iPhone Likely Set to Launch in the UK Next Week

An anonymous reader writes "According to CNet, the iPhone is likely to be launched in the UK next Tuesday. 'Yesterday we were invited to an Apple press conference to take place next Tuesday — and we think it's most likely going to be the UK iPhone launch. Apple, as always, is keeping tight-lipped but there are several clues that point in the iPhone's direction'. No word yet on a UK operator, pricing or whether or not it will have 3G."

Comments

I don't think no 3G is really a problem

[Realistic_Dragon]

You can get a 3G plan (with data card) for your laptop for 10gbp/month here which is a bit more convenient than hooking up a cell phone.

I use my N95 as a modem (it's faster than my home DSL! 10gb/mo transfer for $25) as well as streaming BBC radio (the on demand service) over the internet direct to the phone. However most people are not geeks and don't use the software toys that come with the handset.

However they will have problems if they think they can charge for ring tones here (especially 2gbp/4usd each, which would be 2* the iTunes price as per the US). Unlike the US devices are *much less* locked down in the UK - USB mass storage mode is enabled by default and a cable comes in the box etc. This is true even of many sub $100 cheap phones. While people aren't geeks this doesn't extend to copying on/off ring tones where suddenly the most undereducated yob seems to acquire the technical skills of an IT expert. It must be something to do with motivation.

Re:UK pricing

[dotnetatemybaby]

Do those US prices include an equivalent of VAT?

At the UK rate of 17.5% the difference in prices isn't quite as large:

• 8Gb - $299 (~= £150 + 17.5% ~= £175) - £199
• 16Gb - $399 (~= £200 + 17.5% ~= £235) - £269

2G iPhone also has problems with Euro telcos

[Dogtanian]

Selling a device like the iPhone in a market like Europe without 3G support is destined to failure. 3G is a much bigger deal in the UK than in the US. That's true from a consumer point-of-view. However, a 2G iPhone would also have problems with the network operators here. Even if it were able to provide a near-3G experience (*), they have invested heavily in 3G and would be unlikely to want to subsidise a phone that goes against this grain.

The iPhone being a bit more expensive than its rivals may not be a major handicap in itself- after all, the iPod shows that people are willing to pay a bit extra for Apple's UI design and fashionability. However, the difference in price between an unsubsidised iPhone and a subsidised rival (which was probably already cheaper to begin with) probably *would* be a major problem.

Here's my original comment with more detail (please note that when I posted it I was unaware that Apple *did* intend to eventually launch a 3G iPhone, but the point I make is still relevant in this context).

(*) Using "2.75G" EDGE as they do in the US. I don't know if EDGE is used in Europe, but we certainly have "2.5G" (GPRS) here.

Another reason EU prices are more expensive

[Dogtanian]

This is something that always bugs me. People quote US prices without realising that they *don't include sales tax*; so they're never as cheap as they appear. Even if an American in a given state had to pay bugger all sales tax, you still can't use that as a reason to attack the company selling in Britain- they're not the ones who get the money, after all!

Another justification for goods being *slightly* more expensive in the EU is that we have stronger consumer guarantee laws. In the US, Playstations and the like regularly come with 90 day guarantees, and I've heard of *brand new* laptops coming with only 30 days. Whilst I'm not 100% sure what EU laws guarantee (*), it's almost certain that anything under a year would be thrown out of court. This means more money on returns and such (or alternately on higher build and quality control, again increasing cost).

Whether this accounts for the remainder of the price difference is questionable, but it should certainly be taken into account.

(*) It's not a flat 3 or 5 years as some people assume- that's the upper limit on most claims AFAIK.

Would Americans actually want a 3G iPhone?

[Dogtanian]

Yeah, like Apple would piss off all the americans by providing a 3G iPhone to UK user first! What is the state of 3G in the US like anyway? From what I've heard, even 2G coverage is far from complete there (to be fair, this is partly due to the much larger area of coverage required per head of population).

I'm just guessing, but unless 3G penetration is even *close* to 2G there, it sounds like most people would have a better experience with 2G anyway.