O2 upgrade to iPhone - better deals?

int · 26 Jul 2009 at 21:38

I'm due and update with o2 within the next month and the only phone that remotely appeals to me so far is the iPhone (they seem to lack anything decent in order to push you towards the iPhone :rolleyes:

)

Currently I'm paying £22 a month for 400/400 but of course the iPhone has its own contracts that you have to stick to.

The cheapest is the 8Gb (£96 for the phone) for 18 months at £29 a month for 75 minutes and 125 texts which is appalling.

I've been with them for 5 years now and there's always the promise of "better deals next time you upgrade" and yet when it comes around to upgrading most of the time the deals for new customers are better and I end up with nothing special.

Any way of getting them to throw in some freebies or should I just cut my losses and look elsewhere?

Hayley-K · 26 Jul 2009 at 21:48

I'm in the same situation, been with them since they were BTcellnet! They won't busge on the iphone as its an exclusive and they know everyone wants one.

I once threatened to leave them and got a slighlty better deal on a phone but that was a few years ago, been on a SIMplicity tariff for the past year but my phone is getting a bit old and dated now and i'm in need of an upgrade.

Margaret · 26 Jul 2009 at 22:31

That deal sucks, if going for an iPhone go for the £35/m for 24 months that has 600 mins, 500 texts and gives you the iPhone 3GS 16Gb for £87.

Felix E · 27 Jul 2009 at 00:51

I just bought a second hand 3g for £250 and going to put an 02 rolling monthly sim into it... 20 quid for 600/1200 and unlimited web. phone is still not cheap but better than being tied into a 24 month contract imo

Margaret · 27 Jul 2009 at 01:08

Felix E said:
I just bought a second hand 3g for £250 and going to put an 02 rolling monthly sim into it... 20 quid for 600/1200 and unlimited web. phone is still not cheap but better than being tied into a 24 month contract imo

Yeah depends though, I mean if I went down the simplicity sim route it'd have cost me about £450 for the phone alone (wanted a 3GS) and still £20 or so monthly, but it's going to be a long term thing for me and I don't see anything beating the iPhone for a while yet so 24 months seems OK.

Felix E · 27 Jul 2009 at 01:10

take a look at the HTC Hero? Cnet reviewed the other day and said not an iPhone beater... but on a par with. I didn't get it because of cost.

Margaret · 27 Jul 2009 at 01:46

Felix E said:
take a look at the HTC Hero? Cnet reviewed the other day and said not an iPhone beater... but on a par with. I didn't get it because of cost.

Looks meh in comparison, I read into it but the internet features seemed lacking in comparison and that was a big factor for me.

Mikey · 27 Jul 2009 at 09:10

I'm going for one of their business tariffs £50 a month 900 minutes etc. with my other halfs number as sim only. Shared minutes About £80 for a 32GB black 3GS

Just moving away from Vodafone after 12+ years

Deaco · 30 Jul 2009 at 10:13

Margaret said:
Yeah depends though, I mean if I went down the simplicity sim route it'd have cost me about £450 for the phone alone (wanted a 3GS) and still £20 or so monthly, but it's going to be a long term thing for me and I don't see anything beating the iPhone for a while yet so 24 months seems OK.

If you use quidco, and don't mind a 12 month sim contract @£19.58 you get £100 cashback. Works out at £11.70 ish a month for 800 mins, 1600 text and unlimited data. Plus 3% cashback on the iphone from apple, so another £13.20 saving.

£562.16 if bought out right and with a 12month contact obligation, like for like over a 2 year period = £797.12.

First year costs on a 24 mnth contract(£34.26 a month+£87.17), £498.23. Over a 2 year period = £909.35.

The first option does require quidco, but even without it buying out an iphone and having a £19.58 simplicity call plan, it still works out to be £910.32 but you arn't tied into a 2 year contract.

.. as you can tell I'm in the same situation and currently trying to find the best deal, as I don't hold much hope for an amazing retentions deal with 02@CPW.

Nick1881 · 30 Jul 2009 at 10:18

Does anywhere have the 3GS 16Gb in stock?

[DOD]Asprilla · 30 Jul 2009 at 10:35

Has it been confirmed that the 3G iPhone is going to be available on other suppliers from October with the 3GS remaining exclusive on O2?

If you can what a while the deals may improve.

