[DrWise]

O2 are going to be offering a free upgrade to the 3G Iphone when its released, the only catch is that you have to sign another 18month contract.

This will be available 11th July:

Existing iPhone customers can upgrade early to the new 3G iPhone for free*

To thank you for being an iPhone fan, we're offering you an early upgrade to the brand new version when it launches on 11th July 2008. You won't have to wait until the end of your existing contract, all you'll need to do is agree to a new 18-month minimum term contract.

*Best of all, the new 8GB iPhone won't cost you a penny on our £45 and £75 Pay Monthly tariffs for iPhone. And it's just £99 on our £35 tariff and new £30 tariff. This special early upgrade offer is only available online at o2.co.uk anytime from 11th July until 11th October 2008.

Take a look at our new Pay Monthly tariffs for iPhone.

Then just register your interest opposite and we'll drop you a line in early July to tell you what you need to do to be one of the first to get your hands on the new 3G iPhone.

[akane_1984]

what are the benefits off a 3g iphone over the current model?

[SeedyR]

The two questions I have regarding the upgrade are:

When signing up for this new 18 month contract, is it replacing my current contract, or extending it by 18 months?

Can I pay the extra and get a 16gb iPhone instead of the 8gb one?

[AiEri]

i think we go off the same tariffs as a new customer...so we can choose to buy 8gb or 16gb.

interms of the 'free' iphone...this is only for the higher tariffs...again all same as a new customer.

sooo theres no loving for the old customers. we are treated like a new customer.

[psikey]

Originally Posted by AiEri

i think we go off the same tariffs as a new customer...so we can choose to buy 8gb or 16gb.

interms of the 'free' iphone...this is only for the higher tariffs...again all same as a new customer.

sooo theres no loving for the old customers. we are treated like a new customer.

There is really... You got a discounted handset at launch off the back of having an 18mth contract (min 18 x £35) so now they are letting you out of that agreement if you want the new 3g iPhone with a new 18mth contract.

Fair deal in my view.

Most of this is covered in the iPhone 2 thread though!

[Shaunio]

Originally Posted by SeedyR

The two questions I have regarding the upgrade are:

When signing up for this new 18 month contract, is it replacing my current contract, or extending it by 18 months?

Can I pay the extra and get a 16gb iPhone instead of the 8gb one?

1) It replaces it, it doesn't extend it

2) Yes

[SeedyR]

Originally Posted by Shaunio

1) It replaces it, it doesn't extend it

2) Yes

Cheers mate. How did you find out?

How do I go about getting a 16gb one then? As on the o2 site it only mentions the 8gb for existing customers.

[Greggles]

As I understand it, the tariffs are the same for an iPhone upgrade as it is for a new contract - so just pay the extra £59 for the 16GB version (or free with the £75 tariff).

Incidentally, I intend to upgrade to the 3G model asap and give the old one to my wife, who will transfer her existing contract (O2 cocoon). O2 tell me that I cannot swap the SIM cards in the iPhones, so I will be forced to swap my number to the SIM of the new phone and my Wife will get my old number! Is this true??

[Greg66]

Were O2 to say "To thank you for being an iPhone fan, we'll let you out of your existing Iphone contract with no penalty. As long as you sign up at the same time to the same deal as a brand new customer who has shown us no loyalty.", then that would be an accurate statement of the position.

What, I wonder, is to stop an existing Iphone user doing this: buy a new 3G Iphone and swap the sim cards between the two. It's a while since I activated mine - I assume the sim is tied to the handset, right?

[Greg66]

Originally Posted by Greggles

Incidentally, I intend to upgrade to the 3G model asap and give the old one to my wife, who will transfer her existing contract (O2 cocoon). O2 tell me that I cannot swap the SIM cards in the iPhones, so I will be forced to swap my number to the SIM of the new phone and my Wife will get my old number! Is this true??

Wow. If O2 is really saying that anyone who wants to upgrade from a 2G to a 3G Iphone has to lose their old number, they're going to make a problem for themselves.

[hutch]

Originally Posted by psikey

Most of this is covered in the iPhone 2 thread though!

Yep, closing.

iPhone 3G & Firmware 2.0 discussion