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More information is now available from O2 on the cost of upgrading to the iPhone 3GS if you are already in contract with them. Of all the feedback I’ve read/seen/heard on the 3GS, two things that seem to have peoples’ ire are the cost of tethering, and the fact you can’t get a free (or close to free) upgrade. I am going to tackle those points in a separate post, but for now I bring you what the costs of upgrading to the 3GS are if you are still in-contract on a pay-monthly tariff:
Existing Pay Monthly customers have the following options for upgrading to iPhone 3G S:
- Option 1 – wait until eligible for an upgrade.
All O2 Pay Monthly customers are part of O2 Priority List and those paying £35 or more a month, have the opportunity to upgrade early. Customers won’t have to see out the full term of their existing contract before being eligible for an upgrade.
- All customers continually spending over a minimum of £80.00 a month, receive a 6 month early upgrade
- All customers continually spending over a minimum of £50.00 a month, receive a 3 month early upgrade
- All customers continually spending a minimum of £35.00 a month, receive a 1 month early upgrade
Terms apply. For more information on O2 Priority List click here.
Existing iPhone customers will, however, enjoy iPhone OS 3.0 software which will be free to download to all iPhone customers from 17 June offering over 100 new features.
For iPhone 3G customers this includes the much anticipated MMS (from 19 June) and also internet tethering (using your iPhone as a modem – also available from 19 June). Find out more.
- Option 2 – purchase the iPhone 3G S on Pay & Go from 19 June. You can give your existing iPhone 3G to someone you know.
Pay Monthly customers can place their existing iPhone 3G sim card into the iPhone 3G S and receive all the latest functionality. Customers must continue to pay for their existing Pay Monthly tariff.
- Option 3 – pay the remainder of their monthly line rental in one payment and sign a new Pay Monthly contract.
So there you have it – basically you have to either be spending quite a bit monthly, you buy the device outright, or you buy yourself out of the contract! Simple!
About The Author
Ben Robinson
Ben is a 10+ year veteran of the Mobile industry – starting his career when SMS was a still a relatively new concept for most people (!), he has now consulted on everything from bleeding-edge Mobile content, to the next-gen accessories you might view it on. As a result he has a broad and deep knowledge in numerous areas of Mobile – from network operators to device vendors, to infrastructure and middleware vendors (not to mention content delivery) – and has worked for companies in all of these areas! He is based in the UK, a hotbed of activity for mobile, and recently became a father for the second time – as oppose to in his younger years when he was happy spend time tweaking all manner of mobile devices to 'nth' degree, he now looks for services and hardware that provide the most efficient, compact, and reliable improvements to his already manic life! It’s his opinion that Mobile solutions should be there to help to make your life better – if a particular solution (be it service or device) isn’t doing this, he believes you need to ask the very important question of why you continue to use it... His focus at IntoMobile is mainly on Mobile content, services, and infrastructure, particularly as regards the UK market – and with the occasional look at devices. Additionally, using his extensive experience in the industry, he will provide commentary on the industry at large, with regular (and hopefully thought-provoking) articles.
