iPhone in the UK - rules and requirements ahead of November launch

No cash purchases, only two iPhones per customer and temporary numbers for existing O2 customers

18 September 2007 12:10 GMT / By Amy-Mae Elliott

At the "Mum is no longer the word" press conference at the Regent Street Apple store in London, Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple launched the iPhone for the UK.

The 8GB iPhone will launch in the UK on 9 November and will be offered by the UK's largest mobile phone operator - O2 - on a minimum 18-month contract.

There will be a £35, £45 and £55 monthly packages with various bundled minutes and texts, and all will come with "fair usage" unlimited data.

The Carphone Warehouse has been named as a retail partner for the iPhone. Their online iPhone info is now live and reveals a few interesting points people might want to know in advance of the handset's availability in November.

As well as providing info about ensuring you have the latest version of iTunes on your home computer, the site reveals you have to be over 18 to get an iPhone contract in your name (sorry teens!), pass a credit check and have a bank account, as well as email for online-only billing.

Apple is obviously expecting another American-style iPhone rush as the Carphone site states: "To give everyone a chance, there'll be a limit of two iPhones per customer in-store and online. Oh, and we're afraid we can't accept cash".

Existing O2 customers wanting to change over to an iPhone will be given this option during the iTunes activation - the process can take up to 5 working days to complete, but, perhaps learning from launch issues in the states, customers will be issued with a temporary number so they can get using their iPhone straight away.

O2 Business customers will not be able to be keep their number to be transferred over to an iPhone - they will have to get a new number altogether.

Full tags

Phones, Mobile phones, iPhone, Apple, O2, Carphone Warehouse