O2 prices iPhone tethering and MMS

Comments

• I didn't expect tethering to be free, It's essentially mobile internet which is around the same price. I hope the MMS come out of our monthly allowance
  
  But, what I really want to know is can I upgrade my Iphone 3g before my contract end date and how much the phones will cost?
  
  
  C Posted by Cezza, UK
• Probably not mate.. Remember, the original iPhone you payed £269 upfront regardless of tariff, the 3G is subsidied.. Posted by Stoofdawg, UK
• Hold on O2! Surely if I'm on a contract I'm already paying for my 'unlimited' data. All that tethering means is that the iPhones 3.0 firmware upgrade allows me to transfer said data from iPhone so I can browse the same 'already paid for' data in Safari on my computer!
  
  This is a joke.
  
  What a rip off!!!
  
  Surely they can't be serious about charging us twice! Posted by Josho, United Kingdom
• @Josho I think the difference is that you can actually download large amounts of data from your laptop/desktop. The Iphone is quite strict on what you can and can't do over O2's network.
  
  @Stoofdawg I don't think my iphone 3g was subsidised. Apple announced the price of $199 last year and I paid £159 for it from O2 on launch day. I really hope I can upgrade early. If I can't, At least 3.0 will unlock bluetooth.. I missed that when I moved over. Posted by Cezza, UK
• lets hope its a bad leak. i will not be paying more than 5 quid.
  
  if this is the case then you can jailbreak you iphone and tether from it for free. Posted by Iggyjiggy, uk
• ... It's not looking good for early upgrade :( on O2's twitter... but no one is asking the right question really just general upgrades.
  
  I can't seen how it would make good business sense not to lock people into a longer contract and sell more phone when 3.0 is so close to the 3g(s)
  
  We'll see... Posted by Cezza, UK`
• Some sort of pay as you go tethering would be great. Posted by stephen2203, United Kingdom
• £15 a month to use my existing 'unlimited' 3g connection on my laptop?? I dont think so!!!!!! That is absolutely no incentive to use my iphone instead of a dongle from another operator. iPhone users get stung again... sigh Posted by DG, UK
• This is unbelievable if you ask me, O2 obviously think they can act like a monopoly . Apple we want some competitors!! Posted by misund007, United Kingdom
• Looks like it will be a better bet going with another provider's dongle. Esp. as O2's 3G coverage is pretty bad. Better still, Apple open up to more providers so the iPhone can operate to its full potential. Posted by R, UK
• Jailbreak it.. Tethering is free and available already !!! Posted by naomi, UK
• that is a MASSIVE f**K up from o2 if they go ahead with these ill conseaved charges, when you can get this for FREE on other o2 phones .. ie using your iphone sim in another o2 phone Posted by P S, uk
• time to complain to offcom regarding these charges as they are totally unfair and unjust.
  http://www.otelo.org.uk/pages/13contactus.php Posted by p s , United Kingdom
• I can't *believe* I'm going to have to pay money to upgrade now?? What a load of complete crap! The minimum term contract available to me on launch day of the 3G was 18 months - why should that now be used against me when I want the new model??? Posted by JohnONolan, UK
• Actually you can tether already using a jailbreak iphone. No point in paying extra just figure out how to do it for free! Posted by ben, United Kingdom
• Did you notice that in US prices have gone down for 3G where as here O2 has increased it!
  PAYG 3G 16GB was £391.47 and now they're selling it for £440.40! they raised the price!!!. I'm moving to the US.
  
  Posted by TG, UK
• Rather poor marketing from O2 here. Instead of putting a cap on tethering data (which you can somewhat accurately monitor by checking browser headers and traffic shaping), they go for the milking attitude.
  
