Skip to main content

iPod/iPhone > News

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 O2 offers iPhone free on £35, new Apple phone imminent?

Is O2 is clearing stock ahead of a new model of the iPhone?

Nick Spence

  • Email to a friend
  • Print this article
  • Bookmark this page
  • RSS feed

O2, Apple's mobile phone partner in the UK, is to offer the iPhone 3G for free as part of a new contract deal available from next month.

The move is thought to help encourage new users to sign up and shift stock of 3G phones in preparation for a new iPhone rumoured to be available in the next few months including speculation on a new mid-range ‘nano-style’ device.

Question of the day!

Mark Hattersley
Editor in Chief

Do you share your creations online?

Question of the day!

Do you share your creations online?

% of Macworld readers agree with you

Yes
TBC
No
TBC

What do you create and how do you share it?

124 characters remaining

Follow the conversation at @TabletChat

Earlier this week Apple introduced iPhone 3.0– the next generation operating system for the iPhone – promising over 100 new features.

From 3 April, customers who sign up to the 24 month tariff can get the 8GB iPhone 3G for free at £34.26 per month and the 16GB iPhone 3G for free at £44.05 per month.

On the 18 month contract the 8GB iPhone 3G costs £96.89 for the £34.26 per month, 16GB iPhone 3G costs £155.61 for the £34.26 per month, or £57.74 for the £44.05 per month.

A break down of price plans is available on the O2 Digital News Centre blog.

"The iPhone has been hugely popular with over one million units sold in the UK," said Peter Rampling, Marketing Director at Telefónica O2 UK.

"This new 24 month tariff option will meet the demand of customers who are looking for added value in exchange for committing to a longer contract."

Meanwhile AT&T will begin selling iPhones without requiring a two-year contract also from next week, although at a price point – the 8GB iPhone for $599 and the 16GB iPhone for $699 - that makes a contract appear more attractive.

MacVideo Focus Group

We are trying to improve the focus of our sister title MacVideo and to understand our readership a little better. We would like to speak to some video professionals, especially the techies among you, to get your views of the industry. We will pay £50 for participation in our focus group. Click here to volunteer to participate.

Follow Macworld UK on twitter: www.twitter.com/macworlduk

Email A Friend

Email this article to a friend or colleague:



PLEASE NOTE: Your name is used only to let the recipient know who sent the story, and in case of transmission error. Both your name and the recipient's name and address will not be used for any other purpose.

<<prev article | back to news index | next article>>

Comments received


David said on Fri, 20 Mar 2009

There wont be a new iphone before June, still time flies, can not wait to see what Apple has up it's sleeves to tempt me to trade in my iPhone 3G!

Rich said on Fri, 20 Mar 2009

Can I have my 100 pound back?

Kevin said on Fri, 20 Mar 2009

What demand for longer contracts??
Bring back the days of 12 month contracts!

MacWorld Reader said on Fri, 20 Mar 2009

'Is O2 clearing stock ahead of a new model of the iPhone?' Or the less appealing conclusion - 'Is O2 trying make the iPhone more appealing in the recession?'

CLOSE THIS AD said on Fri, 20 Mar 2009

They have to give them away in Japan.

trojanlibido said on Fri, 20 Mar 2009

2 Megapixel camera. No front camera for video calls (these can now be used in the free O2 monthly calls allowance). And still waiting for the update to allow mms etc. The iPhone is very lacking in facilities. My little SE W890i does all that stuff and more and fits in my shirt pocket. I have had Mac computers for >20 years, but this iPhone is tosh. My heart says get one, but my brain says, "you're not a prol!"

Grumpy Giraffe said on Fri, 20 Mar 2009

@trojanlibido
So you didn't yet see or hear anything from the new iPhone OS 3.0 announcement earlier this week? With literally thousands of applications now available for the device there's really very little reason for calling it lacking now. They should take the camera off the thing entirely as far as I'm concerned as phone cameras have never been any good for anything...even the high resolution ones are crap. Buy a camera for taking photo's.

nom said on Fri, 20 Mar 2009

@trojanlibido

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

@Grumpy Git said on Sat, 21 Mar 2009

These are all catch-up. The rest of the market is already there and will have moved up.

The iPhone may be popular but it is still crap.

Me said on Sat, 21 Mar 2009

What is going to be offered to existing iPhone 3G customers?

AJ said on Sun, 22 Mar 2009

hopefully a new iPhone upgrade.

If they ask for the old ones back, yes make it free.

If not, i'm not fussed if I have to pay.

dataguzzler said on Wed, 25 Mar 2009

Seems if you did more fact finding you would find that they have offered the 3G 8GB iPhone for free on a 24 month contract since day 1 of the launch of the 3G iPhone. I for one got a 8GB model at launch for free with 02

dataguzzler said on Wed, 25 Mar 2009

PS that was on a 35 quid tariff/paln :P

fenboy said on Wed, 25 Mar 2009

Is it worth waiting for the new phone later in the summer OR shall i get a free one now?

fenboy said on Wed, 25 Mar 2009

Is it worth waiting for the new phone later in the summer OR shall i get a free one now?

Disclaimer
Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Macworld. Macworld accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content.
Click here to read the house rules.

Click here for the latest reader comments

Latest News


More news...