The iPhone in Ireland and the UK
17/07/07 15:15
We deal with some of the myths surrounding the iPhone...
When will the iPhone be released in Europe?: Apple have always said it will be towards the end of 2007, followed by early 2008 in Asia. There is currently no indication that this date will change.
Will the iPhone be available in Ireland and the UK?: This depends almost entirely on the final choice of operator. If Apple choose to go with O2 and Vodafone, then this would point to both countries being included in the release. However if they go with T-Mobile or another operator, Ireland may be left out. Apple are likely to aim to include France, Germany and the UK at the outset.
Will the iPhone in Europe be the same as the model released in the US? This is likely. There is the possibility of a 3G version of the iPhone, but Apple have said that 3G chips are currently too large and would drain the battery too quickly. We may see a 3G verion next year instead. Whether or not a 3G model is necessary in Europe depends on your usage. The iPhone comes with WiFi wireless internet access and the iPhone automatically switches to WiFi whenever possible. Otherwise, in the US model, it uses the AT&T's EDGE network, which has been described as average to poor in terms of speed. Cost is a big issue. Currently for GPRS and 3G, Vodafone offer 10MB per month of data at 10 euro per month or 25MB for 15 euro. After you reach this limit (and you would very quickly with an iPhone) it costs 0.5 cent per kb of data. We are sceptical about 3G and its necessity right now. Unless Vodafone or O2 offer a low rate price plan, people will quickly learn that using a "3G" version of the iPhone (if it does arrive) is far too expensive. We don't see 3G as a absolute necessity for the iPhone in the UK and Ireland. It would be preferable if there is an all data/voice in package available, but given the WiFi option it is not a deal-breaker.
Some of the most nonsensical comments we have come across comes yet again from the Sunday Business Post. This article quotes Graeme Slattery "head of music" at 3 Ireland, where he says that "‘it would be taking a step backwards for us to take on a phone like that...it’s not suitable at all for the European market in the way it’s currently configured." Given that "3" has almost no chance or securing the iPhone on its network in Europe, his comments can at best be seen as sour grapes. "3" is available in Ireland and the UK, but not in Germany or France, showing it to be a small player in the European mobile market. Also, "3" makes money from its music download service, and would surely see iTunes syncing to a mobile phone as competition. The fact that the Sunday Business Post failed to question Slattery's assertions is poor journalism.
No keypad for typing- can this really compete with a Blackberry or a Treo? Treo yes, Blackberry maybe not. The iPhone is probably a direct competitor to the Treo, with great web browsing, contacts, calendar and email. The Blackberry and its business integration is probably a different market to the iPhone. It is likely that the iPhone will have Exchange integration soon (as hinted at by Apple), but right now it is not aimed directly at a corporate environment. However Palm should be worried. We see the Treo as a direct target for the iPhone. And with Palm's sloppy and outdated Mac software, true integration between mobile and Mac through iTunes is most welcome. Again, some clueless comments available from the usual suspects about th lack of "real" buttons on the iPhone.
On the lack of tactile keys on the iPhone, this appear to be less of an issue that would be first assumed. Check out reviews by those who have used the iPhone, such as David Pogue or Walt Mossberg Both point to the auto-correct feature where the iPhone works out the word you intended even if you accidentally tap on a few wrong letters. We are yet to see this in action, but are encouraged by the software features which may overcome what appears to be a limited aspect of the design.
Why is there no Flash support on the iPhone? Initially Apple kept software development for the iPhone closed. They have not released the necessary information to developers, to allow them to create their own applications. There is no Flash plugin for the built-in Safari web browser on the iPhone, but Walt Mossberg has pointed to this changing soon through a software update. This makes sense as Apple did not release some of the details of the iPhone before its launch to keep the final package secret, but may now add web browser plugins. All we are saying is don't make the mistake to assume this will NEVER happen.
What about the price plans? The Vodafone price is about 80% more expensive than AT&T, and this is before you add any data rates. If we add the 25MB per month Vodafone data plan, the total comes to a whopping €2208 over 2 years. We are not comparing like with like as it seems inevitable that the iPhone's European carrier would introduce a new rate for the device, but AT&T should not be criticised for excessive pricing. Post-pay monthly mobile phones in the UK and Ireland generally come with a 1 year contract. A 2 year contract seems excessive to us- this is a valid criticism. But articles which seem suprised at the cost of contracts seem naive.
