newsfeatures/mobile-manoeuvres-48115.html


So there you go and now you know.

mcdoogle

OK creamy, will let you know when I actually see it but the "dude" is pretty solid, doubt he'd make it up or be so gullible to get fobbed off by someone in sales.

Will let you know.

sigfridb

Sorry to disappoint you Creamy Goodness but I ordered my iPhone 3Gs today with Three.
I was entitled to an upgrade and wasn't happy with the choices online so I rang them up and asked if there was any other phone than the ones of the websites and they offered me several choices including the iPhone 3Gs For the same price as with O2 or Vodafone for an equivalent monthly charge: Eur 129!

I even asked for the 100% extra free for 6 months offer that they have at the moment and also got it. I'll receive my iPhone on Thursday.

Creamy Goodness

still until they make more noise about it, i'm skeptical.

do you blame me when every week there's a new thread that said my mate's dad's cousin's boyfriend's aunt's uncle's dog rang up "mobile provider X" and they told them x, y and z?

i'd love to be proven wrong and hope three bring a bit of competition into a non-competitive iphone market.

drunkmonkey

sigfridb wrote: »

For the same price as with O2 or Vodafone for an equivalent monthly charge: Eur 129!

Did you get to stay on your relax plan?, 12mt contract? Double minutes?

I'm calling in the morning:)

drunkmonkey

Creamy Goodness wrote: »

still until they make more noise about it, i'm skeptical.

do you blame me when every week there's a new thread that said my mate's dad's cousin's boyfriend's aunt's uncle's dog rang up "mobile provider X" and they told them x, y and z?

i'd love to be proven wrong and hope three bring a bit of competition into a non-competitive iphone market.

Well i just called up and have been told there will be a 32GB 3Gs with me tomorrow:D Also got the double flexi units offer:)
Finally some competition!!

sigfridb

Glad to hear I'm not the only one who got that offer

@Creamy: Oh I don't blame you, i'm usually very sceptical with this kind of info.

Anyway it seems that iPhone is availlable for existing customers who want to upgrade. It's exactly what happened in France for a while (I'm French), iPhone with other operators than Orange were only available through upgrade by calling the customer service as advertising the iPhone is forbidden.

iMax

The iPhone is available for all networks to offer as they see fit. My brother works for one of them & they don't have it retail, but can get it for their top 1% if they want it.

drunkmonkey

just ordered mine today...
You get to keep your existing flexi units and get double them for 6mts:)

Few other posters have ordered there's as well.

cojomo2

drunkmonkey wrote: »

just ordered mine today...
You get to keep your existing flexi units and get double them for 6mts:)

Few other posters have ordered there's as well.

Can you give more details?

how much was the phone/what plan?/length of contract?

thanks

drunkmonkey

cojomo2 wrote: »

Can you give more details?

how much was the phone/what plan?/length of contract?

thanks

I'm on relax 650 which cost me 79pm less 25% I wrangled out of them a few years back. It cost me 169 for the 32GB 3GS.
I was told I was renewing my contract for 12mts but a friend of mine just called up and he's been told it's 18mts but he went for it anyway.

You also get double your flexi units for 6mts, so my relax 650 turns into relax 1300

I've already been using an iphone on this tariff so I know it suits me, now I can also do a bit of tethering with the extra flexi units:)

WOO HOO my first un jailbroken iphone

sigfridb

FYI:
Got my iPhone 3Gs 16Gb for Eur129, i'm on the relax 350 and had to renew for 12 months. Also had the 100%extra free for 6 months.

treatyman

Balls... I just signed up for another 12 months last month..!!

decker81

Creamy Goodness wrote: »

still until they make more noise about it, i'm skeptical.

do you blame me when every week there's a new thread that said my mate's dad's cousin's boyfriend's aunt's uncle's dog rang up "mobile provider X" and they told them x, y and z?

i'd love to be proven wrong and hope three bring a bit of competition into a non-competitive iphone market.

Good Lord man - did you even READ the press release??? It's not my uncle, or your aunt, or anyone else's granny for that matter who is the source for this thread! The actual chief executive of 3 ireland has confirmed it if you bothered to READ THE SOURCE!!!!! Here it is again for your benefit;

http://www.sbpost.ie/newsfeatures/mo...res-48115.html

decker81

Creamy Goodness wrote: »

still until they make more noise about it, i'm skeptical.

do you blame me when every week there's a new thread that said my mate's dad's cousin's boyfriend's aunt's uncle's dog rang up "mobile provider X" and they told them x, y and z?

i'd love to be proven wrong and hope three bring a bit of competition into a non-competitive iphone market.

