iPhone is good and done in the UK -- until the 3G version, anyway [updated]
By Ryan Block 
posted May 8th 2008 2:26AM
posted May 8th 2008 2:26AM
[Thanks, Keith]
Update: While European carriers are running out of stock left and right, it seems Apple Stores in the UK and elsewhere still have iPhones -- for now.
Update 2: Okay, and now O2's page is showing that the iPhone is once again available. Temporary glitch or preparatory? Beats us, but if you want a 16GB device, it's apparently still up for grabs.
They are probably cutting it cold turkey like that because they don't want who haven't been keeping up with iPhone news to buy one and come back complaining later when the bigger and better comes out. Better just stop sales outright than deal with pesky complainers later on.
Woops, missed a word there: "...they don't want any who haven't..."
Wow. So I'm guessing it's really soon. Like, long enough to get people prepared, put out signage and whatnot. You don't keep people from buying an iPhone for too long, certainly not the full two months (late June) people have been thinking. That would be so many lost customers. It has to be sooner than that.
Nah, I'm still thinking late June, but I could be wrong. Apple is doing the smart thing by letting the stock run out. If someone buys the old iPhone two months before the 3G phone is out, they are going to bring it back and complain. This way, they cut all the whiners off at the knees.
I'm Dave Chappelle, and I like internet porn—Get a Mac parody, Chappelle's Show, 2003
This is a good sign. Maybe O2 sold out of the iPhones faster then they thought they would with the discounted price. Either way, bring on the second generation iPhone!
No one is buying it in the UK. I have not seen a single one being used on the street since it came out! It is far too expensive with stupid contracts and is restricted by only being on one network. We are used to having highly subsidised phones over here with slightly more expensive tariffs etc. Unfortunately the iphone has even higher contract costs than normal and also is not subsidised!
I agree that the iPhone is extremely expensive as it isn't subsidised, however to say "no one is buying it" is a bit extreme. On what retail figures are you basing that statement?
Really? You've never seen a single iPhone being used... I've got 3 workmates with them and see them all the time when I'm out and about. Pretty much every time I walked past a CPW or an O2 store in the past few months I saw someone buying one.
*If* it was a smashing success, I'm sure O2 would have bought another batch to satisfy demand for the next two months or so...
Anyway, I can only comment on the Austrian situation, and they've only sold a whopping 8000 here since March...
http://www.heise.de/newsticker/Erst-8-000-iPhones-in-Oesterreich--/meldung/107420
I've seen quite a few iPhones in London. They're still totally out-numbered by N95s and Blackberrys though.
The iPhone seems to be popular with cheap-suited estate agent types.
That's rubbish, almost every person I know has one.
Anyhow they wouldn't sell out if no one was buying them!!!!
coolblue is right though, I don't know anyone who owns one, never seen one on the street, granted I don't look out for them but still.
Poozle, Yes Really!!!!
I have honestly not seen one in the wild. I also walk past an O2 store and I have never seen anyone buying one either (although I don't check on a minute by minute basis). The fact that I don't know anyone with one either speaks volumes as at least on of my Friends or myself gets the latest gadgets when they are released. I can only imagine you are in London as that is the only place I can think anyone would have one of these. (After all wirless access is useless anywhere else in the country as free access is almost impossible to come by).
I've seen one the other day. the first time though, have to admit... and it was a french person none the less... do he probably bought it in france?!
there are some in the O2 stores though, seen them there. played with them as well. then laughed at the price and left :)
I know quite a few people who have them over here in London. It seems to be about price for people - well I'll let you in on a secret (having worked for O2), to buy an iPhone and jailbreak/unlock is cheaper than buying most phones offline. If you do want it legit and can't afford it, don't rag on the gadget itself. Oh and I have an iPhone and I'm not a cheap suited estate agent, thanks. ;)
I disagree with coolblue; I've seen a lot of people with an iPhone in London, very scary.
I work just down the road from the Apple shop on Regent St and I saw my first iPhone user the other day. I don't know a single person who owns one whereas I know and see loads of people with N95s. As far as I'm concerned the iPhone has been a huge flop, at least here in the UK, and that's got to be because of the price and the fact that it's locked to one network considering the fact that it's been advertised more heavily than any other phone I can think of..
@jakem: "locked to one network"? You can't be serious, right?
I live in South Kensington and I swear you'll see at least 10 a day here. Regent Street should have many too.
Perhaps the reason you saw more N95s in hands is because they're too heavy for the pockets? :p
Just think a minute: if it was selling like hot cakes (which is apparently the case in the US), European carriers wouldn't have lowered dramatically the price, which they did. Reality is iPhone sales is nowhere near expectations in Europe. Period.
im scared
I'll hold you.
Damn..... I'm getting really, really psyched now.
My iPhone was stolen last November, and I decided to go with a freebie phone until the new one came out, although I did end up my a touch.....
Still, I think it'll definitely come out some time in June, and I think there's actually a good chance it could be one of those "and it ships today" announcements. If not, then I'd say June 29th, just to make it the one year anniversary.
Either way all the signs are pointing to some time this summer.
*getting* myself a touch.