  It's time they lose their exclusive iPhone contract to other operators. I'm an Apple Mac user but, in the UK, I'll stick to my blackberry thank you very much !! Posted by Ricardo, UK
• O2 have lost their contract with apple. I have heard by a supplier that its all open now to all mobile companies. Did you see the vodafone site for the iphone, and there was another leak on Tmobile's website? Posted by Fordi, UK
• Why are people complaining that you have to buy-out your existing contract to upgrade. Isn't that what you have to do anyway regardless of whether it's an iPhone? Posted by Stoodge, UK
• I've never understood how companies such as O2 and Apple are allowed to get away with such practices that are clearly not in the best interests of the consumer. Why is it called an "Exclusive deal" then it's O2 and Apple, but "anti-competitive" if it's Microsoft and Intel? The EU has been obsessivly pursuing Microsoft and Intel for years, accusing them of monopolising the market, and acting in an "anti-competitive nature". Where is the EU now? They are all too busy wasting OUR money on expenses, and OFCOM is more worried about contestants on reality TV shows. Industry regulators? Their a disgrace and a joke. Posted by Darren, United Kingdom
• This has all made me pretty furious, I can't believe the cheek of these pricing schemes, it's a clear abuse of a monopoly. O2 should be referred to the monopolies & mergers committee.
  
  And to try and charge me for Internet tethering as an EXTRA?! I've ALREADY PAID for that 'unlimited' data! I already tether for free with an iPhone app (jailbroken) - and as I only really need to use this feature half a dozen times per year, there is absolutely no way on God's EARTH I'm going to pay £270 for this 'privilege'! I mean, why would I?! The most frustrating thing is that, on the very rare occasions I need to tether my phone (e.g. on the train) it's incredibly useful to be able to do so, making this extra annoying if I upgrade to 3.0 and lose the tethering ability.
  
  O2, you should be ASHAMED of yourselves. Posted by carlos, UK
• 02's" unlimited data" plan is acually limited to around +/- 200 Mb a month . go over that and they'll slap your wrist the 1st time .. next time not so nice Posted by o0timbo0o, UK
• haha....welcome to steve jobs' world
  
  i love it how apple can get away with utterly ridiculous pricing and people just keep paying up :p
  
  i'll just carry on enjoying my £20 a month, 200 mins, 4000 texts, unlimited 3-to-3 calls, unlimited skype calls, unlimited internet (including tethering) (ok, so it's 1GB a month, but that's enough for me, and it's only £5 extra to make it a 3GB allowance), and a HTC TyTN II and Nokia E71, whilst you lot go off and play with your swanky, overpriced jesus phone at a minimum of £45 a month if you want to use your "unlimited" internet with your computer
  
  good evening, and welcome to the land of apple and o2, two companies famous for their ridiculous pricing :p Posted by AndrewK, UK
• scandalous! that's all I have to say on the matter Posted by Jonh Edols, UK
• I just want tethering so I can hook my iPhone up to my Tomtom :s I'm fairly sure that it wouldn't use more than 200MB receiving traffic updates! Posted by UtterlyD, UK
• It' more of the same blinkered thinking that phone companies are notorious for. The iPhone is a marvel of the convergence buzz word they have bandied about for the last 10 years. A limited tethered data allowance, or perhaps the flexibility to trade voice minutes for data packets, could make O2 a highly attractive proposition for those with underutilised voice contracts without a clear need for data. Once again the corporate bean counters can't see beyond hoarding and exploiting their existing cash cow revenues.
  
  The iPhone has worked, because it just works. The no worries contract is all a part of the package. Obviously this is far too simple for the bean counters to understand. The Bolt-On charge is not competitive. The excess (£200 per GB) simply extortionate.
  
  I have already made my feelings known in an e-mail to O2. I suggest everyone else who feels they are being short changed does the same.
  
  Still, if O2 have lost the exclusivity, I guess we can look forward to being stiffed for the remainder of our contracts as O2 attempt to milk every last quid.
  
  
  Posted by Matt, UK
• I was using my Sony Erricsson as a 3G modem before the iphone was even invented and there was no additional charge there. Charging for bandwith we have already paid for is indeed a scandal. Posted by Gizmo, UK
• What about the fact they charge 25p for an MMS if youre on PAYG ... but if youre in a contract, they charge 4 texts (thats at least 40p isnt it ... nearly double!) Talk about a rip off!
  
  Be warned O2, customers can clearly see youre ripping them off (sorry, charging more for services!) PURELY because you can - rather than based on any other factors. Us public dont forget ... we have no choice but pay at the moment but as soon as competition comes, youre toast! I HATE BEING RIPPED OFF Posted by Neil, UK
• what do you mean you've no choice but to pay? there are 4 other main uk networks to choose from
  
  the iphone isn't the world, you know... Posted by AndrewK, UK
• I thought Orange also won the contract for the iphone in UK?? Posted by Minantra, UK
• Man there are some muppets on here! Yes Vodafone, Orange and T-Mobile have contracts with Apple to supply the iPhone, but in other European countries. They don't just opperate in the UK people! Posted by Jobsie, UK
• Question: Are there any potential pitfalls of buying an iphone 3gs from a country that doesn't lock it to a network (eg SE asia?), other than warranty issues? (On that note, is n't the warranty global?)
  