Simon Spence/2007
When will the iPhone be released in Europe?: Apple have always said it will be towards the end of 2007, followed by early 2008 in Asia. There is currently no indication that this date will change.
Will the iPhone be available in Ireland and the UK?: This depends almost entirely on the final choice of operator. If Apple choose to go with O2 and Vodafone, then this would point to both countries being included in the release. However if they go with T-Mobile or another operator, Ireland may be left out. Apple are likely to aim to include France, Germany and the UK at the outset.
Will the iPhone in Europe be the same as the model released in the US? This is likely. There is the possibility of a 3G version of the iPhone, but Apple have said that 3G chips are currently too large and would drain the battery too quickly. We may see a 3G verion next year instead. Whether or not a 3G model is necessary in Europe depends on your usage. The iPhone comes with WiFi wireless internet access and the iPhone automatically switches to WiFi whenever possible. Otherwise, in the US model, it uses the AT&T's EDGE network, which has been described as average to poor in terms of speed. Cost is a big issue. Currently for GPRS and 3G, Vodafone offer 10MB per month of data at 10 euro per month or 25MB for 15 euro. After you reach this limit (and you would very quickly with an iPhone) it costs 0.5 cent per kb of data. We are sceptical about 3G and its necessity right now. Unless Vodafone or O2 offer a low rate price plan, people will quickly learn that using a "3G" version of the iPhone (if it does arrive) is far too expensive. We don't see 3G as a absolute necessity for the iPhone in the UK and Ireland. It would be preferable if there is an all data/voice in package available, but given the WiFi option it is not a deal-breaker.
Some of the most nonsensical comments we have come across comes yet again from the Sunday Business Post. This article quotes Graeme Slattery "head of music" at 3 Ireland, where he says that "‘it would be taking a step backwards for us to take on a phone like that...it’s not suitable at all for the European market in the way it’s currently configured." Given that "3" has almost no chance or securing the iPhone on its network in Europe, his comments can at best be seen as sour grapes. "3" is available in Ireland and the UK, but not in Germany or France, showing it to be a small player in the European mobile market. Also, "3" makes money from its music download service, and would surely see iTunes syncing to a mobile phone as competition. The fact that the Sunday Business Post failed to question Slattery's assertions is poor journalism.
No keypad for typing- can this really compete with a Blackberry or a Treo? Treo yes, Blackberry maybe not. The iPhone is probably a direct competitor to the Treo, with great web browsing, contacts, calendar and email. The Blackberry and its business integration is probably a different market to the iPhone. It is likely that the iPhone will have Exchange integration soon (as hinted at by Apple), but right now it is not aimed directly at a corporate environment. However Palm should be worried. We see the Treo as a direct target for the iPhone. And with Palm's sloppy and outdated Mac software, true integration between mobile and Mac through iTunes is most welcome. Again, some clueless comments available from the usual suspects about th lack of "real" buttons on the iPhone.
On the lack of tactile keys on the iPhone, this appear to be less of an issue that would be first assumed. Check out reviews by those who have used the iPhone, such as David Pogue or Walt Mossberg Both point to the auto-correct feature where the iPhone works out the word you intended even if you accidentally tap on a few wrong letters. We are yet to see this in action, but are encouraged by the software features which may overcome what appears to be a limited aspect of the design.
Why is there no Flash support on the iPhone? Initially Apple kept software development for the iPhone closed. They have not released the necessary information to developers, to allow them to create their own applications. There is no Flash plugin for the built-in Safari web browser on the iPhone, but Walt Mossberg has pointed to this changing soon through a software update. This makes sense as Apple did not release some of the details of the iPhone before its launch to keep the final package secret, but may now add web browser plugins. All we are saying is don't make the mistake to assume this will NEVER happen.
What about the price plans? The Vodafone price is about 80% more expensive than AT&T, and this is before you add any data rates. If we add the 25MB per month Vodafone data plan, the total comes to a whopping €2208 over 2 years. We are not comparing like with like as it seems inevitable that the iPhone's European carrier would introduce a new rate for the device, but AT&T should not be criticised for excessive pricing. Post-pay monthly mobile phones in the UK and Ireland generally come with a 1 year contract. A 2 year contract seems excessive to us- this is a valid criticism. But articles which seem suprised at the cost of contracts seem naive.
Simon Spence/2007
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