Carphone to get unlocked iPhones?

[NewBeetle]

I was chatting to ex-workmates in the branch of carphone that I used to work in. Nothing concrete, but the word around the company is that they will be supplying unlocked iPhones for use on O2/Orange/Voda. As you probably know CPW group always use unlocked sim-free handsets for their contract and pay as you go phones, so they have one model for use on whatever talk plan or network the customer chooses. They seemed to be under the impression this practice was going to carry on with the iPhone once it was available for more than just O2.

[jamies90]

Would be great if they did in the end start doing this - but I got a really bad feeling they wont .

Do you know when CPW are stocking the phone on Orange - is it on launch day like every where else?

[NewBeetle]

Originally Posted by jamies90

Do you know when CPW are stocking the phone on Orange - is it on launch day like every where else?

Within the fortnight they told me on last thursday

[jamies90]

Thanks NewBeetle.....when I was in Phones4u on Saturday they reckoned about a month before they recieved any stock and believed they would get two batches for o2 and orange locked to the subsequent networks....hope this isnt the case!

[MarkieT]

Originally Posted by jamies90

Do you know when CPW are stocking the phone on Orange - is it on launch day like every where else?

Sorry to possibly hijack the thread because I don't mean too, but when is launch day??


Cheers

Mark.

[jamies90]

Looks like its 10th November 2009 - 2 years and 1 day after O2 started selling the iPhone exclusively on O2

Orange to launch iPhone on 10 November - Pocket-lint

Really want to see the PAYG prices on Orange - would def be first in line!

[MarkieT]

Originally Posted by jamies90

Looks like its 10th November 2009 - 2 years and 1 day after O2 started selling the iPhone exclusively on O2

Orange to launch iPhone on 10 November - Pocket-lint

Really want to see the PAYG prices on Orange - would def be first in line!

Sweet!!! cheers for that!!

I'll be going for contract as been with em for about 16 years or so, but would like the 32Gb version, so will be interesting to see how much they do that for.

Thanks again.

Mark.

[jamies90]

Originally Posted by MarkieT

Sweet!!! cheers for that!!

I'll be going for contract as been with em for about 16 years or so, but would like the 32Gb version, so will be interesting to see how much they do that for.

Thanks again.

Mark.

From what I've heard Mark they are aiming to "add value" in comparison to O2 meaning same price tariffs (and handset cost etc) but more minutes, text etc for your money...hopefully it will shake up the market!

Unfortunately current Orange customers wont apparently see any discounts or deals.

[MarkieT]

Yea doesn't suprise me.

Just hope it's not going to cost me an arm and a leg to upgrade to one, otherwise I might just be forced to switch to O2 which I'd prefer not to do if I'm honest.

Anway, suppose time will tell as they say.

[hutch]

Please keep this thread on topic we have an existing thread for Network discussion

[zantarous]

It is quite likely that they will get unlocked handsets as o2 have stated that they will provide a unlock service when their exclusive contract ends.

[Stream62]

I would have thought that Apple themselves (via the Apple shops) would be first in selling unlocked phones? Or at least at the same time.... just would seem to make more sense to me anyway.

Originally Posted by zantarous

It is quite likely that they will get unlocked handsets as o2 have stated that they will provide a unlock service when their exclusive contract ends.

This is interesting as although i'm a while off my contract ending I would prefer an unlocked phone to a locked one... are there any details on this anywhere?

[zantarous]

It is only speculation on my part, if o2 will unlock for customers and Vodafone don't generally lock there handset it stands to reason there could be unlocked handest.

Also as iPhones are not allowed to have any branding it just makes sense to sell them that way.

See here for source regarding o2 to unlock handsets soon Ask the Boss: Matthew Key, head of O2, answers your questions - Times Online

[Azzin]

Originally Posted by MarkieT

Yea doesn't suprise me.

Just hope it's not going to cost me an arm and a leg to upgrade to one, otherwise I might just be forced to switch to O2 which I'd prefer not to do if I'm honest.

Anway, suppose time will tell as they say.

Orange would rather eat theor own heads than let you leave to go to O2 for an iPhone.

[fat jez]

Originally Posted by Azzin

Orange would rather eat theor own heads than let you leave to go to O2 for an iPhone.

They weren't too bothered when I did exactly that in February this year!