iPhone 4 confirms June 24 date with O2, Orange, T-Mobile and Vodafone in UK

Good news for non-America: O2 UK has become the first international carrier to confirm it'll have the iPhone 4 ready for purchase and adoration on launch day, June 24. After the iPad gave preferential treatment to the US with its release schedule, some might have feared the similarly hot piece of tech Apple just announced today will also suffer from a tiered launch. It's looking like Brits won't have to worry about that particular pain, but it's also curious that Vodafone and Orange -- the other local carriers of the iPhone -- are remaining mum tonight. Is Apple lending a hand to its old partner by allowing it early stock? That wouldn't be entirely unfathomable, though it would be pretty unpleasant for impatient types who fancy some carrier choice.

Update: Never mind that whole conspiracy theory: we've just seen that Orange is also throwing its hat into the June 24 ring -- let's keep this momentum going, guys! [Thanks, Blizzard]

Update 2: And now Tech Radar has heard direct from Vodafone that June 24 is a go, giving us a complete Brit pack.

Update 3: Hey, what do you know? T-Mobile UK's getting it too. Choice is good.

Show full PR text

iPhone 4 Coming to O2

Special upgrade deal to be offered to in contract customers

O2 will launch iPhone 4, the thinnest smartphone in the world with the highest resolution display ever built into a phone on 24th June.

To make it as easy as possible for O2 customers still in contract to get their hands on a new iPhone, O2 will offer a limited time special upgrade offer. Further details will be announced in the coming days.

To support the launch of iPhone 4, O2 has created www.o2.co.uk/iphonelatest a dedicated website for the latest news and updates where customers can hear details ahead of the new iPhone going on sale.

O2 has a unique history in supporting the iPhone in the UK over the past three years. Customers benefit from great value tariffs, including access to thousands of public Wi-Fi hotspots, an intelligent network developed with insight from the iPhone in mind, the expertise of O2 Gurus in store and iPhone specialists in customer service, as well as unique features such as Visual Voicemail.

"Apple has once again raised the bar with the iPhone 4," said Ronan Dunne, UK Chief Executive of O2. "With 3 years' experience in selling the iPhone we are well placed to support the new device with the best overall experience, including making it easy for new and existing customers to get their hands on one."

[versp Posted Jun 7th 2010 5:30PM]

@TheEdge
An Evo makes no sense somewhere where there's no 4G network. A Dell Streak with a 5 inch screen on the other hand...

[TheEdge Posted Jun 7th 2010 5:49PM]

@versp

UMMM even in 3g there is no better phone than the EVO. Smarten up chucky

[tobsmonster2 Posted Jun 7th 2010 5:16PM]

Great now how about some news on upgrades for existing customers?

[d0mth0ma5 Posted Jun 7th 2010 5:25PM]

@tobsmonster2 I wouldn't expect much of a discount, but fingers crossed as my contract is up for renewal/upgrade.

[Almo Posted Jun 7th 2010 5:26PM]

Would quite like to know if O2 will provide unlocks for the pay as you go ones...

[Sax25 Posted Jun 7th 2010 6:05PM]

Think i'll move back to Orange and get an officially unlocked one from Apple store in Hong Kong. Will have to wait but official unlock will be sweet for me as I travel. Also currently using Vodafone PAYG and everytime I top it up say £20 at the newsagents, credit gets used when NO data services are running - i hardly have any apps (and they shouldn't be working in the background anyways). Even without using the phone, it will have lost about £10 worth of credit within a week. Whats the point of PAYG if I cant just keep it and use it when i like? If I have to use it quickly just so that I don't lose any credit then it means that using Pay As You Go is worthless. I am also sure Vodafone have some sort of ridiculous daily charge. So even without using my phone, they take money - screw Vodafone. At least Orange never used to stiff me like that. So maybe Orange + officially unlocked iPhone is my best option.

[rob47 Posted Jun 7th 2010 6:15PM]

@Almo You pay a £20 unlocking fee that they have to provide by law, if you're on a contract it's free to unlock officially.

[rpang10 Posted Jun 7th 2010 6:58PM]

@rob47 actually its £15

[rob47 Posted Jun 7th 2010 6:59PM]

@rpang10 Bah I thought it was around there maybe i'm thinking of Vodafone.

[Maniacfive Posted Jun 7th 2010 7:11PM]

@Almo Would imagine it will follow the now standard o2 iPhone unlock policy of 'free during contract, and you pay the monthly contract still. Or £15 credit on PAYG. £15 call time credit spent on an ubnlock is standard O2 fare.

[PaddyUK Posted Jun 7th 2010 7:12PM]

@Almo

www.o2.co.uk/unlockmyiphone

[Almo Posted Jun 7th 2010 7:15PM]

I'm aware you can unlock current iPhones free on contract or £15 if pay as you go, just wondered if it would be offered immediately for iPhone 4 as well..

[Maniacfive Posted Jun 7th 2010 7:17PM]

@Sax25 Do you have push notifications turned on? Because Push uses data. Check your usage when you top up.

[rob47 Posted Jun 8th 2010 2:24AM]

@Almo If they all offer it immidiately I'd think they should but I don't think they will. I think I'll go orange because of the tmobile merger.

[Blizzard Posted Jun 7th 2010 5:16PM]

Orange aren't remaining mum.
http://newsroom.orange.co.uk/2010/06/07/orange-uk-to-launch-iphone-4/

[Vlad Savov Posted Jun 7th 2010 5:24PM]

@Blizzard Much appreciated.