Mikey · 30 Jul 2009 at 11:25

mr_x_plosion said:
Does anywhere have the 3GS 16Gb in stock?

O2 as of last night. I need to phone them later today to discuss having one.. I may go into town so I can get it today rather than wait for a courier

Nick1881 · 30 Jul 2009 at 12:54

Cool, what about Apple direct? 3% off from there.

Amp34 · 30 Jul 2009 at 13:07

Margaret said:
Looks meh in comparison, I read into it but the internet features seemed lacking in comparison and that was a big factor for me.

If internet is the most important feature have a look at HTC's WM offerings (Touch HD, Pro 2 and Diamond 2), they have the best browsing experience out there at the moment, and even have flash (which the iPhone doesn't) if you install a "cooked" ROM.

Mikey · 30 Jul 2009 at 13:14

mr_x_plosion said:
Cool, what about Apple direct? 3% off from there.

Do they do business tariffs?

fowler002 · 30 Jul 2009 at 13:18

Amp34 said:
If internet is the most important feature have a look at HTC's WM offerings (Touch HD, Pro 2 and Diamond 2), they have the best browsing experience out there at the moment, and even have flash (which the iPhone doesn't) if you install a "cooked" ROM.

you don't need a cooked rom for flash, just use the skyfire browser

Deaco the 16gb is £440 and the 32gb £585 on payg, not everyone that wants the 3gs wants/can afford/can justify the 32gb version

so your calculations are fine for those who go for the 32gb, include the calculations for the 16gb in you post as well so people wanting that can see what it'll cost them.

Nick1881 · 30 Jul 2009 at 13:26

Mikey said:
Do they do business tariffs?

Not sure.

I'm after one on PAYG.

Deaco · 30 Jul 2009 at 14:11

fowler002 said:
Deaco the 16gb is £440 and the 32gb £585 on payg, not everyone that wants the 3gs wants/can afford/can justify the 32gb version
so your calculations are fine for those who go for the 32gb, include the calculations for the 16gb in you post as well so people wanting that can see what it'll cost them.

Those calcs are based on the 16gb 3G S.

£562 is the cost of the 16gb iphone (from apple online with 3% cashback via quidco), aswell as a 12 month sim only contract (with £100 cashback).

fowler002 · 30 Jul 2009 at 14:22

Deaco said:
Those calcs are based on the 16gb 3G S.

£562 is the cost of the 16gb iphone (from apple online with 3% cashback via quidco), aswell as a 12 month sim only contract (with £100 cashback).

oh right sorry.

just 1 thing tho, the £19.58/month is only till end of december. it goes back up to £20/month from january due to the vat being put back up to 17.5%, it might only be a few £s here or there to you calculations but something to keep in mind non-the less.

The_Abyss · 30 Jul 2009 at 22:53

Deaco said:
If you use quidco, and don't mind a 12 month sim contract @£19.58 you get £100 cashback. Works out at £11.70 ish a month for 800 mins, 1600 text and unlimited data. Plus 3% cashback on the iphone from apple, so another £13.20 saving.

£562.16 if bought out right and with a 12month contact obligation, like for like over a 2 year period = £797.12.

First year costs on a 24 mnth contract(£34.26 a month+£87.17), £498.23. Over a 2 year period = £909.35.

The first option does require quidco, but even without it buying out an iphone and having a £19.58 simplicity call plan, it still works out to be £910.32 but you arn't tied into a 2 year contract.

.. as you can tell I'm in the same situation and currently trying to find the best deal, as I don't hold much hope for an amazing retentions deal with 02@CPW.

Not at all a pop at the OP, but I seriously still cannot believe people are paying these prices. Maybe they never look at the total cost of ownership. And it doesn't even include the extra £360 over 2 years to tether as well!

I'm not saying this sort of cost is wrong, as I'm sure there are plenty of people here who will pay this much for contracts where they get the benefits they need. But these are basic use contracts for a phone, and there is no way the iPhone justifies this sort of premium over others - the users are being royally screwed.

When the cost gets this high for just basic minutes and texts that are available elsewhere, I can't help but think what the difference between an iPhone contract and most other contracts could buy.

Yes, I'd quite like an iPhone, but as I need to tether, the cost is prohibitive. The difference I save basically covers the cost to insure my car and my motorbike for a year - with change.

O2 and Apple have a lot to answer for, and one day soon I suspect the questions will become a little more discerning.