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."

[edwinsmith Posted Jun 7th 2010 5:42PM]

Good stuff - was an original 3G owner back in 2008, so pretty happy that this has popped out in time for the contract expiration.

Something interesting to note, on the email notification page on the O2 site, it seems that they're already asking for postal details to send over the Micro SIM via the post...

[Michalis Posted Jun 7th 2010 5:45PM]

is it gonna be locked on O2 or what?let us know!

[Sax25 Posted Jun 7th 2010 5:56PM]

All UK iPhones WILL be locked to their respective networks. I know that O2 offer an official unlock after a certain time. Not sure about the other too.

Dunno what the hell 3 are doing. The biggest selling phone and then even on the 4th generation, they still don't try to get it on their network.

[rob47 Posted Jun 7th 2010 6:19PM]

@Michalis Locked for a few months then a £20 unlocking fee for pay as you go users or free for contracts.

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

@Sax25 You can unlock at any time on O2. Just go to www.o2.co.uk/unlockmyiphone

[LawA Posted Jun 7th 2010 5:45PM]

Want this with my current T-mobile SIM as I am half way through a contract!

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

What up with Tmobile in Germany.. ?
http://www.t-mobile.de/iphone/iphone4/0,21359,24665-_,00.html

[Vlad Savov Posted Jun 7th 2010 5:50PM]

@(Unverified) That's the pre-order date.

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

I renewed my 18 month contract 4 months ago FFFFFUUUUUU

[Maniacfive Posted Jun 7th 2010 7:13PM]

@JBaker Should've waited for the new one. I've been waiting to renew my 3G since December. Telling my friends the same. Wasn't like we didn't know it was gonna happen.

[Evoss Posted Jun 7th 2010 5:52PM]

buying on O2

[rob47 Posted Jun 7th 2010 7:09PM]

@Evoss I'm not so sure Orange makes a good argument with free cinema and the merging with tmobile to become the biggest network in the country.

[admur Posted Jun 7th 2010 5:56PM]

Gonna be a lot of iPhone/3g/3gs on eBay real soon!

[Firesuite Posted Jun 7th 2010 5:57PM]

Lucky UK having more than one carrier to choose from while here in the US where still tied to sucky ATT :(

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

WHat is that ATaT ??? operator?? how many oper u have in USA ?
just only this one ??? :DDDDDDDDD

[Trevsweb Posted Jun 7th 2010 6:06PM]

yay best news since the announcement :D

[bathellfire Posted Jun 7th 2010 6:18PM]

Off topic: Doesn't "O" element stand for oxygen? If yes, why do they have water as a wallpaper? Doesn't "H" (Hydrogen) element dominate in water?

[orangespoon Posted Jun 7th 2010 6:48PM]

@bathellfire bubbles dude

[Ritskis Posted Jun 7th 2010 6:47PM]

I'll probably get it on o2 like my 3g I got unlimited free Internet first 12 months £10 a month after that with 300 texts and they have that superfast HDSPA where I live

[orangespoon Posted Jun 7th 2010 6:48PM]

bubbles dude

[andreas_11_31 Posted Jun 7th 2010 6:49PM]

Surely i'm not the only one to ask this but... on Tech Radar's site, Re: Vodafone, they say 24th JULY... I hope to GOD that's a typo...

[DaftVader Posted Jun 7th 2010 7:07PM]

What about UK price "Handset" only. I disturbance to the force and my wallet I fear.

[rob47 Posted Jun 7th 2010 7:11PM]

@DaftVader I expect around £500 on PayG

[Almo Posted Jun 7th 2010 7:19PM]

@rob47

£550 + £15 unlock.

[LawA Posted Jun 8th 2010 6:10PM]

@DaftVader Would it not be logical to fill the space that the 3GS will leave? £449 and £499 respectively. With the 3GS replacing the 3G at £349?

[Firewire709 Posted Jun 7th 2010 7:16PM]

What about Ireland O2??

[nipponJ Posted Jun 7th 2010 7:50PM]

HEY!!!! what about here in Japan?

[JustThatNerdyGuy Posted Jun 9th 2010 4:23AM]

Can people get early upgrades on T- Mobile!? I\m regretting getting The Desire now :(