We're just about a week away from the
Orange iPhone launch, and if you folks across the pond were wondering what the deal was going to cost you, you now have your answer thanks to a dizzying but thoroughly helpful series of tables that lay out the costs of the phones, plans, and the various accoutrement to be included. Those willing to sign up for 24 months can get an 8GB iPhone 3G for free for a minimum of £29.36 ($48) per month, but step up to the £122.34 ($200) monthly plan with unlimited everything and you'll get a 32GB 3GS gratis. Meanwhile, on a pay as you go plan that same 8GB 3G will cost you £343 ($561), while the 32GB 3GS is a rather more painful £539 ($881 -- haven't you figured out the conversion rate yet?). You know what that means: contract ahoy.
posted Nov 2nd 2009 8:29AM
Should have 12months deal like Orange in France.
Sadly none of the big four do 12 month contracts any more, and 24 month contracts seem to be slipping in as standard.
The length of contract is the gripe here? Compare these numbers to how AT&T gouges us in the US.... it almost makes that whole Revolutionary War thing not worth it.
This is such a deal!
I was hoping for 12-months as well but it seems that this is one of those things that changed during the past 6-years that I've been away from the UK.
@Orinjz
That's not true: Orange will give you a 12 month contract: http://shop.orange.co.uk/mobile-phones/plans/planList.jsp?func=12&tenure=12&_requestid=394398 - they just "encourage" you to sign up for a longer one by making the 12 month deals pretty dire.
It's only O2 that have no 12-month handset tariffs any more.
All the rest of the 'proper' networks )ie not MVNOs) offer 12 month tariffs on at least some handsets but, as already mentioned, they're pretty dire.
@Malcolm
I didn't actually know that; when I was looking for a new mobile network a year ago, the guy in the Vodafone shop told me that they don't do them and I got told the same (for all networks) in CPW. I really ought to know better than to trust someone who bathes in Lynx and uses chip fat to style their hair.
And funnily enough, I went to O2 from Orange because I couldn't stand the damn animal plans.
@orinjz: it depends a lot on the phone you're looking for.
On a lot of higher-end handsets, the networks do remove the 12-month options.
But, if you were just asking a general question, then both of them lied.
@lain
O2's fair usage policy is actually, UNLIMITED, don't know where you saw this 200MB limit.
I tethered my iPhone and downloaded Windows 7 RTM. I didn't hear anything from O2.
If it were unlimited, then it wouldn't be a fair use policy, it would genuinely be unlimited.
It is still 200MB, they just don't tell you.
But the point is it's an FUP, not a limit, the two are very different things.
Anyway, tethering's an entirely separate matter, they have different bundles.
Is is unllimited!
http://www.cultofmac.com/orange-fails-to-impress-with-750mb-data-limit/20210
And what do you think the 'network protection controls' entail?
Limiting you to the afore-mentioned 200MB.
The way O2 choose to market their 'unlimited' web bundle may have changed but they still retain the right to limit you if 'use them [the web or wi-fi bolt-ons] in such a way that adversely impacts the service to other O2 customers', which will include very heavy usage.
Once again, if the web-bundle was truly unlimited, they would not have those caveats in place.
Also, if O2's web-bundle is truly unlimited, why do they keep telling their retail partners that it's a 200MB/month FUP?
Further to what I've already said, I understand that when you read the terms the way O2 have written them on their website that it leads you to believe it's an unlimited FUP but, honestly, if you dig around you find a lot of conflicting information from reliable sources.
Also, technically, if we look at things from a very pessimistic view-point, O2 have written the terms in such a way that allows them to cut people off at any time, no matter how low their usage, if they deem it unacceptable - you don't get any guaranteed amount like you do with other networks.
But that's an aside, not what I was here to talk about at all.
Basically, what I wanted to say was if you don't want to believe me, that's fine. In fact, that's brilliant (with no hint of sarcasm). It's your God-given, legally-protected right to think what you want.
If you'd read what I have, you might not hold the same opinion. Then again, you might.
Either way though, I was merely sharing the information I have seen with my own two eyes to help other people and, in the nicest possible sense, I have no urge to get into an extended debate with yourself as it'll achieve nothing.
Peace and goodnight.
Also a 750MB cap on the tariff. FAIL.
Yep, "unlimited" doesn't equal 750MB/month! When is the UK's Advertising Standards Authority going to crack down on dodgy adverts like this...
