UK getting "very limited stock" of iPhone 3G

Because we keep unlocking the darn things

UK getting

3 July 2008 17:28 GMT / By Amy-Mae Elliott

Insider sources are suggesting Apple, apparently displeased with the UK population's propensity to unlock their iPhones, is planning to limit supplies of the iPhone 3G to our fair isle.

Electric Pig's "inside source" at one of the official iPhone 3G retailers has informed the site that less than 15% of iPhones sold since the price drop have since appeared on O2's network.

Some are suspected of being sold abroad, while the majority are unlocked for use on other networks in the UK.

According to this source, the UK will receive a "very limited stock" of the iPhone 3G as a result, especially the 16GB model, which could go some way to explain the "one per customer" rationing.

In addition, we may also be punished with Apple withholding the white version of the device, wanting to send their chic stock to more worthy nations.

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mobiles.co.uk, three.co.uk, carphonewarehouse.co.uk, Nokia.co.uk, o2.co.uk, orange.co.uk, phones4u.co.uk, t-mobile.co.uk, vodafone.co.uk, ebay.co.uk
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Comments

  • I work in a Carphone Warehouse store and have been informed that, on launch day, we will have 150 units in all including white ones. Is this Apple's idea of extremely limited supply?

    The one-per-person rule is clearly designed to fend off box-breakers who tend to want to buy in bulk to fulfill large orders. The fact that customers will sign contracts in store makes this launch far less box-breaker friendly. I really don't think Apple need worry so much this time.
    Posted by zunjine, United Kingdom
  • I got an iPhone the day it dropped in price. I also unlocked the device as soon as i got it home. I'm sorry but the contracts which O2 are offering are pants compaired to my current contract. There will be no way i'll sign up to O2 Posted by David, UK
  • absolute tosh - pathetic article, totally untrue. Posted by jay, UK
  • David - to be honest I get totally fed up with reminding people this as it is so obvious I cant understand why others dont see it....

    O2's contracts are very good value, not only do you get a reasonable amount of minutes and texts (I know you can get more elsewhere for the same price) you get UNLIMITED DATA...thats why they are priced why they are....NO ONE ELSE CAN COMPETE WITH THESE TARIFFS WITH UNLIMITED DATA AND MINUTES/TEXTS BUNDLES

    Also realise the iPhone 3G will be a lot harder to unlock...so either you want one or you dont...

    Stop whinging about o2 and get an iphone if thats what you want...or stick with a carpy Nokia or samsung...simple as really...
    Posted by Jamie, UK
  • My wife got her iPhone almost as it was launched in UK from our local O2 shop.
    It is now unlocked to everything, but still on the O2 tariff, why? Because of the free data along with the minutes etc. It makes no sense to us to go to another provider because the O2 one gives us exactly what we need, she has the new phone on pre-order too. It will be nice to unlock if for the funky applications that are out there but we see no reason to move from O2.
    I'm unfortunately stuck with '3' for about another year, as soon as that goes I'm going for whatever iPhone is available then.
    Posted by Jim, England
  • I don't agree that Apple will limit stocks when they have just doubled their own order to 50 million. All they will worry about is unit sales. Unlocking makes no difference and is adopted by the Networks to try and restrict the buyers choice. Posted by Paul Simpson, UK
  • Locking the iPhone to a single network is probably the most unpopular "feature" of the phone. Quite simply: Why?
    Try locking Channel 4 to only view on Sony TVs or Windows XP to Intel chips and see how quickly people will hack it to do otherwise.
    It makes no sense. A phone is a phone. It has nothing to do with the network it connects to.
    Posted by Alan, England

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