Original URL: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/06/05/3g_iphone_latest/
O2 to offer £100 iPhone... in time for Xmas?
Rumours abound
Posted in Mobile, 5th June 2008 12:21 GMT
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UK carrier O2 will punt Apple's anticipated 3G iPhone for just £100 - provided buyers agree to an 18-month tie-in, it has been claimed.
Meanwhile, one Register Hardware reader claims O2 staffers told him not to expect the handset until Christmas.
The O2 tariff details come from a Macworld UK report [1] citing unnamed sources. In addition to offering the new model for £100, it's said to be planning to offer the hanset on pay-as-you-go for £269.
Folk currently on the top-of-the-line £75-a-month tariff will get a free handset upgrade in return for a new 18-month contract, the site claims.
But when will all this happen. World+Dog expects Apple to announce the handset next Monday, but according to one reader who approached O2 this week - his current contract, with Orange, is about to expire - was told the 3G iPhone "will be out around Christmas time now".
Sign of a delay? Well, there's nothing to stop Apple announcing the 3G iPhone next week but not shipping it - outside of the US, at least; AT&T's plans [2] suggest it'll appear there sooner - until later in the year.
Certainly, a later-than-expected arrival would be surprising in light of recent attempts by O2, Carphone Warehouse others to drive sales of the current version, presumably to clear the way [3] for the new one.
That said, all recent announcements from carriers [4] that they will be selling the iPhone state that this will happen "later this year". Apple obfuscation - or a sign that Apple is planning a more staggered release than previously thought? We shall see.