But it's all good if I put an asterisk next to what I say!
Cancer curing product!*
*Does not cure cancer.
Yeah, that's ridiculous. Plus misleading advertising.
I thought the UK had better prices on phone plans... Are these regular plans or some special made ones for the iPhone?
Forget the ASA. Ofcom are responsible but they refuse to do anything about this.
They are iPhone specific, and as it happens, exactly the same as the O2 ones before.
Standard UK network 'unlimited' data bundle allowances, in descending order:
T-Mobile and 3: 1GB/month
Orange: will be 750MB/month
Vodafone: 500MB/month
O2: 200MB/month
You have to remember, these are Fair Use Policies, not limits.
You will not be charged the moment you exceed the threshold, just if you repeatedly exceed it by an unreasonable margin (ie take the piss and try and host a web server or whatever).
Why don't all the plans say "unlimited*" minutes and texts, then put the actual number of minutes and texts as a *footnote.
"these are Fair Use Policies, not limits"
They are, de facto, limits. You can call them the Holy Internet Commandments if you want... they still limit your internet usage.
And you really don't need to host a server to exceed 750MB. Try Youtube, for example. Or something similar which works on an iPhone...
@ibelike: read what I said again.
They are NOT limits - have you ever heard of an O2 iPhone user being charged for data usage? No.
But I bet plenty of them exceed 200MB/month.
And I never said you had to host a web server to exceed 750MB, I used it as a sarcastic example of the sort of people who will be charged/slowed-down/cut-off by networks for exceeding the FUPs by an UNREASONABLE amount.
Yea, there is a reason why state side we have 5gb limits. I get around 1.5gb a month just from casual youtube/tv/pandora on my Pre. I don't see how 750 would work for normal users (I figure normal users use half of what I use and that is cutting it close).
Iain:
>Standard UK network 'unlimited' data bundle allowances"
you haven't seen Virgin Mobile's "unlimited internet".. 3GB a month for contracts, 1Gb a month on pay-as-you-go:
http://www.virginmobile.com/vm/genericContent.do?contentId=our.service.footer.sm068
their "unlimited mobile for a day" is just 25MB, costing £0.30.
I can't find out Three's fair use, it's referred to in many places, when I click on the tariffs detail button I get a pop up window and a failed to load plugin message.
Paul, the 3GB is for mobile broadband - ie using a dongle, which is completely different.
It's 1GB on all phone plans.
That makes a certain amount of sense as Virgin are an MVNO backing off of T-Mobile, so it figures that the FUP is the same.
@Iain: I don't know O2 users or anything, but after reading this:
"Usage above this amount will constitute abuse and Orange may monitor usage, apply Network protection controls which may result in reduced speed of transmission and/or withdraw the Offer from your account if the fair usage policy is abused."
I wouldn't be comfortable using more than 750MB.
The terms are simply too limiting. Also reading further:
"Not to be used for other activities (e.g. using your handset as a modem, non-Orange internet based streaming services, voice or video over the internet, instant messaging, peer to peer file sharing, non-Orange internet based video). Should such use be detected notice may be given and Network protection controls applied to all services which Orange does not believe constitutes mobile browsing. This may result in reduced speed of transmission, suspension of data browsing services and/or suspension of your account."
Seems very bad to me.
What happened to the good old "you do what you want with your included MBs/GBs of data, but you'll get charged extra if you exceed it"?
Ok, that one is worded a little more vehemently than most other FUPs but, still, the point is that the networks set these thresholds to cover themselves legally in case of serious mis-use (it's the same with unlimited texts etc).
Just because they have the right to take action when you exceed the 750MB, that doesn't mean they will.
On other tariffs recently Orange have been offering the ability to 'upgrade' the web bundle. They come with a 500MB LIMIT (not FUP, not advertised as 'unlimited') per month but you can upgrade it to 5GB for an extra £5/month.
It's possible they may offer this with the iPhone but I doubt it - more likely, like O2, they'll just let most people use what they want and take out the handful of individuals who are abusing it.
@lain
Where di you get this 200MB limit for O2.
O2's fir useage policy is UNLIMITED. Nowhere in their terms and conditions does it state any MB limit. It just says tht you shouldnt tether it etc
I can use my own WiFi connection for free?! and it's unlimited?!
WOWZERS
I imagine the free WiFi is referring to hotspot access ( O2 users get free OpenZone access ).
