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iPhone 3G launching 00:01 NZ time, home delivered in the UK

by Thomas Ricker, posted Jul 7th 2008 at 5:29AM


Vodafone just went public with the information you already knew, New Zealand will see the world's first iPhone launch at 00:01 local time on the 11th. That's almost a full day before any New York, propaganda farmer gets his. In the UK, O2 is now taking pre-orders (one per customer) on a first come, first serve basis. Better yet, your new slab of 3G will be delivered to your home on the 11th of July by courier where you can activate it from the digital comforts of iTunes. So civilized.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Read -- O2 UK
Read -- Vodafone NZ

O2 showcases pedal-powered cellphone charger

by Darren Murph, posted Jun 27th 2008 at 8:52PM


Motorola so had this down pat last year, but we suppose O2 is just showcasing its pedal-powered charging system now that such devices are all the rage. Just days after we had a look at two unorthodox chargers from Orange, along comes rival O2 with a bicycle-related alternative. Reportedly, the eco-friendly device will be demonstrated at the O2 Wireless Festival in London's Hyde Park, but unfortunately, each of the demo bikes will be stationary. Still no word on whether O2 has a mind to take this thing commercial, but for cyclists the world over, here's to hoping it does.

[Thanks, Adam]

O2 briefly shows off prepaid pricing for iPhone 3G

by Chris Ziegler, posted Jun 26th 2008 at 3:28AM


It's a far cry from free, so just how badly do you want to avoid that postpaid contract? O2 had posted pricing for the iPhone 3G when purchased through its Pay & Go prepaid program, showing £300 (about $591) for the 8 gigger and a brutal £360 (about $709) for the 16, though the information was mysteriously pulled just moments later and replaced with a promise that details (the very same details they've already leaked, we presume) would be available "shortly." Though those sticker prices will eat holes through even the mightiest of wallets, buyers will take some comfort in the knowledge that they include six months of WiFi access, after which it'll run £10 (about $20) a month.

[Via TUAW]

O2 gives sneaky staff the boot for selling iPhones on eBay

by Sean Cooper, posted Jun 15th 2008 at 5:07PM

The UK's O2 has apparently given six employees the boot and are investigating another 20 after it came to light they were using their 20 percent staff discount to buy iPhones and sell them on eBay. While no exact number was given, apparently they bought "noticeable quantities" of everybody's favorite -- and now discontinued -- set, to help pad their retirement fund. Of course, with handset sales likely stagnating while everybody waits on the iPhone 3G, you'd think O2 might have given them a break for clearing out all that old stock.

[Via RCRNews]

iPhone 3G free* in UK with O2

by Thomas Ricker, posted Jun 10th 2008 at 3:39AM

*8GB iPhone 3G on £45 and £75 monthly tariffs. £99 on O2's £35 tariff and new £30 tariff. All tariffs include unlimited WiFi, Visual Voicemail, and reduced international roaming under an 18-month contract.

Heh, not exactly free but still not bad. Certainly better than the situation when the iPhone was originally launched in the UK. O2 is also offering the iPhone 3G under a Pay & Go deal without the 18 month contract. Details of that, however, must still be worked out before the July 11th launch date.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Read -- Pay Monthly
Read -- Pay & Go

O2 to pick up HTC Touch Pro for its Xda line

by Chris Ziegler, posted Jun 5th 2008 at 4:48PM

Given the carrier's history this really comes as no surprise, but the::unwired is reporting that O2 Germany will definitely be adding the just-announced HTC Touch Pro to its lineup later this year as part of its long-running Xda line of Windows Mobile devices. Typically, Xdas have diverged from HTC's standard designs for a given model, but it appears that O2 has stuck with the Touch Pro formula here -- wisely, may we add -- only swapping out the stylized rear for a more subdued soft-touch one. That already puts the carrier count for the Touch Pro in Germany at two, while most of the world's fine nations are still at zero. Seriously uncool, guys!

O2 and BBC express interest in UK MediaFLO network

by Darren Murph, posted May 30th 2008 at 9:31PM

Well well, what have we here? Nary a fortnight after Qualcomm committed $16.3 million in the UK to scoop up about 40MHz worth of nationwide spectrum to test MediaFLO there, along comes word that two huge across-the-pond players may be interested. If you'll recall, Qualcomm noted that it wouldn't be launching commercially in the UK sans a partner, but according to the Financial Times, O2 has expressed interest in the chipmaker's plans, specifically noting that "MediaFLO is a technology well suited to providing TV to mobiles." Beyond that, Auntie Beeb proclaimed that she was "watching the current situation with interest." We know, this could all boil down to nothing in a matter of seconds, but it's certainly worth keeping an eye on until that does / doesn't happen.

[Via IntoMobile]

O2 to announce 3G iPhone in "the coming weeks"

by Paul Miller, posted May 14th 2008 at 10:25AM


It's all starting to come together. After getting a general ballpark courtesy of AT&T store employee vacations last week, and a hint of "next month" on Monday, O2's own CEO is promising a 3G iPhone announcement in "the coming weeks." Which, let's face it, doesn't really put us any closer to pinpointing the exact date, but does make us feel a bit better about the 1000 "iPhone 3G in June or life isn't worth living anymore" t-shirts we just bought on CafePress.

