Talk of O2 Exclusivity Ending
- July 18th, 2009 - 2.00 pm UTC
- Apple Rumour, O2, iPhone, iPhone 3GS, iPhone Carriers
- Alex Brooks
This week there have been numerous reports that suggest O2 in the UK is coming to the end of its exclusive agreement to sell the iPhone. Neither of the two reports match up in there details which does cast doubt upon the rumours.
The first report from Mobile Today states that both T-Mobile and Orange in the UK are in talks with Apple to begin selling the iPhone 3G. The deal would mean that O2 remains the exclusive seller of the iPhone 3GS. Mobile Today reports that the move will come into play in early September. Also of interest Mobile Today writes at the end of its report that Apple and O2’s two year exclusive agreement is due to end in September.
Another report this week from The Guardian rumours that T-Mobile will “snatch iPhone from O2″, the report contains no mention of Orange or a differentiation between the iPhone 3G and 3GS. If true it would mean that O2 has come to the end of an exclusive agreement with Apple in the UK.
Comments
Thomas Johnson 18th July 2009, 14.17 pm
Hello World of Apple!
I’m glad to see that you are not subject to the Apple Thought Police!
I made a query for discussion re the advisability of purchasing an ipod now or hanging on a month or so.
The ATP were quickly on my case and pulled the post, luckily not before I got some good advice .
As far as rumour and speculation goes, I would think that my query was very much in the minor league relative to your article!!
Big Brother bothers me!
Davinian 18th July 2009, 19.15 pm
From what I can ascertain from a friend who works at t-mobile (uk), they will be getting the iPhone 3G (not 3GS) in September – or it will be available to customer in September.
So O2 will still have exclusivity on the latest technology!?
Michael 19th July 2009, 01.00 am
Gutted they aren’t allowing T Mobile etc. to sell the 3GS. Really wanted to see O2 suffer for their poor (non existent) upgrade policy.
Oh well worth waiting until September before upgrading…just in case. Or if not I can at least eventually cancel my contract with O2 and move to T-Mobile – does anyone know if there network is any better?
Davinian 19th July 2009, 09.14 am
I think O2 and Vodafone were meant to be joining (sharing) each others network, and T-Mobile, Orange and 3 were meant to be doing something similar.
Not sure when this will happen, but if it does, I think the T-Mob/Orange/3 will have the better 3G coverage (I think!).
Alex Brooks 19th July 2009, 16.48 pm
That’s interesting information Davinian, seems to tally with things I’ve heard myself. O2 remains exclusive on the newer handset while the 3G is palmed off to whoever will have it.
Not sure I’ve heard anything about network merging, got a source on that?
Michael, with regard to coverage, Ofcom did a report on network 3G coverage.
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radiocomms/ifi/licensing/classes/broadband/cellular/3g/maps/3gmaps/coverage_maps.pdf
Davinian 19th July 2009, 19.35 pm
@Alex – there are several articles floating around the web regarding the O2/Vodafone merge – this is perhaps the most reliable: http://is.gd/1Eoyn (Guardian UK)
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