O2 iPhone Update

We’re proud that we’ve been able to offer an exclusive iPhone deal to our 20 million customers for the last two years. We always knew that iPhone exclusivity was for a limited period of time, but our relationship with Apple continues and will be an ongoing success. We have over 1million iPhone customers and they remain very important to us.

We aim to offer our customers the best devices on the market, including becoming the home of Smartphones and we are really pleased to now add another device in the Palm Pre. We also offer award-winning customer service and benefits, which is why more people choose O2 than any other network in the UK.

Comments

[Dr Matthew Howard]

I was previously with Orange but moved to get an iPhone. Although I have been pleased with my new phone I have been shocked at the poor level of coverage the O2 network provides - its so bad apparently Ofcom has threatened to revoke 02's 3G license.
I hope this deal means that O2 finally get to grips with their service levels, but if not it also means I can return to Orange in the future to enjoy a much better infrastructure.

[Carl Wainwright]

"Award winning customer services" - I beg to differ. O2 insurance will not cover out of warranty iPhone failures after the initial 12 months manufacturers expires. I was left with an iPhone that was out of warranty and O2 would not touch it!

[James Chorlton]

I left orange for o2 and will not look back. Your customer service is much better than theirs (to start with your staff speak English and don't insult their callers!!). If o2 ensure that their customers are offered atleast as good a deal as orange I can't see any problems!!

[Mark Banham]

Competition can only be good for consumers. Even those of us on existing contracts can change tarrif after 9 months so let's hope for some better deals in future.

[minorthreat]

Haha, gutted o2.. Expect a serious drop in customers when orange bust out the 3GS.

[Andy Purbrik]

Fantastic news! I can leave O2 and keep my iPhone. Contract is up soon...

[Richard Sinclair]

I have been trying to upgrade to the new 3GS and have been passed from pillar to post. I have been given dates by 02 customer services when the new phones will be in stock and have diligently called on those days only to be informed that they have not arrived. Apprently things change according to the retentions advisors. O2, I am sure they will. You have had a monopoly for too long and your service to existing customers is nothing short of shocking. The quicker Orange get the iPhone the better .... even if it means buying out of my 02 bloodsucking contract.

[Dave Stevens]

I too have been happy with O2 and will not change to orange but I would hope this may bring prices down as 45 pound is too much for me and I will be going on simplicity when my contract ends.

[Robert Sharl]

You know, I've been pretty happy with O2 as well, after switching from a near 10-year contract with T-Mobile to get the iPhone 3G. There are a few issues with coverage, but I won't be jumping ship until I see how things play out. The lack of in-contract subsidy on the 3GS was in line with everyone else, and if you believe that Orange would have done differently then you're living in a fantasy to be honest. You certainly don't know anyone who's been with them for any length of time.

The real interesting stuff will happen if the Orange/T-Mobile merger happens, and when the next iPhone debuts. Then we'll see who steps up to the plate. For now, I'm sticking with O2.

[Josh]

I have enjoyed being on an O2 iPhone this far, but will always settle for the best deal, and so far Orange seems better due to 3G coverage (which is very temperamental on O2). Only if O2's prices were lower than Orange's would I would be inclined to stay with the company.

[Tara]

Turning off 3G on your iPhone to save battery is an urban myth. The difference it makes is a few minutes.

Apple/o2 do not offer discounted prices for our upgrades to 3G S from 3G, but the same is applicable for Sony Ericsson, Nokia, LG, Samsung handsets. The latest handsets from all of them have some sort of price tag depending on the tariff you choose-the same with the iPhone. I should imagine even the palm pre will only be a 'free' handset on certain tariffs to new AND upgrading customers.

The cost of the iPhone 3G was subsidised. 2G iPhone owners paid almost £300 for their iPhones AND committed to contracts of £35+ per month! This is why they allowed early upgrades and took the step of subsidising the cost of the 3G iPhone!

[Paddy]

O2 ,You have NO loyalty to me regarding my iphone, I will now extend the same back to you.

If Orange offer me a better deal , I am gone.

[Lisa Clist]

Will you provide unlocking to customers with purchased (prepay) iPhones? I would be happy to stay with O2 but having moved to France for a year I would like to be able to use my phone here.