* Fair Usage policy of 750MB / month applies.
It means you can use orange's public wifi hotspots for free.
I thought something very similar, however, looking at the T&C's, i think it is referring to use of BTOpenzone Wifi spots (hence the 750mb fair use policy too).
Still, too expensive for my liking though.
what utter sh1t. If orange dont give me a loyalty discount i'll go to o2 just to spite them.
Orange gave me a loyalty discount on a new phone despite only being on a sim contract for about 3 months. All good besides I don't really like Orange seeing as whenever I try and check my usage it's normally not working and it only updates about once a day, what's up with that?
In the UK, T-Mobile are almost always cheaper than O2, Vodafone and Orange. So, how long until iPhone on T-Mobile...
T-Mobile and Orange are merging next year so they will get it eventually.
Well, if it gets ok-ed by the Competitions/Monopolies Commission that is.
Plus, for the first 18-24 months after the merger starts, the two brands will continue to operate independently.
They'll focus primarily on behind-the-scenes stuff, like merging the two computer systems etc.
So the 32gb is £539 and the N900 is £499, yet the N900 is free on £35pm/ 18m and the 3GS costs a whopping £175 on £35pm/ 24m contract.
Hmm, someone's getting ripped off somewhere.
disappointing really, was hoping orange would be able to offer better prices.
as its totally even, its just who has the better service/connection, and maybe customer service.
in that case i would go with orange.
For me O2 is clear winner, Orange reception at home is dreadful, have to stand in garden to get devcent signal
Don't forget Orange Wednesdays!
I'll stick to my priority O2 Academy tickets, I hardly ever go to the cinema.
Orange announced a while ago that they weren't prepared to enter into a price war with O2.
* Fair Usage policy of 750MB / month applies...WTF???
How the hell is this unlimited?
Given that the plan does not enable tethering, I wonder what you would need to do to hit 750MB per month. Still, this beats the heck out of the plans here in Belgium where my basic plan gives me a "whopping" 200MB. Woohoo! Seriously, 750MB is a great deal in comparison.
Wait until you see Vodafone's 'unlimited' offer - it's currently capped at 500MB.
Anyway, I trust this puts any thoughts of a price war to bed.
Sadly to report, these tarrifs are neigh on identical to O2's pricing
Hands up all those people who are shocked by this news...
...anyone..?
If you'd studied economics at school you'd have learnt that the point of competition is to keep prices the same or higher where possible.
not at all.
one of them will blink and lower a few weeks after when voda have it to.
No one is going to blink for the moment because they don't have to. When the next iPhone rolls around and people want to upgrade then, maybe, someone will try to undercut the competition in order to attract the upgraders but I have my doubts about this. It's not really in anyone's interest to reduce the price, particularly if demand remains high.
The expectations are that Vodafone will be the ones to push a price-drop as they'll be playing catch-up even more than Orange, plus with Orange's impending merger with T-Mobile, Voda will find themselves in third place and with (currently) little to offer customer by way of an incentive to choose them.
So, maybe a price-drop in Jan/Feb then.
Sorry to be that guy, but it's 'nigh'.
That is to say, horses 'neigh'.
This is a slightly better offer than O2 provide. The lowest tariff that Orange offer is practically the same price as O2, but with Orange you get 150 minutes and 250 texts rather than the terrible 75 minutes and 125 texts you get with O2.
Same price but 75 more minutes and 125 more texts.
but stiffed on the data
Guess it depends what you do more, use it as a phone or use as an internet device, at least you can switch to WiFi and only use the 3G network when you have to.
But that doesn't stop the usage policy from sucking, especially as the iPhone advertises the app store (from which you need to download!) as its top selling feature.
I think O2 might be a tiny bit better... With O2's 18 month plan, and the switching tariff from £45 to £35 method after 9 months, I'm paying less and getting out earlier than any of Orange's deals.
Have they released any information about promotional upgrades yet for current customers who may wish to upgrade early? I know O2 were heavily criticsed for not offering this with the release of the 3GS.
My upgrade's not due til May so I hope they offer something or other!
I'm hoping the european consumers aren't going to be as lemming as north americans and actually buy an iphone over the much better options they already have available.
There are so many better alternatives to the iphone.
