Vodafone's solution to iPhone-related defections: shutdown customer service?

The Inquirer is reporting that Vodafone UK's customer service line used for defecting customers is down. In fact, it's been down the entire weekend since the iPhone's Friday launch. Instead, Vodafone customers looking to change their status to O2 customers are being greeted with an automated voice response asking them to try again later. Coincidence? Maybe. It's certainly timely having already witnessed the carrier defection rate following the US launch.

[Twitchy @ Nov 12th 2007 6:18AM]

Considering the lenghts mobile service providors go to rip off Jo Public, it doesn't surprise me that this happened in such a timely fashion.

[Jah @ Nov 12th 2007 6:19AM]

Yes, but according to UK IT press http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/11/11/iphone_uk_flop/ there is little interest in the iPhone. Apple should have known that in a wet and cold country people rather go home early or to the pub then buy a very expensensive old tech phone.

[glastotom @ Nov 12th 2007 6:53AM]

We'll have to wait and see, i bought mine from an O2 store along with two friends in a small town up north, and the queue had about 15 in it. I gotta say i'm more than happy with mine, it's the best bit of kit i've ever bought!

[glastotom @ Nov 12th 2007 6:57AM]

i didn't buy two friends!

[Dennis @ Nov 12th 2007 7:14AM]

Oh the Register, yes, quite trustworthy.

On the other hand, I've been reading reports that say that the launch has been more than successful, like this one: http://macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/15486/

[Edward Coddington @ Nov 12th 2007 7:35AM]

Not sure about the zregister, but it seems all the other news outlets are reporting a slighlty different story:

http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/news/sunday/2007/11/11/i-love-it-98487-20092128/
http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/uk.cfm?id=1788412007
http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/news/sunday/2007/11/11/i-love-it-98487-20092128/

[Rich @ Nov 12th 2007 7:40AM]

@Dennis & Edward

You may want to check your sources. The Mac Daily News article quotes The Sun's *expectations*. The Mirror's report has similar quotes:

"As many as 70,000 of the £269 must-have gadgets were *expected* to be sold over the weekend as Apple, O2 and Carphone warehouse stores stayed open longer to cope with the demand."

Expectations often don't match reality. Check out the photos posted from various Apple/O2/CPW stores. It looks like some people did queue up but no-where near in the numbers seen in the US.

Check out the photos: http://www.dialaphone.co.uk/blog/?p=750

[loci @ Nov 12th 2007 9:05AM]

"Apple should have known that in a wet and cold country people rather go home early or to the pub then buy a very expensensive old tech phone."

weirdo

[jonatron @ Nov 12th 2007 12:41PM]

@ rich

You expect me to believe a post by a rival phone shop over a national newspaper? Ok I guess the sunday mirror isnt very reputable either but still, a guy who works at dialaphone? Its not even a good mobile phone retailer let alone news reporter! lol

Think I'll just wait for the p\official figures instead of picking up on all this biased info and speculation!

[brando_commando @ Nov 12th 2007 6:49AM]

Now that's just good business ... and hilarious

[Samo @ Nov 12th 2007 7:22AM]

The thing is, the iPhone (iP) *won't* be all that successful here in the UK, mainly because of the differences in the mobile phone market here, such as: -
- We get heavily subsidised phones here with monthly contracts, not so with the iP
- Much more open competition here in the UK between tel cos... 4 major brands, 5 if you include 3 as one :p
- Specs of iP ARE last gen.. 2MP cam? Web browsing? GPRS? I've got that on my free SE W800i... last year some time?
-Personal use only... Can't compare to any smartphone / blackberry for work-related features
-Locked down s/w... Huge market for jar games, ringtones, etc for normal phones, and other apps on WM devices
- The only saving graces for it is the fact it's from Apple, and the *innovative* touch controls

I'm sorry if that was a bit long, but i think it's true. iP won't sell hard, but it won't flop neither...

As for Vodafone's actions: LOL if they did do that because of the iP, will have to wait and hear their excuse on this one!

[Jeremy @ Nov 12th 2007 10:29AM]

Every point you've made is true in the U.S. as well and it sold quite well here.

[fung-e @ Nov 12th 2007 7:54AM]

OR if you live in this country and understand what has been going on recently, you will know that there has been thousands of people affected by a few cashback companies going bust (eg. Mobileconnections/dial-a-mobile). Resulting in many people calling in everyday asking for their contracts to be cancelled with most calls probably being logged as abusive because voda CSRs refuse to cancel.

So don’t be surprised if in the near future you see this happen with T-Mobile and Orange too.

[NG @ Nov 12th 2007 8:48AM]

it's vodafone's fault not to give us unlimited date transfer.. they told me to pay £7 extra for the lousy 120MB, no free the cloud internet either
and expect me to pay the same price for the O2 price plan????

i ain't switching to O2 too... i am going T-mobile this week..hehe

[Pyrofer @ Nov 12th 2007 9:36AM]

Yes, considering the iPhone is worse than most phones in the UK and most people are already tied into an 18month contract its not surprising that it didnt launch so well.
I mean, who wants to downgrade from their current 3G/UMTS data speed? or lose the keyboard, get worse screen etc.
It was only a big thing in america because the carriers there strangle the supply of good phones.

[Ian Rendall @ Nov 12th 2007 10:25AM]

I think it's fair to say, and I think many will agree, the iPhone DOES have a good screen, if nothing else. I played with one for a few minutes at launch in the UK (but didn't buy) and I found the touch controls to be very responsive and the screen to be nice and bright with good resolution. Although I can't and shouldn't compare a few minutes of play with long term ownership and use.

[Tim Ficke @ Nov 12th 2007 11:48AM]

That is absolutly crazy! How much do you wanna bet apple will follow suit?

[Carbonize @ Nov 12th 2007 12:14PM]

Sorry but the iPhone is a brick. To big for most people. And have they finally added MMS yet? I take this all as a good sign that unlike Americans we British seem to have some kind of a life.

Wait who am I kidding we're just not obsessed with having the latest in an attempt to make ourselves look good.

[Lloyd @ Nov 12th 2007 1:02PM]

I work for Carphone Warehouse in the contact centre and they cancelled our annual christmas ball (for like how many 1000's of staff there are) when the iPhone exclusitivy was announced as the release date (the weekend just gone) was also the date of the ball. This was because store staff were expected to be rushed off their feet etc etc but this doesnt look the case.

iPhone stole our Christmas (and kicked a puppy).

[Jon @ Nov 12th 2007 1:29PM]

Perhaps from a more reliable source...

http://arstechnica.com/journals/apple.ars/2007/11/11/o2-on-iphone-8000-
activations-on-day-one-5-year-contract

[matt byrne @ Nov 12th 2007 6:27PM]

It seems to me that the main 'wow' feature of the iPhone is the touch screen and hell, you can get the more useful music player and wifi with the new iPod. You could by an iPod touch, PAYG phone and a DSLR for less than the combined price of the iPhone and contract. I'm not one who buys into convergence, because you end up with a jack of all trades and master of none.

[Mikikal @ Nov 15th 2007 8:15AM]

To be honest... going back to the original point of this article over the lines being down at Vodafone I know for a FACT that is was a genuine technical fault.
People should get their facts straight before spreading rumours!!!!

As for the rest of the comments here, there are pro's and cons for the Iphone.
Personally I am waiting for the Samsung F700. Touch Screen but without any silly Apple restrictions. Its still a brick though. Any truly useful touch screen phone will be larger than normal. Think I will stick with my W880i.

Mikikal.

[adrian @ Nov 20th 2007 4:04PM]

That's a good idea from Vodafone, I like it.