I've tried working out the tariffs we have so far and it seems in ALL cases that it makes sense to buy the phone outright from the start, and choose your own SIM only plan. Can anyone please let me know if from a PURE total cost angle for a 12/18/or 24 month period with the iphone 4 it is better to get a subsidised handset. I can't find a deal. Here's hoping that t-mobile or 3 or most probably Tesco Mobile will change this and make it worthwhile getting a contract at the same time as buying the phone?

It's nice to see Inquirer writers continue to toe the company line on all this.

Pity you're not allowed to voice your own opinions on Apple.

Why is that every Android user thinks they're some sort of tech guru? It's kinda sad really.

Anyway, good luck getting more readers. This place is dying on it's fucking knees Apple stories are the only thing keeping this site going

Nobody likes staring the true cost of their Addiction in the face, thats why the monthly deals with little or no upfront cost so appeal. That and the fact that people cant get the credit maybe?

...crack addicts flocking to a new distributor.

You'll be able to get a 16Gb Iphone 4 unlocked direct from Apple for £499.

You can then get a £10/month sim-free deal from T-Mobile that offers 100 Minutes 100 SMS and unlimited internet.

For a total cost of £619 over 12 Months and £699 over 18.

Plus since it'll only be a 30 day contract if someone offers a better deal you'll be able to upsticks and move to that with little penalty.

It'll be interesting to see if T-Mobile can actually beat that with their bundles once they start offering the iphone officially.

very similar article to this one from Engadget:

http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/18/how-to-figure-out-the-best-value-iphone-4-contracts-in-the-uk/

Compared to £500 for the Nexus One or Desire...urmm screw that. Mines the one with the small green robot and no control freak company dictating how I can use it!