Oh, bugger off. For what I want a phone to do the iPhone offers the best all-round-experience. As long as people buy something that works for them, seriously, what does it matter? Is your world really going to end if people buy an iPhone?
seriously, for your own benfit do research. Iphone is not the best at anything.
android and webos have huge advantages. And if your hooked on the apps thing then android has you covered.
Do you know iphone still does not do bluetooth right? Not even the 3Gs. I had iphone 3G for a year and desperately tried to like it but apple woul d just constantly let me down.
do you know they warranty everything BUT the very easily breakable glass interface?
These are just the tip of the iceburgh. Seriously, survey your options. Especially with DROID and that sweet Sony android unit coming out.
Don't be an ilemming.
Oh, for crying out loud. You have no idea what I want so please don't insult us both by pretending that you do and that you know what would be best for me. I've done my research and, no, neither the WebOS nor Android will do what I want. If you want to buy something else then that's absolutely fine with me - I don't care what other people want to buy and neither should you.
Still, for the sake of argument, sort this one out. I'd like to rent a movie to watch on my phone when I'm travelling. Which service am I going to use for that with Android or Palm? There's a long list of things, frankly, but there's a start for you.
rather get HTC HD2 for free on tmobile combie 35?
damn these are competitive compared to the US crap deals they have now...
Doesn't anyone else find it funny that after Orange's original hype about how they were going to "undercut O2's ridiculous pricing structure of the iPhone" that the tariffs are exactly the sam!!!!?!?! (bar the 750Mb p/m data cap!)
Orange announced a while ago that they weren't going to enter into a price war with O2, that they were merely going to 'offer more value' on the tariffs.
As for the data bundles, I've already explained all about that further up the page if you're interested.
Care to cite that source?
However, he [Orange's VP of sales and loyalty, Guillaume Van Gaver] added that the operator would ‘absolutely not engage in a price war’, and would instead would put a strong emphasis on its network to entice customers.
http://www.mobiletoday.co.uk/mobile_exec/news.aspx?id=61314&terms=Orange+iPhone
right so im on orange, i have an unlocked iphone,
600 minutes
unlimited texts
unlimited internet
and get fuckt orange, wifi is "unlimited" in my home or where ever i can get it anyway cheeky fuckers.
i pay £28.80per month
all those price plans are shit!
i know its including the phone in the price but jeez, if i wanted unlimited minutes and a phone i'd be paying around £100 more a month???
that means for a top spec iphone thats £2400 on top for a 24 month contract
o2 simplicity - 600 mins , 1000 txts , unlimited data - £20 a month
T-Mobile Combi 30 + W'n'W with 50% discount - 700 mins, unlimited texts, unlimited web with a Fair Use Policy 5x larger than O2's.
Do I win?
i was going to jailbreak a PAYG O2 phone and stay with Orange a couple of months ago but the 3.1 update got in the way the heard about Orange.
arranged a deal back then- unlimited txt, unlimited data and 200mins for £10/m 18months tie in (could have 600min for £14 but dont need em)
£620 for 16gb 3Gs over 18 months isn't too bad :p
what on orange?
yeah with Orange, been with them about 9yrs tho and paid about £15/m for 200min, unlimited txt before
I have to wonder what the point is of converting the plan rates to US Dollars. Someone in the US can't buy an iPhone or data plan from the UK (well, not if they have a few neurons to rub together) and these things never compare well with each other with international exchange rates. What is more interesting is the rates that comparable providers charge, i.e. what is O2 charging? If people really need it in their local currency (and, hey, not everyone lives in the US here) then I'm sure they can sort this out themselves.
Anyway, it looks like I'll be getting my 32GB White version from Orange at the end of the month. I just have to hope that the stock doesn't disappear by then...
I wonder how much you have to pay on top of that to actually get reception?
Plus do you then have to pay extra to get customer service as when I was with orange I got the second worst service I have ever received from a company (in first place is The Student Loans Company)
"ALL prices are exclusive of VAT". In other words add 15% (or 17.5% when the rate increases, very soon). Orange are misleading consumers by not putting this on their pricing! In the UK, VAT is almost always included in pricing (99 times out of 100). Therefore most people would assume the prices in the table would include it!
That's for the business plans only.
Oh great, Wi-Fi is unlimited, how nice of them.
"subject to a fair use policy of 750 megabytes per month". I hope this doesn't include the use of wifi in my own home!
