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michaelb · Jul 5, 2007, 03:40 AM

I hope "in time for Christmas" really means a few months before Christmas. It's being reported the German T-Mobile carrier will have them on sale November 1.

So, UK O2 users, what are they like?

philm · Jul 5, 2007, 04:20 AM

..according to the BBC.

Naplander · Jul 5, 2007, 04:51 AM

02 are pretty good in my experience.

The incumbant British Telecom sold off their wireless arm, which then rebranded to 02.

Good choice in my opinion, as Vodafone and Orange are known for forcing their crippling software onto most phones.

wulf · Jul 5, 2007, 05:02 AM

AFAIK (and please correct me if I'm wrong) O2 has some of the most expensive data plans and do not have EDGE on their network. If the iPhone is launched here without 3G, and with no EDGE, the user experience is going to suck big time.

Hopefully they would launch it with an "all you can eat" data plan, but even so, without EDGE it's going to HAVE to be 3G right?

richwig83 · Jul 5, 2007, 05:05 AM

Originally Posted by Naplander

02 are pretty good in my experience.

The incumbant British Telecom sold off their wireless arm, which then rebranded to 02.

Good choice in my opinion, as Vodafone and Orange are known for forcing their crippling software onto most phones.

Hmm think ill have to disagree with you on that one!! O2 network is pretty terrible, i must get the message "network busy" whilst trying to make a call at least once every two days (and at Glastonbury it took me about 30 mins to connect a call). Not to mention the dodgy signal, in my experience vodafone provided the best UK coverage!

As to network installed software.. i don't think apple would allow that to happen!!

In some respects im glad its o2 as i'm already with them!! (ill suffer the bad signal)

voodoo · Jul 5, 2007, 05:23 AM

Hmmm well, this could mean that Telefónica will get the exclusive contract in Spain, I suppose. I like

V

matty-uk · Jul 5, 2007, 05:55 AM

bugger that means I need to change carriers

Andrew Stephens · Jul 5, 2007, 06:19 AM

I think this Edge/3G issue is mostly Americans struggling to get their heads around the fact that Europe's mobile data network is years ahead of theirs.

Of course it will be 3G in Europe. It couldn't not be.

Mind you we're about a decade behind Korea/Japan etc

Andrew Stephens · Jul 5, 2007, 07:14 AM

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! Been with 02 for over 10 years so I'm now looking forward to getting my iPhone nice and easy without having to change service.

Edge scmedge. The Euro iphone will be 3G or Apple will be sucking a big fat lemon. Anyway as long as I can wifi when I'm around London I'll be happy. Basically I want great phone calls, a video ipod with cover flow, sms and voice mail so I'm not fussed about the data plans!

Roll on Christmas!! Whoo hoo!

philm · Jul 5, 2007, 07:22 AM

Originally Posted by wulf

Hopefully they would launch it with an "all you can eat" data plan, but even so, without EDGE it's going to HAVE to be 3G right?

It's impossible to envisage an iPhone launch in Europe which is not 3G. Surely. All decent phone have had 3G capabilities for, what, three years?