[Blizzard Posted Jun 7th 2010 5:25PM]

@Vlad Savov
No problem! Super busy day I bet.

[MikeWard1701 Posted Jun 7th 2010 5:59PM]

@Blizzard

I'm so very very happy :)))))))

[krishansy Posted Jun 7th 2010 5:17PM]

Congrats UK!

[Edmunn Posted Jun 7th 2010 5:17PM]

Great, though I'm only 2 months into my 3GS contract.
What ever happened to the Magic Slate / Trackpad mentioned earlier?

[d0mth0ma5 Posted Jun 7th 2010 5:24PM]

@Edmunn Those last minute rumours always lead to disappointment.

[Edmunn Posted Jun 7th 2010 5:28PM]

I guess it was a render then.

[MarkAnderson Posted Jun 7th 2010 5:17PM]

Yuk. O2.

I just checked Voda's coming soon page. Nothing there yet.

[MarkAnderson Posted Jun 7th 2010 5:29PM]

@MarkAnderson

Voda have just confirmed to Tech Radar that they will be offering it too.

[PaddyUK Posted Jun 7th 2010 7:02PM]

@MarkAnderson At least you can get Visual Voicemail on O2. . .

[MarkAnderson Posted Jun 8th 2010 2:26AM]

@PaddyUK

...if not a signal.

[PaddyUK Posted Jun 9th 2010 7:13AM]

@MarkAnderson

Haha, touché!

[Colours Posted Jun 7th 2010 5:17PM]

This is how the iPad should have rolled out.

[hajj3 Posted Jun 7th 2010 5:19PM]

no prices for handset only or of the phone+contract :( Was hoping to know this today.

[Keanedi Posted Jun 7th 2010 5:20PM]

Gosh, how about Canada??? We are the closet to US!!!

[Gridl0k Posted Jun 7th 2010 5:27PM]

@Keanedi All their gay people hide in you? Or they just store shoes in you?

[Solid Gray Fox Posted Jun 7th 2010 5:27PM]

@Keanedi

Probably because Canadian law-makers are still trying to figure out how to put an extra tax-levy on anything that plays digital music.

[GeorgeRobo Posted Jun 7th 2010 5:28PM]

@Keanedi For some reason Canada is getting it almost a month after France, Germany, UK, US and JP. Certainly strange.

[d0mth0ma5 Posted Jun 7th 2010 5:33PM]

@Keanedi It does seem odd, but you'll probably be in the July batch.

p.s. Vlad, surely "Closet to America" was worth a bit of joke, there were no ill intentions.

[Stotherd Posted Jun 8th 2010 4:33AM]

@d0mth0ma5

Its probably to encourage importing, thus increasing Apple's opening launch figures in the US.

[BenRH Posted Jun 7th 2010 5:23PM]

Damn, I wish there was an upgrade offer for people who have Pay and Go iPhones like myself! I suppose I'm just gunna have go sell my iPhone, or keep it. I haven't decided yet.

[Almo Posted Jun 7th 2010 5:28PM]

@BenRH

Mint condition white 3GS will go for £400-420 on ebay, add £100 get iPhone 4.

[Ritskis Posted Jun 7th 2010 6:46PM]

@BenRH Same I have A 3g pay as you go might just give It to envirophone or something I think they go for £180

[Gridl0k Posted Jun 7th 2010 5:25PM]

All 3 nets.

Pricing the same as current iPhone (you think Apple went smaller, faster, better and forgot 'cheaper to make'?)

[Vadrix Posted Jun 7th 2010 5:26PM]

Canada?

[Auouywonz Posted Jun 7th 2010 5:34PM]

@Vadrix Ditto

[RichS Posted Jun 7th 2010 5:46PM]

@Vadrix July 18th. Strange that they didn't include it in the first tier, but seeing as Canada didn't get the original iPhone until a year later, I think Apple just doesn't see it as that big a market.

[Vadrix Posted Jun 7th 2010 5:54PM]

@RichS
Thanks, could you possibly tell me where you found out?
Kinda disappointed considering my upgrade on my plan is june 24th..

[Vadrix Posted Jun 7th 2010 6:09PM]

@Vadrix
Nevermind i found it.

[s2upid Posted Jun 7th 2010 6:23PM]

@Vadrix

uhh mind sharing it with everyone?

[Vadrix Posted Jun 7th 2010 7:03PM]

@s2upid
http://mobilesyrup.com/2010/06/07/live-feed-apple-set-to-announce-the-next-gen-iphone-at-wwdc/

[Chris7197 Posted Jun 7th 2010 5:30PM]

Come on, sell it unlocked! I'm on a contract with 3 and I really want this :(

[Vizzy Posted Jun 7th 2010 5:48PM]

@Chris7197 I wish Three had them at least on Pay as you go

[versp Posted Jun 7th 2010 5:34PM]

I'm pretty excited for this although I don't see any way I'm going to be able to afford this. £799 if ou include how much the contract is going to cost is exhorbitant, or the £550 on Pay & Go. Are there any little 'hacks' to minimise the costs like cancelling the contract?

[Tchiort Posted Jun 7th 2010 5:36PM]

No announcement from Orange France (its cradle by the way)?
Europeans partners have been totally excluded from Apple's show... (every carriers actually...) I think that surprising. I know every of them now want the Iphone in their catalog, but still...