[Darren Shepherd-Jones]

@ Chris B.
I'm sure the staff forced you to pick an iPhone and also forced you to pick the tariff too? The prices were set more by apple than O2, not even O2 staff get a preferential rate on the iPhone.
And from experience, the recommendations to turn 3G off are only given where there will be no increased benefit to having it on eg. no intention to use Internet services and would benefit from the better battery life instead

[Trotskiii]

I think quite a few of those threatening to jump boat to Orange are going to be in for a real shock when reminded of how poor their customer service really is.

We are talking about a company that attempted to credit blacklist me for non-payment of a final bill that they sent to an incorrect address!

Also see my comment here...

http://crave.cnet.co.uk/mobiles/0,39029453,49303757,00.htm?s_cid=96

Trotskiii (UK)

[SC]

I am very very happy o2 have lost their deal with Apple. o2 got way too big for their boots, offering their customers ABSOLUTELY NOTHING for being a customer.

I spoke to an o2 rep yesterday about upgrading but she gave me nothing. When I asked what the point of staying with o2 was if you get nothing for loyalty, she said loyalty is measured in different ways. They give a bolt on and have great customer service.

That is really not good enough. One - everyone gets a bolt on, it's nothing new for loyal customers. Two - customer services? It's a joke, you speak to people who become confrontational when you threaten to leave?

All those people who say it's worth paying more because of good customer service... how clueless can you be? Realistically how much do you need that 'great customer service'? Unless your life revolves around speaking to a customer rep daily just for fun, it ain't worth it!

I CANNOT WAIT TO LEAVE O2!

[Andy]

When will 02 allow us to unlock our phones?

[Philip]

I'm afraid I'll be one of those moving to Orange (or back to Orange in my case) because of the poor 3G coverage in rural areas. Not unhappy with the cost, and O2's customer service has been great, but I'd like to make calls a bit more often!

[Derry]

Less about cost and more about coverage for me.

I live in central London and 3G can be truly awful in the areas I live and work. Have had no problems with customer care, in-fact quite the opposite but none of that's any good if I can't use the phone.

Will most certainly be taking my iPhone to Orange. Shame.

[Rawmusic@ntlworld.com]

It's funny that so many are thinking of moving to orange for coverage issues. I moved away from Orange for exactly that reason, plus, despite willing customer service agents, they all talked off different hymn sheets so you never knew where you were in the event of a problem. Don't be too quick to jump ship just because, to my mind, an inferior provider is supplying iPhone. The future is not bright with Orange unless substantial improvements occur in all areas.

[Anthony]

I found this page because I am currently with Orange and looking to move to O2. Our Orange covereage is terrible - approaching zero indoors and very patchy outdoors - our old O2 phone is always a reliable backup. The messages here suggest that people thign Orange coverage is better. Is that really the case?

[dick bonkon]

frankly the customer service at o2 is shocking in my experience. im left with an iphone that has no wifi(2nd iphone i have had after the first one i had failed with the same problem) o2 are saying it is water damaged which is impossible because i have never used it at all. the store saw the phone working when they tried to get it to connect to the instore wifi. im now in the process of taking legal action against them.

[Max]

I have been a business customer nearly 7 years, having 3 phones - I phone, blackberry and one more. All this time have not had an issue, until today when I rang them to do my upgrade I was told that my new I phone is going to cost me nearly £200.00. After all that time and all those bills I have to pay on monthly basis they are saying to me £200.00. I am very upset and heard from other networks that they can buy my contract out and offer me better services. This is what my intention now. Very UPSET WITH O2.

[And]

I was with Orange for over 10 years and made the jump just to get the 3GS. I will be going back to Orange as soon as possible [I'm hoping, although I think it's unlikely, that Orange will offer some form of contract buy out to win back O2 customers].

O2 coverage is shocking outside of the cities... I never had trouble on Orange-unless I was well in the wilds. A journey from Bristol to Oxford proved how shocking O2 are on coverage for me. Lucky I don't leave the cities much these days! Having said that maybe in the 18months I have left on my contract they will improve their coverage... or maybe not! Competition is good. I just hope it forces change.

[London Flyer]

We've moved all company mobiles to O2 iPhones (3gs) and we could not be happier with the switch. We used to have Orange- Blackberries which were more expensive and with less features...