Comments on: UK: iPhone launch – Ben’s perspective

By: Matt Radford

Matt Radford — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 08:35:38 +0000

I also checked out the Reading shop. Coffee and muffins were a nice touch. However, the queues were nothing compared to last year. There were some queues in-store at lunchtime, but then that’s always the case,

Anecdotally, it seems most sales were to new customers or PAYG phones. I don’t know anyone who has paid off their contract and upgraded. I’m certainly not to pay O2 through the nose to do so…

By: Ben

Ben — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 21:23:51 +0000

Rob: good plan dude!

Yes there’s a hype machine knocking around in the UK, trying to stir things up. From some of the shop staff being cagey about stock, through to some papers overblowing things it seems.

Bottom line: I was there, I checked stuff out, and demand was reasonably paced. Shops will I think still have stock on Sat, and apparently more is due soon.

By: Rob

Rob — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:53:59 +0000

So, the UK hasn’t sold out of iPhones, as predicted by that sham of a paper, the Daily Mail. Thought it was unlikely myself.

Ben: I’m going to shell out for a PAYG handset. I know it’s a lot to pay up front but a mere £10 a month gives you a reasonable 500 minutes (and you get ‘unlimited’ data for a year – thereafter another tenner a month). So by reckoning at least it’ll work out cheaper than signing up for an 18-month contract. Just hope I don’t lose it! Will have to give my home insurance company a call to see if it’s covered!