For some reason the sunday business post link seems to be down now - but go to the sunday business post website and type in "three iphone" and the story will come up and you can READ it there

andywozhere

drunkmonkey wrote: »

just ordered mine today...
You get to keep your existing flexi units and get double them for 6mts:)

Few other posters have ordered there's as well.

I got the same offer. Sounds pretty good. I'm also tempted by the Samsung Spica with Android which is free on my plan... but I think I'm swaying towards the iPhone.

cojomo2

Can anyone confirm:

are iphones supplied by 3 locked or unlocked?

are they available to anyone on 3 that's due an upgrade? Or only those on the more expensive plans?

I'm no longer with 3 but I rang stating I'd move to them for the iphone and they said they don't have the iphone. I mentioned that a few of my mates got the iphone from them but they just kept saying 'we don't sell the iphone, sorry'...

drunkmonkey

Some good news for anyone upgrading to the iphone, there giving anyone who upgrades to the iphone a 1GB data add on for free on top of the relax units. Just called them to double check..

woo hoo...

Zoticon

hey all you people with a 3 network iphone
is skype and youtube free??
and if i switch with existing iphone will i be able to get the 1gb free allowance?

James Hunt

I'm a 3 billpay customer. Rang 3 today about iPhone3GS,

The pros:
32 GB iPhone 3GS, yes it's available, yes you can upgrade, yes you can have a nice 'double your price plan' units allowance, yes you can have a 15% discount on the price plan.

The cons:
18 month contract, no exceptions
no current upgrade path from 3GS to forthcoming iPhone HD/4G, and no special path just for me either.

Overall:
Didn't go for it. Only 2 or 3 months before a new iPhone 4. They weren't willing to either reduce the contract term or offer any kind of upgrade path from the 3GS to the 4G/HD. Didn't get as far as pricing the handset. No real incentive not to wait for the new iPhone IMO.

drunkmonkey

James Hunt wrote: »

I'm a 3 billpay customer. Rang 3 today about iPhone3GS,

The pros:
32 GB iPhone 3GS, yes it's available, yes you can upgrade, yes you can have a nice 'double your price plan' units allowance, yes you can have a 15% discount on the price plan.

The cons:
18 month contract, no exceptions
no current upgrade path from 3GS to forthcoming iPhone HD/4G, and no special path just for me either.

Overall:
Didn't go for it. Only 2 or 3 months before a new iPhone 4. They weren't willing to either reduce the contract term or offer any kind of upgrade path from the 3GS to the 4G/HD. Didn't get as far as pricing the handset. No real incentive not to wait for the new iPhone IMO.

I went for it the 32Gb, got double my units, 1GB data free every month, already have 25% off the montly commitment and got a 12mt contract.

All the networks look for 18mts on the iphone, 3 is no exception, it's an expensive piece of kit, think I got lucky and got in before some copped they should have been sold on 18mts.

I was going to wait for the 4G iphone, but i'm starting to think we won't see a new iphone this year, just a new OS.

cojomo2

Are they locked or not?

James Hunt

drunkmonkey wrote: »

I went for it the 32Gb, got double my units, 1GB data free every month, already have 25% off the montly commitment and got a 12mt contract.

All the networks look for 18mts on the iphone, 3 is no exception, it's an expensive piece of kit, think I got lucky and got in before some copped they should have been sold on 18mts.

That's a great deal. They might not make their money back on 12 months, but I wouldn't mind the 18 months so much if they could commit to some sort of upgrade option if/when iPhone 4 is released. I think Vodafone have such an option.

drunkmonkey wrote: »

I was going to wait for the 4G iphone, but i'm starting to think we won't see a new iphone this year, just a new OS.

Well, a new iPhone is speculation for now, but most analysts have it down as a cert. Maybe they'll drop a hint at the OS4 preview.

drunkmonkey

James Hunt wrote: »

Maybe they'll drop a hint at the OS4 preview.

It dosn't look like it, they said nothing to remotley suggest it but they did say you will need a 3GS to get the most out of OS4, There's some life left in it yet..I've 7 days to give back this upgrade so unless I hear it between now and then I think i'll stick with it.

andywozhere

cojomo2 wrote: »

Are they locked or not?

The last two phones I had with Three were locked, so I'd imagine the iPhone is the same.

drunkmonkey

Anyone got Tethering working?

cojomo2

drunkmonkey wrote: »

Anyone got Tethering working?

