UK iPhone Sales Disappointing January 21, 2008
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There’s a widespread feeling that Apple’s UK iPhone figures are less than startling.
This feeling has been reinforced in recent weeks by reports that iPhone partners O2 and Carphone Warehouse have been gagged by Apple, preventing them from reporting sales figures. Now the FT is reporting that un-gagged sources in O2 have confirmed a UK sales shortfall.
O2 had claimed that it would flog 200,000 in the first two months but leaked sales figures put it at 190,000. To be fair, 10,000 short is not all that disappointing but then, 200,000 was a conservative estimate compared to Gartner’s lofty prediction for sales of 350,000-400,000 in the same period.
No doubt a price cut and a 3G model this year will generate more interest.-Martin Lynch
[FT]
Editor and Contributor | Martin Lynch
Contributor | Tamlin Magee
Comments
Obviously. I think there are more (USA 1.1.1) iPhones running around the tubes of London than O2 contract iPhones. (I should know I own the former)
Not only the cost of the phone, but the unreasonable price of the contract puts people off. The pricing model of the iPhone just won't work in the UK like it does in the US.
We're used to free phones with at least 3 times the amount of calls and texts, and a healthy amount of data for the price the iPhone is at.
That would be because its way too expensive! and tied to 1 network. With other countries benefiting from open competition theres no incentive for 02 to come down in price any time soon.
Might have something to do with the fact that here in the UK we're not quite as dumb and realise that there are better phones available for less money, the N95 being a case in point. Plus, as mentioned above, we can get cheaper and better tariffs than those "locked-down-tighter-than-a-duck's-ar.se-at-20-fathoms" contracts offered with the iphone.
Can't say I disagree with any of the above. But I still bought one, and everyday I'm glad I did.
Blah blah blah. Every single person I have met in the UK wants my iPhone more than fish & chips. It's just a matter of price.
It is the coolest phone on the market, period.
It was always going to be tough in the UK without 3G. That's a huge thing to leave off a European phone that's aimed at data use. I also think the announcement of the Touch just before the UK launch took the wind out of iPhone's hype.
A lot of people want the iphone thats true, but no-one wants to be the soft idiot who forks out the stupidly high prices!
I think what's really happened here is that _lots_ of people have bought an iPhone from Apple. Then they've gone home and hacked it. They're probably still on O2, but O2 are un-aware of the iPhone sale, so it's not counted in their sales figures. I know that's what I did, and everyone else I know with an iPhone did too.
Im not surprised the Apple Fanboy population in the UK aint wat it is in the US there are a lot of itouch boyz in my school though
Perhaps if it wasn't exclusive to the worst operator in the UK, O2, then it may be a little more popular. I will never go back to O2, and neither will a lot of people I know, due to their poor reception, endless amount of unconnecting calls etc. I would like an iPhone, but will wait until it comes out on Vodafone.
Sadly, I think I need an iPhone... unless anyone can recommend another handset?
http://blog.jofftastic.co.uk/2008/01/i-think-i-need-an-iphone/
I agree having been with O2 previously (Never again) I will wait until it arrives on the Orange network.My son has a iphone but is always complaining of no reception and poor customer service....My question would be, why O2...wake up Apple!!
I've got a N95 8GB and a 16GB iPod Touch.
The best of both worlds.
The Safari interface on the Touch is sublime and for surfing, when WiFi is available (obviously - no cell connection here), knocks the N95 into a cocked hat on that front. I don't use the Touch as an iPod - I have a 160GB Classic version for tunes and movies but as an internet tablet - it is unbeatable in this role and the £12.99 mail upgrade is well worth the money - not sure about the other 4 apps which come with the upgrade though. Google Earth is good for showing off with in the Pub with a WiFi hotspot but without cell location or GPS, not a lot of use in a mobile device.
The 5mp camera on the N95 is useful for quick, spur of the moment snaps and rarely produces a bad picture.
As for Jobsy going on about battery life for 3G, I have three spare batteries and can change one quite quickly on the N95. They are quite cheap on eBay. Two-three hours of serious WiFi browsing on the Touch and the non-interchangeable battery is in serious need of a rest or access to anyone or anything with a free USB slot.
The N95 is the consumate all in one device, IMHO.
I've been with Vodafone for 14 years and would not consider O2. My wife tried it once but didn't like it :-)
Therefore, I have the two device solution.
Pity we can't package this all up in one?