Just yesterday I was getting a notable amount of email and phone calls from really quite annoyed Vodafone executives about Orange’s iPhone announcement yesterday.
There was a significant amount of discussion across the mobile community yesterday, a lot of it directed at how rubbish Vodafone had been for not getting the iPhone.
I mean… how bad do you have to be. Three hundred million plus customers and you can’t persuade Steve Jobs to give you the nod — and your biggest competitor (T-Mo/Orange) has just got the goods.
Awwwwh shucks!
There was no need to panic! The pain was transitory…
Vodafone and Apple today confirmed that they have reached agreement to bring iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS to the UK and Ireland in early 2010.
Beginning today, Vodafone UK and Vodafone Ireland customers can register their interest in iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS at www.vodafone.co.uk/iphone and www.vodafone.ie/iphone respectively. Pricing, tariffs and availability information will be announced locally in the future.
Vodafone now offers iPhone through thirteen of its operating companies.
Bring it ONNNN.
Now then, as another chap from Vodafone Group pointed out yesterday, “Don’t worry Ewan, it’ll be on Tesco Mobile before you know it.”
Goodness me, that can’t be far away now then…
So to all Vodafone UK customers sitting looking wistfully at their feature phones hoping for more…
I really do feel the action really begins at the next iPhone release. It'll be a fair fight for everyone. Best price/service wins, and the customer will win!
I think you're right, it's going to be rather exciting to see what they each offer.
exciting times, although if you want it on the best 3G network and before Xmas, look to Orange…
🙂
I think the 'before Christmas' point will seriously appeal to a lot of people
Not sure people purchase contract devices as Xmas pressies Ewan, they will lose out on PAYG sales for sure, but all this is great news for the consumers 🙂
Fair point Mark — I was thinking of the lucky teenagers who've persuaded their parents to upgrade'em from iPod Touch to iPhone
To be honest, most of the real action will happen post Christmas once the 18 month 3G early adopters have their contracts come up for renewal, so I don't think Voda are going to miss out too much by not having it out before christmas.
Good point Nick. What handset are you using at the moment?
What do you reckon will be the effect of iphone against the new 360 phones VF have just launched? Rather, would 360 be more successful on the iphone itself and be a better sales hook as a value added service than say, signing up to Orange who don't seem to offer more than O2 does at this point in time.
Well now Sheepdog, we haven't seen the Orange proposition as yet so I don't think we should be comparing them and o2 side-by-side yet.
I think you're right with the 360 perspective though…
exciting times, although if you want it on the best 3G network and before Xmas, look to Orange…
🙂
I think the 'before Christmas' point will seriously appeal to a lot of people
Not sure people purchase contract devices as Xmas pressies Ewan, they will lose out on PAYG sales for sure, but all this is great news for the consumers 🙂
Fair point Mark — I was thinking of the lucky teenagers who've persuaded their parents to upgrade'em from iPod Touch to iPhone
To be honest, most of the real action will happen post Christmas once the 18 month 3G early adopters have their contracts come up for renewal, so I don't think Voda are going to miss out too much by not having it out before christmas.
Good point Nick. What handset are you using at the moment?
What do you reckon will be the effect of iphone against the new 360 phones VF have just launched? Rather, would 360 be more successful on the iphone itself and be a better sales hook as a value added service than say, signing up to Orange who don't seem to offer more than O2 does at this point in time.
Well now Sheepdog, we haven't seen the Orange proposition as yet so I don't think we should be comparing them and o2 side-by-side yet.
I think you're right with the 360 perspective though…
when exactly will the iphone 3GS beavailable to customers?
when exactly will the iphone 3GS beavailable to customers?