AT&T listing "iPhone Black" model, O2 gets the original back in stock

by Paul Miller, posted May 12th 2008 at 11:03AM Breaking News


Good news and bad news on the imminent 3G iPhone front. O2 apparently got another batch of 16 giggers in stock, since it's currently accepting orders, while the 8GB remains out of stock, and both phones remain unavailable on the US and UK Apple Stores. More encouraging, however, is the new listing of an "iPhone Black" model on AT&T's account management site. There's nothing else on the site to hint at specs or release or whether this is indeed the upcoming 3G iPhone, but it does fall in line with the word we have on a glossy black back for the much anticipated phone. Whether all this means we have weeks or months to wait is anyone's guess, but there are plenty of encouraging signs out there for the true believers to cling onto.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

iPhone is good and done in the UK -- until the 3G version, anyway [updated]

by Ryan Block, posted May 8th 2008 at 2:26AM


The headline kind of says it all, but if you weren't already sure enough that the first gen iPhone's stint in the UK was coming to a close, O2's pushing to make things crystal clear. It's hard to imagine both companies are going to just stop selling such a high profile device for too long, but clearly we're all still in the dark as to when its 3G replacement will officially be out.

[Thanks, Keith]

Update: While European carriers are running out of stock left and right, it seems Apple Stores in the UK and elsewhere still have iPhones -- for now.

Update 2: Okay, and now O2's page is showing that the iPhone is once again available. Temporary glitch or preparatory? Beats us, but if you want a 16GB device, it's apparently still up for grabs.

O2 meets 3G obligation in UK, averts spanking

by Chris Ziegler, posted May 7th 2008 at 8:08PM

Clearly terrified at the process of losing four solid months of its 3G license's duration (which still runs for another 13 years, by the way), the UK's Office of Communications has now confirmed that O2 has stood up, acted like a carrier for once in its life, and taken responsibility for its wrongdoing. Obligations tied to the sale of the UK's 3G licenses back in 2000 stipulated that all buyers must reach 80 percent population coverage by December 31, 2007; Vodafone, T-Mobile, Orange, and 3 all managed to do that, but O2 was caught with its pants down at 75.69 percent. Ofcom showed leniency and extended O2's deadline out to June of this year, which was just enough for the carrier to get its act together and bring its coverage over the minimum. Meanwhile, US 3G coverage is an embarrassing shadow of the impressive numbers that even the slacker carriers there have managed to put up, so don't feel too bad for yourself, O2, we still love ya.

[Via Coolsmartphone]

Motorola RIZR Z10 gets exclusive on O2

by Sean Cooper, posted May 5th 2008 at 8:55PM

About time that Moto's RIZR Z10 sees the light of day, and it'll be shining in O2's spotlight as an exclusive for at least the first little while. Featuring a 3.2 megapixel camera, quad-band GSM / EDGE, single-band HSDPA, support for up to 32GB of pop-in memory, a winning kick-slide form factor, and O2 has even seen fit to pitch in the Borne Ultimate collection on the included 1GB microSD card. If you're a fan of vid and pic editing, the built in editing software on the Z10 should keep you happy with the ability to add a soundtrack, overlay text, and even upload your 30fps opus right to YouTube from the handset. So there ya have it, if you're in the UK and have from $free to £149.99 (roughly $300) to spend, it may well be worth having a peek at.

[Via MobileBurn]

HTC Touch Cruise becoming "Touch Find" for Movistar?

by Chris Ziegler, posted Apr 30th 2008 at 8:30PM


Oh, to be a fly on the wall in one of those meetings once in a while where product names get hammered out. Seriously, what possessed Movistar to latch on to "Touch Find" for this one? Was HTC's own name, Touch Cruise, not good enough for 'em? Or heck, how about the Xda Orbit 2 (pictured) moniker used by Movistar's own O2 subsidiary? Alas, yeah, the latest rumor here is that the Touch Cruise will be christened Touch Find for Movistar's networks, featuring 3.6Mbps HSDPA, WiFi, GPS, and a 3 megapixel cam. We don't know for certain whether the Touch Find will adopt the O2's same pebble-esque case or the Touch Cruise's harder lines, but it certainly seems like it'd make more sense to be consistent within the company ranks and go Xda Orbit 2-style. Then again, the name change itself doesn't seem to make much sense, so who knows?

[Via Unwired View]

O2 adds Treo 500 to roster

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Apr 30th 2008 at 5:54AM

O2 offers Treo 500 for free
British carrier O2 has added the previously Vodafone-exclusive Treo 500 to its roster of business class smartphones. O2 is offering Palm's latest Windows Mobile handset for free with certain data and voice plans, which is probably the only way the company could get anyone to take these underwhelming hunks of plastic off their hands.

[Via the::unwired]

HTC confirms Diamond with VGA touchscreen launch next month?

by Thomas Ricker, posted Apr 29th 2008 at 4:40AM

We already knew it was coming, now HTC has seemingly confirmed that its Diamond handset will be announced next month presumably at the May 6th event. The wording of the Taipei Times article (which we assume was translated from Chinese) leaves HTC's comments open to interpretation. Speaking to a group of investors, HTC's financial executive Cheng Hui-ming, said that revenues will grow by 20% this year thanks to the launch of a new Touch phone next month. Referring to the HTC Diamond by name, he then calls the device "the most important product for HTC this year." Interesting considering that HTC is widely expected to launch the first Android handset -- dubbed Dream -- before the end of the year. Regardless, the 3G Diamond with Windows Mobile 6.1 running beneath a large, glossy, VGA touchscreen display with WiFi and 3 megapixel camera is certainly going to attract a lot interest from us and our wallets.




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