If you work out the total cost of ownership over the lifetime of a contract it often works out the same or cheaper to buy a SIM free phone off Ebay and then get a cheap monthly SIM only deal. The advantage is that you're not tied to any particular network for a long period of time. I got my T-mobile G1 like this but was able to stay on the O2 network which currently gives me 800mins / 1600 texts and unlimited internet for £20/month.
I don't know why we expected Orange to rock the boat on pricing.. The iPhone is the bloody golden goose for networks right now and they'll get the same subsidy as O2 so the deals were always going to be almost identical. In this climate no one is looking to take on a lost leader.
My gripes with O2 are going to be the same with Orange, the network in London is patchy and 3g drops out all the time, the Cloud "free" browsing is almost useless ... I do want to move networks but i think i'll see what Vodafone are going to do since O2 are rumoured to be unlocking handsets at the end of contracts.
"to take on a lost leader."
I think you mean "loss leader".
The only thing that surprises me is the lack of unlimited texts on lower price plans.
Did Orange not learn from the disaster that was the 5800CWM?
Total first-week sales of something like 10, for the entire country, primarily due to the lack of unlimited texts.
Wow so there u have even in Europe u can get free iPhone over a nokia n900 $650, hmmmh wonder which people will pick. Exactly.
How does Orange compare for roaming abroad? I disable roaming on my iPhone when abroad but with O2 at least I know I can text people at home, and it'll use my text allowance first (at 4 texts per message instead of 1).
Do Orange allow you to use your text allowance when outside the UK?
No, they don't.
Only O2 offer that, to the best of my knowledge.
For you it might be worth holding off 'til Vodafone get the iPhone as they offer their 'passport' service, which allows people to use their minutes outside the UK, with a single 75p charge per call.
More marketing blurb:
"For those looking for full all-inclusive packages, a new high end "traveller" offer with inclusive roaming call and data allowance is
available at £125 month."
"In addition customers will also get free unlimited use of the UK's largest single public Wi-Fi network, BT Openzone."
Orange have their own WiFi hotspots as well?
"but step up to the £122.34 ($200) monthly plan with unlimited everything and you'll get a 32GB 3GS gratis"
gratis - unless you take into account that you'll be paying close to £3k over your 24 month contract!!!
doesn't sound so gratis to me!
Can someone please explain to me why the Clit Phone is so expensive? You're all winging at Orange / O2 yet surely Apple is at fault? What does it do that other phones don't to justify such a hefty premium?
It displays a lovely pineapple when you try to exert some sort of control over what the phone can do - that alone has got to be worth the price!
ALL phone businesses have a definition of the word "free" that is not recognised in any dictionary that I have come across, or even heard of.
These people are - by any system of measurement - overcharging to a level only known to mafia moneylenders (and government taxation people - of course!, they set the standard for all lenders).
"Competition" is also a strangely defined expression in my experience.
Still, So long as they keep donating to the various political parties the overcharging will continue.
Just how long they will also continue the "new technology" angle for any new phone is anyone's guess. Looking forward to the time that events will force the actual manufacturers of personal phones to offer them directly at an accessible price, rather than the "heavily discounted" rates of contracted service providers.
All these people certainly have tapped into the "must have the latest" rich seam of mugs haven't they? Thus continuing the gravy train.
Loads of people seem to be worrying about data the 750mb data caps. I wouldn't. I'm on an Orange contract with unlimited* internet *(500mb) and I use about 3.5Gb a month with tethering through my Touch Diamond and I have had no problem. I'm about 12 months into the 18 month contract. I've had no slow down (well if I have its still been fast enough to watch BBC iPlayer)
No problem with the pricing over here, but no help at all for those loyal customers on Orange already in a contract. Orange and the others definetly encourage contract renewals for long periods which I have no problem withm, but, then the hype starts for the launch of the iPhone and I now have to sit and wait 8 months before I can upgrade. Shame they couldn't put something together to help.
suddenly my arsehole feels sore after seeing that some providers give you 12 months contract
we in Canada get raped with sandpaper condom.
3 year contracts is mandatory to get any discount on handset
plus, it costs us $400+13% to cancel the contract
and last but not least, we also have something called "data contract" and it costs $100+13% to cancel the data portion on top of voice portion
Why the fuck does minutes always go up, and not texts. Who here would use 3000 minutes and 500 texts? I usually use about 2000 texts a month and 10 minutes. Pah.
You've kinda answered your own question.