Drunkmonkey, can you confirm if the phone is locked or not? I'm guessing it's not..

drunkmonkey

I can confirm tethering works with the free 1gb add on : ), I can check tommorow if it's unlocked, think there nearly out of them, I guess there unlocked as well!

drunkmonkey

Yip there unlocked, sweet!!:):)

peterprincess

can anyone confirm if the iphone upgrade is only available to those on high end plans? I was gonna leave 3 cause of crap phone selection, this might tempt me to stay...or else jump to meteor and a htc legend or desire..

Blazer

drunkmonkey wrote: »

I was going to wait for the 4G iphone, but i'm starting to think we won't see a new iphone this year, just a new OS.

Guaranteed to be one this year..rumours are for June/July release right after the HTC EVO release in May..
Current rumours are dual core, 60-80Gb models,OLED screen, 5megapixel camera and a few others.
But looking at the EVO..my god it's a class piece of kit.
Runs on 4G and backwards compatible with 3G, 8 megapixel camera, 1.5megapixel camera for video...HD recording 720p) and playback on your TV via HDMI adapter..
I was holding out for the 4g phone, now I've no idea waht to do but hang tough and see which one turns out to be the best..

drunkmonkey

Berkut wrote: »

Guaranteed to be one this year..rumours are for June/July release right after the HTC EVO release in May..
Current rumours are dual core, 60-80Gb models,OLED screen, 5megapixel camera and a few others.
But looking at the EVO..my god it's a class piece of kit.
Runs on 4G and backwards compatible with 3G, 8 megapixel camera, 1.5megapixel camera for video...HD recording 720p) and playback on your TV via HDMI adapter..
I was holding out for the 4g phone, now I've no idea waht to do but hang tough and see which one turns out to be the best..

We don't have a 4G network in this country just yet what's the point in a 4G phone?,
LTE is the next step for Ireland but the spectrum won't be available for another while (2012ish)
OS4 will require a 3GS or latest gen iTouch.

Apple don't always go for the latest and greatest technology, they just build products that work,
I can't see them throwing in LTE, HD Port, 8mp Camera with flash, 80 gb hard drive when they don't need to, the iphone will sell in buckets for the next year and even longer. Why go to the extra expense just yet?

maybe a cheapish apple phone to be released this year, like a nano? Nokia shares would hit the floor:eek:

still I could be all wrong, wouldn't be the first time:)

54kroc

It's the 4th generation of the iPhone not 4g as in 3g,2g.

dueyfinster

drunkmonkey wrote: »

We don't have a 4G network in this country just yet what's the point in a 4G phone?... ...still I could be all wrong, wouldn't be the first time:)

Imagine (owners of a 4G WiMax network) have tweeted about the iPhone 4G and Sprint testing 4G phones stateside. I think it will be a letdown if Apple don't add 4G network as an option at least. Plus Imagine being a mobile operator would be interesting competition wise (being data driven moreso). The iAd platform announced today might be to make up for lost cash-back from the likes of O2, Voda and 3.

jimmycrackcorm

drunkmonkey wrote: »

Yip there unlocked, sweet!!:):)

Can anyone else confirm that the iPhone is definitely unlocked?

Blazer

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

Can anyone else confirm that the iPhone is definitely unlocked?

not a chance of that..
Yep rumours are that the new iphone will support 4g networks.
The EVO is going to be a very strong competitor and at present Android is rapidly gaining on iphone OS.
I thought Vodafone was working on 4G here? At least they are in Sweden and a few other countries

peterprincess

i think its fairly nailed on that there won't be 4g. Hence they're calling it iphone hd or some such so avoid confusion with 4g networks. Hardly anywhere has much 4g penetration and Apple tend not to be market leaders with emerging tech like that, they leave that to HTC.

Blazer

peterprincess wrote: »

i think its fairly nailed on that there won't be 4g. Hence they're calling it iphone hd or some such so avoid confusion with 4g networks. Hardly anywhere has much 4g penetration and Apple tend not to be market leaders with emerging tech like that, they leave that to HTC.

sounds more like it then to be honest..had heard that iphone HD rumour as well..
I'll just hold tough till July or so and see how it goes.

OI

I tell you this much though, if the iphone doesn't support opera mini by the time the HTC EVO comes out, I know where my money is going - on the iphone, cause I dont like opera mini (joke)

mad muffin

OI wrote: »

I tell you this much though, if the iphone doesn't support opera mini by the time the HTC EVO comes out, I know where my money is going - on the iphone, cause I dont like opera mini (joke)

Hate to break it to you...Evo is only for Sprint.

