- Wednesday, 25 November 2009
- INQ Mobile
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It's really easy to cheat on the benchmarks - Bob Colwell, former Intel chief architect
Brits won't buy Iphone
BRITS HAVE MORE sense than to fork out for an Iphone, according to a survey.
Research firm GfK NOP found that just two per cent of UK consumers have put the phone on their Christmas lists, citing expense as the main reason.
Three-quarters of British consumers have now heard of the gadget and over a quarter of the 500 people surveyed said that they liked the look of it. But they baulked at the price.
"The Iphone has yet to capture the imagination of the UK public," said Richard Jameson, managing director of GfK NOP Technology.
"Iphone hype is in full-force, but our data shows that it is very much a considered purchase, and that its high price is turning many consumers off.
"Consumers are not used to paying in excess of £200 for a phone", he said. µ
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Not used to paying over £200 for a phone you say ? .. More like not used to paying for a phone ...full stop. Most of the contracts these days throw the phone in for a marginal cost and in many cases free.

Also, I have a suspicion that most of us Brits baulk at being told we HAVE to align with a chosen supplier and I'm pretty sure this concept will be tested in the courts as it sure feels like an anti-competitive practice. 

I personally would like to choose who my supplier of phone services is and not be told I only have one option.
Most I've spoken to are more interested in the prospect of not having to carry a digital camera offered by Nokia's 5 megapixel N95 -- the iPhone's camera is what, 2 megapix ? 

also you can bet its cheaper in any other country ..rip off britain in full effect a.k.a treasure island
UK Networks have been SIM-locking for years. 

Sure, it's not very usual for an alleged non-subsidised handset, costing a large amount of money, to be locked but it's very common that a particular model is only available when you sign up on specific network (and there isn't always another variation of the same basic handset to be had from other networks.)

A Motorola handset I bought in 2000 was only available when purchased through Vodafone, and I'm sure SIM-locking started well before that and originated with either Orange or One-2-One.

I think my biggest objection is that the phone is expensive, and allegedly non-subsidised, yet the 18-month contract they're offering is not very competitive compared to other no-handset deals available.
There are better units out there than the Iphone and mine cost me nothing but an 18 month contract plus it has GPS and satnav software.

Although one thing i have to thank the Iphone for is the free upgrade to EDGE, thanks Apple! but ill stick to my XDA Orbit and its up and coming bigger brother.
It's expensive, it's locked to one provider, but most of all, it's not got a camera good enough to make me want to switch.

But I'm not worried: in 6 months or so the competition will have better prducts.
Oh yeah, you will.
The phone is a great piece of kit, and is a new iPod as well, and I really wouldn't mind shelling out £270 for it. But paying £35 a month for 18 months takes that up by another £630, and that really is too much, it doesn't add enough value, and I imagine most sensible people would agree with me ;)

Now if I could get it for say £350 with a £20-a-month contract, that'd seem about right. And please, let's have GPS and a better camera as well.
While browsing through the Online Apple Store he paused at his $1200 2GB DDR memory, giggled and muttered something about

"All your fanboys belong to us..."

One reason I will not be getting an iPhone, is if the phone is not subsidized (as many claim and probably true if you look at the price of an iPod touch Vs an iPhone), then why is it locked + only available on 18 month contract?

For me it is simple:

1) Buy a phone SIM free/unlocked. This means I pay full price (no subsidy), but have full freedom to choose operator, plans, change SIMs, change networks etc.

2) Buy a SIM locked phone. This means I am tied to a specific operator + plan. However I get a subsidy so that the cost of the phone is low or even zero.

But the iPhone model is completely new. No subsidy, so I pay full price for the phone. However the iPhone is SIM locked, so I am tied to a a specific operator + plan, with no freedom to change networks, which is OK for me, after all the operator has in effect paid for the phone. 

How can they seriously expect me to buy into that ? If I pay full price for the iPhone, are they saying I still do not own it and I am not allowed to use it as I want to?

It seems I am not alone in this and the rest of the population is equally unimpressed with this "wonderful deal" :-).

Oh c'mon, you're not 'one of those' consumers that have been suckered into the megapix race are you?

Since when does 5MP been 'better quality' then 2MP? It's like comparing cars based on the headlight brightness.
"But I'm not worried: in 6 months or so the competition will have better prducts."

The competition already have much better products.
omg 200p for a phone !!! LOL! OVERPRICED - u say lol x 2!!!!
In RUSSIA AND UKRAINE (so u would understand) it is the most hot product. Prices dont go below 700 usd ! usually more like 800 usd per phone. And u say give us the free IPHONE! YE Right!