Jesus....
It's alright, it happens to be best of us. The lessers...well they just get lucky.
either that or they proof read! :P
Getting myself a touch right now.... :-D
Bad boy! Dirty boy! To your bed!
I can't wait. I've been watching videos and reading up on info ever since last week. All this 3G iPhone news is awesome!
Touching myself...
Me too! Though it's unrelated...
-Taylor
They're obviously just discontinuing it because it's a crappy device that no one was buying.
And you're a troll who can't even put up a proper argument.
Yeah that's probably it. I'm tossing my iPhone in the trash with that Time issue declaring it the best invention of 2007.
@Trippy: Well, the Time also declared that you are the person of the year, so I wouldn't really rely on them that much *gdr*
I wish I could discontinue you as a crappy person that no one likes.
New worst-kept secret ever.
Piss off, Israeli nuclear capability.
Still for sale in the UK in the Apple Store.
http://store.apple.com/Apple/WebObjects/ukstore.woa/wa/RSLID?nnmm=browse&mco=MTE2NTQ&node=home/shop_iphone/family/iphone
I have a feeling this is some 02 genius that has woken up to the advertising and hype that this announcment will bring!
"But it's negative news?! We can't announce this?"
"But watch what happens, trust me!"
For the record I love my iPhone but it's been plagued with "Why is it so expensive?" and "Someone said it wasn't 3G, so it's probably not worth it" and my personal favourite... "What??! No MMS? Seriously?"
This will put the phone in the newws and start the drum beat for the approach of the new iPhone mid June (Apparently).
Interestingly I heard through a friend of a friend that the IT backend for 02 is being prepped for a "big influx" end of July.
Staggered launch anyone?
Not sure what to make of it. O2 may not be selling that many through their store, where as Apple may be selling a good portion of iPhones through their Apple stores. But then again there are several times more O2 stores plastered around the UK than Apple stores right now. But I suppose with the internet, you can always order one from the Apple store online.
It could be a sign that 1) It's not selling enough, 2) There's the 3G iPhone coming 3) Apple and O2 have had a little falling out behind the scenes, 4) O2 are just being stupid fuckers.
Don't discount number 4, O2 are, by definition, stupid fuckers. But in reality, I think number 2 is more likely. Perhaps the UK will see 3G iPhones mid-May, O2 clearing their stock now may cause greater demand which will make the newer generation 3G iPhone sell more on release.
What makes them stupid fuckers? The fact that you spent £200 over your bill last month and they won't refund you it?
Could this mean that the 3G iPhone in May rumor that hit the web a few weeks back actually be true? In case you missed it:
http://switchtoamac.com/site/3g-iphone-in-may-new-mobile-device-at-wwdc-2008.html
Given this news about it being sold out in the UK and only the 16GB available in the US ... it makes we wonder if we'll see it before WWDC.
I have been wondering, and hoping that too. However, I just don't see it in Apples nature. With little time until WWDC, I don't see Apple announcing it before. WWDC by nature has always been developer centered, and if the SDK did not surround the iPhone, any mention of it at WWDC would be offset, however, the iPhone appears to be a huge thing this year. I think Steve will take the hype and do it then, but then again, I don't know. WWDC focuses much more on the Software side. iPhone 2.0 could easily be released before then with 1.1.4 and release iPhone OS 2.0 at WWDC, that would mean all the Developers will have the next gen phone with them already. On the other side, I do find it odd that so may companies are saying things in such a short time from eachother. It would seem to be Apples nature to hold off carrier deals until the week or night before the announcement. Yet again though, Apple would hold some type of event, and as we typically see invites a good month before hand, everything lands us right back to WWDC. :-( There is no saying that I would be angry if Apple released it with little fanfare tomorrow, however, Apple is all about hype, and they will hype the hell out of this.
Assuming O2 can resist stunting the speed of the 3G part of their network, the 3G iPhone will kick ass. I have the current version and I'd love that little speed boost when using it.
Fingers crossed the announcements come soon...
As for the speed stunting... for those who haven't heard about it yet, here's the story:
http://www.taptu.com/blog/2008/04/09/o2-says-3g-customers-dont-need-fast-connections/
car phone warehouse are also out of stock of 8gb and 16gb versions, that only leaves apple with some left in the uk
T-Mobile in Germany sold out on 8GB models too...
Well what i w as informed by a carphone ware house manager, that an internal mail has been passed which says the iphone 2nd generation is coming soon, and by soon he meant some time towards end of june and beginning of july.
and iphones being not available also raises questions if they are waiting for the 3g Iphone. but another reason for not selling the 8GB Iphone's is the 100 Pound price drop. thats why they have sold like hot cakes people bought them unlocked them and sold them clever in it.
Is this even english?
On a sidenote - the sooner the better!
I have been waiting for the iPhone to be released in Scandinavia since it were announced. Though I probably wouldn't have touched a non-3G handset.
I think what he really said was (read it out loud!) >
: eye yam wee tar did. eye yam sofa king wee tar did.
not exactly: to benefit from 100 pounds price drop one needed to sign contract with o2, as discount was given as o2 account credit.