HTC will not be releasing a GSM version .

sigfridb

Received my 3 iphone 3Gs 16Gb today, works perfectly. As drunkmonkey, I also got 1Gb addon for free

I'll check tonight if it's unlocked, although it was delivered in a "3" labelled wrapper. I'll keep you posted.

jimmycrackcorm

Berkut wrote: »

not a chance of that..

I'm asking about whether the iPhone that Three are issuing is unlocked or not - not the upcoming iPhone HD/4.

I rang Customer services this morning about an upgrade and was told that they'd have to check if I could get it. i'd have to up my plan from the basic one, which is Ok and also go for an 18 months contract, Ok too. Still no price details yet and waiting for a callback.

Normally I think the higher end phones on 3 are way over-priced compared to other networks such as when they had the N96. VF are very competitive on their current iPhone pricing.

drunkmonkey

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

I'm asking about whether the iPhone that Three are issuing is unlocked or not

There not, I updated the firmware to 3.3 and it'll still accept an o2 sim (which i'll be burning shortly)
The pricing was the same as the o2 pricing for new customers, mine was 169 for the 32GB 3GS as if I was going onto Advance 550 with o2.

Why you so concerned if it's locked or not?

OctavarIan

Berkut wrote: »

But looking at the EVO..my god it's a class piece of kit.
Runs on 4G and backwards compatible with 3G, 8 megapixel camera, 1.5megapixel camera for video...HD recording 720p) and playback on your TV via HDMI adapter..

Jesus wept. I thought the market had moved on from this more megapixels crap.

jimmycrackcorm

drunkmonkey wrote: »

There not, I updated the firmware to 3.3 and it'll still accept an o2 sim (which i'll be burning shortly)
The pricing was the same as the o2 pricing for new customers, mine was 169 for the 32GB 3GS as if I was going onto Advance 550 with o2.

Why you so concerned if it's locked or not?

Do you know the pricing for the various plans?
Also why would I need manager approval if I'm willing to move up to a plan?

As for locking - when it's time to upgrade, it appears that selling a factory unlocked phone is more attractive.

partyatmygaff

OctavarIan wrote: »

Jesus wept. I thought the market had moved on from this more megapixels crap.

It generally does mean a better camera when it comes to camera phones though.

Apple's 3.2MP camera is far outclassed by Nokia's 5MP camera which has been out for 3 years now on their phones and it doesn't even compare to their new 8MP cameras such as on the N86. I know it's not only MP count but Nokia use far better camera parts in their phones.

whiterebel

partyatmygaff wrote: »

It generally does mean a better camera when it comes to camera phones though.

Apple's 3.2MP camera is far outclassed by Nokia's 5MP camera which has been out for 3 years now on their phones and it doesn't even compare to their new 8MP cameras such as on the N86. I know it's not only MP count but Nokia use far better camera parts in their phones.

On some maybe, but the E51, E71 and 5800 took far worse pictures than my iPhone 3g.

partyatmygaff

I was talking about their flagships like the N95 - N97, N900. Some of their regular phones have the same 5MP camera aswell like the 6600i as they phase in the new 8MP for their flagships. You have to compare like with like, Nokia's flagship = Apple's iPhone

drunkmonkey

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

Do you know the pricing for the various plans?
Also why would I need manager approval if I'm willing to move up to a plan?

As for locking - when it's time to upgrade, it appears that selling a factory unlocked phone is more attractive.

I'd say there very low in iphones, It's not offical yet so stock would be very tight..I'd be calling again rather than waiting for a call back.

If your on relax 90, they might ask you to move to relax 150 give you double units and 1Gb of data, i'd say they'd be looking for 199 as that's the lowest price your can buy the 16Gb from o2 from.

This is my guess on the pricing with double units, 1GB for surf or tethering and a now 18mt commitment:
16GB 3GS
Relax 150 - 199
Relax 350 - 129
Relax 650 - 49
Relax 950 - Free
32Gb 3GS
Relax 150 - 299
Relax 350 - 229
Relax 650 - 129
Relax 950 - 49

I think i'm pretty correct on those prices, as I know someone who got a 16GB on relax 150 had to move from relax 90 and paid 199, Somone on 350 that paid 129 for the 16GB and me on relax 650 paid 129 for the 32GB