iPhone – Coming Soon on Vodafone (About Time!)
Published By Dónal on Tuesday March 2nd, 2010 at 18:27
Like a lot of people, I’ve wanted an iPhone for quite some time now. The problem: I already have Vodafone and 3 sim cards and really don’t want to have to move over to O2 (nothing against them, just the hassle) who have had the exclusive right to sell iPhones in Ireland for the last few (3?) years.
A few months back, Vodafone finally announced that they would soon be selling iPhones, as O2’s exclusive contract with Apple was coming to an end. I was delighted and pre-registered immediately. “Finally, some competition” – or so I thought.
Today around lunchtime I read an announcement from Vodafone Ireland on Twitter that Vodafone would be launching the iPhone 3G and 3GS on the 25th of this month. Almost instantly updates began to appear in my twitterstream bemoaning the fact that Vodafone do not appear to be competing with O2 on price and that the tariffs were not at all as good as those currently offered by O2 (which themselves are dismal compared with those available in the UK!)
Today’s announcement disappointed me for a number of reasons:
- First and foremost is the fact that I had made the effort to pre-register, yet a public announcement was made without one coming to those who are pre-registered first. One is promised, but as I write this (17:46) none has materialised in my inbox. (I’m not the only one with this gripe, Michele Neylon is not best pleased either)
- Secondly, I only last week called into an O2 store to check prices and was amazed that I’d have to pay €519 for the 3GS on prepay, if I wanted to move to O2 or unlock it and put in my Vodafone sim. I honestly expected Vodafone to make some effort to undercut that but no, they matched it exactly.
As a young student I don’t have the kind of disposable income to sign a bill pay contract and thus get a free iPhone. On the other hand I don’t believe anyone should have to pay over €500 for what is essentially an iPod with a phone built in. I’ll already be spending a lot on data once I get the phone, so how can I possibly be expected to pay half a grand for the phone itself. At this stage I’ll pay the €519 (from Vodafone most likely) just to get the phone, but I still think it’s an awful lot.
It’s not all bad news though with a very special offer planned for launch day (more details on which closer to the time), I just hope Vodafone don’t forget about their beloved prepay customers 
.
Anyway, that’s just my opinion. Make up your own mind here:
Full details of iPhone Tarriffs from Vodafone.
Full details of iPhone Tarriffs from O2.
To be fair to Vodafone I must say before I finish that Vodafone’s online customer service on Boards.ie and Twitter is always top notch. Kelly who operates the Twitter side of things is always eager to help with even the smallest of issues and recently got a sim re-activated for me in less than half an hour!
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