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This will surley be in the region of £400 upwards wont it? Otherwise most people would be doing that.
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Posted: 2007-09-25 09:47:52
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There is no saying that they cant sell you the phone for say 200+ and then charge you another say 250+ for an unlock code.

So I think they will provide an unlock code but charge you hell and earth for it.
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Posted: 2007-09-25 12:09:00
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@ all

The price of the iPhone is £269.99 that's it's price from the Apple shop CPW or even 02. They have to sell you the unlock at a reasonable fee compared to the costs involved the figures you are suggesting where are you plucking them from. They would have a very hard time proving that unlocking an iPhone cost 10 times more than any other device.

But for now they haven't said they won't so lets just wait and see what happens once it is released.

Marc

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Nokia E61, 2gb Sandisk, Fring, Tom Tom 6


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[ This Message was edited by: Dogmann on 2007-09-25 15:18 ]
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Posted: 2007-09-25 16:17:31
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The bit of central london where i work (embankment) doesn't get 3G reception on Orange, especially not inside any of the local buildings.

TBH i have never once used any 3G services and have it turn off on my phone (have used WIFI for the past couple of years for surfing), so not having 3G on the iPhone to me doesnt make any difference at all
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Posted: 2007-09-25 16:53:32
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The thing is, is that currently the networks choose to make the cost of unlocking relatively low, £20 on Orange etc. However they could feasably increase this slightly if they wanted, AND could deny it UNTIL the end of a contract or charge you an exhorbatant fee whilst still under conract, like 3.

The thing is is that networks like 3 have large unlocking charges because you can get the phone so cheap on their cheap plans, free phone on a £15 p/m contract etc. So they charge you a fee which is levied against the amount of monthly payments you have left, this is a model that O2 could incorporate.

"You can have an unlock code, but it will be levied against the possible financial loss associated with it" is the most likely scenario, which would see a dramtically inflated unlock cost.

Reasoning, and justification, you can buy an iPhone for £269, the same as someone on a £35 18 month contract (£630), so they can "reasonably" charge an inflated cost to unlock based on the potential loss of revenue. Even on PayG they can "justify" it, you buy it for £269, and the avg. spend on payG is say for instance £10 / month, over the course of 18 month that is £180, again charging £20 is a significant loss of earning potential, so there is scope for them to inflate the cost.

The sticky wicket in the legislation is the "reasonable" cost, who determines what is "reasonable"?? What is it measured against, Handset Cost?, Contract Type/Length?? Potential Loss of Earnings for Carrier?

Answer NOONE knows, so there is wide scope for them to play with in the legislation in order to charge massively inflated fees for the cost of unlocking an iPhone, or even refusing to do so until the minimum term contractual period is up, 18 months.
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Posted: 2007-09-25 17:46:20
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@seunlock-uk

As you know i see the situation very differently, i see it that you purchase the device outright for arguments sake lets say from the Apple store. The fact it can only be used with a 02 Sim is the fact that makes it illegal no contract has been entered into nor does it need to it is after all a phone designed to make and receive calls that is part of the functionality of the device you have bought it is after all even called the iPhone not the iPhone but only only 02.

Neither Apple or 02 can force you to only use it on the 02 Network that is where it becomes a restrictive practice and illegal and also why your scenerio of contarct costs being recouped quite simply can not apply even on PAYG. This is where i think both 02 and Apple have got it wrong if it was sold as most phones are with a contract at a reduced price or even again on PAYG at a lower price then Sim Free all of what you say would apply. But it isn't it is sold outright with no contarct the fact you can only activate it on 02 is where they have got it wrong IMO.

I had a very long conversation with a nice man from OFCOM who listened very carefully to the points i was makeing and agreed. He has already filed a report in my name for once it is launched if it turns out that 02 will not or don't make available unlock codes for these devices.

I really don't see what makes 02 believe they can get away with not unlocking it is not a bought on contract handset or subsidized. Even after buying the device outright you can still buy a special iPhone PAYG Sim card although until unlocked you can not use an ordinary Sim Card even from 02. Well in 6 weeks odd from now we will all see one way or the other just how this plays out.

What i do find strange is the first time i asked 02 about unlocking i was told No it is not going to be available and it won't be either. This second time the lady i spoke to had no details on her screen so went away to check with her supervisor and came back with they have no information as yet and i should call back once it has been released.

Marc

_________________
Nokia E61, 2gb Sandisk, Fring, Tom Tom 6


Honoured to have won BEST DEBATER


[ This Message was edited by: Dogmann on 2007-09-25 18:03 ]
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Posted: 2007-09-25 18:52:14
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is it worth us all calling ofcom??


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Posted: 2007-09-25 19:02:34
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@Dogmann

I really and Truly hope that you are right, that way it would make a very nice phone affordable and accesible to all, well until they massively hiked the price up to compensate lol.

I am just trying to give an alternate POV, and scenario, I honestly hope that they have screwed up, and that they have allowed the USERS the chance to get a good deal, as apposed to it always being them making tonnes of moulah off of us.

Here's hoping it works out, as a permanent unlock would be well worth the £20 HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!
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Posted: 2007-09-25 19:10:40
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il wager a tenner at William Hill they will play it out like this, deny any unlock codes for a while (get some revenue) battle it out a little with ofcom and whoever...then they will hit you with the that amazing unlock price which I think is not going to be pretty.

They have every right to charge that amount honestly speaking as there is no guidelines that state they cant do that.
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Posted: 2007-09-25 22:53:34
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with respect to a reasonable fee....

you are buying the phone outright, therefore they are losing NO MONEY whatsoever....

therefore any fee they charge you as an unlocking fee will be pure profit..

in respect to PAYG, PAYG phones are normally subsidised, whereas the iPhone isn't in anyway, shape or form. Therefore they can't pull that one on you either...

I hope they have screwed up properly and just taken the US tariffs and sales model, I will fully exploit them if so.

Yes, I don't like O2, and I'm not overly keen on Apple only letting one network have it only... whatever happened to letting the public decide?

by telling me I can only have it on O2, has made me ever more certain I will be getting one and will never ever go anywhere near O2...
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Posted: 2007-09-25 23:20:20
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