  Is it just a matter of bringing it back to UK, slip in SIM (Vodafone/Tmobile/Orange) with mobile internet plan and it'll just work, including the tethering?
  
  Currently not an O2 customer, don't fancy becoming one by the sound of it, but the lure to the 3gs is so great that I'm now thinking abroad... Posted by hcw, UK
• Having read the small print in the terms and conditions, it seems that iPhone customers already pay for data via their phones with O2.
  
  Please not the wording here. that was "via", not the word "on" it seems then we should be able to tether under an existing contract even under the terms that exist.
  
  It must be about time to complain to O2, the telecommunications ombudsman and OFCOM about this one. Posted by Al, UK
• Sorry, but other operators are doing exactly the same. Orange, for instance, in Romania. The reason is that iPhone type plans include significant amount of internet traffic (1 GB or 1.5 GB in Romania), traffic limit which in fact is very unlikely to be fully achieved using the phone only (but fully paid of course :)).
  
  They would limit the usage of internet by heavy pricing of the tethering. It's likely that the networks would not support that traffic anyway.
  
  Oh, and I think that iPhones are much more numerous than all other smart phones with significant internet traffic included in the related plans, so other operators might afford allowing tethering for the included traffic. Posted by Marius, Romania
• We already pay for our Internet - tethering should not cost any more, it should just be something you can do with your internet! Posted by David, England
• Makes me wanna start a revolution!! Posted by ManTurkey, GB
• O2 should be ashamed of themselves. I already pay for "unlimited data". I hardly use the phone and only need to tether now and then, would make no sense for me to pay another nearly £20 a month for the odd bit of tethering. I understand if they let people do what they wanted it would be chaos. People would stop using home internet and just use tethered iphones clogging up the network. Why dont they put a cap on it and let light users use their limited internet however they liked.
  As others have said complain to OFCOM and the ombudsman. Posted by Dr, UK
• i agree with everybody here and everybody has very fair points, i have a iphone from release and am slammed on a £45 a month contract which has now creep up to £59.62 because i have to pay for insurance and a bolt on for free texts, like i say i have only just put my iphone to 3.0 lol as i have not sync it and well i was shocked to see all the fantastic features and i was like wow we can tether thinking they be nothing extra just a set up and well i dropped a bollock wen i see the charges cum up starting at £14.68 i pay for unlimited data so they noway on gods green earth am paying for a bolt on they can get stuffed, i hope wen the next gen phone is relesed whitch has been confirmed (search online) then i hope the right provider gets it someone like t mobile they really are pulling out the stops at the mo . iAllways been with 02 since my first every mobile and well i think it time to move on people am sick of them trying shaft me up the wall and as people have mention yes i have emailed o2 to let them know they are a disgrace and well off-comom will be notified in the morning Posted by scooter , uk
• ok guys here is a quick fix
  
  jail brake your phone
  download pda net its a small fee compared to the astronomical costs of 02 tethering
  surf as much as you like using either adhock set up or usb (usb is better)
  
  bobs your uncle fanny is your aunt
  
  un monitered tethering from the greedy o2 eyes
  also you can get ipa apps for free Posted by bob cox, united kingdom
• May be loss of you iPhone. If you damage your phone you will likely want to be protected.You'll want water damage included.Water damage is a big killer of phones - yet you may find that some do not cover it. 1.Each year over 6,000,000 phones are lost.So get Cover for your iphone insurance against theft, loss, accidental, water damage. Free Fraudulent Call Cover and also International cover.
  Posted by iphone insurance, usa
• I've made my complaint to Ofcom about the contract forcing you to pay for what is effectively double charging on data. Apparently, their switchboard is lighting up with this issue - and the chap I spoke to was well versed in the problem and what to do. I suspect if this pressure is kept up the ombudsman (Otelo) get involved - which will be great for consumers. Ofcom's number in case you want it, is 020 7981 3040 or 0300 123 3333. BitterWallet have an excellent piece on why this is such a scam - http://www.bitterwallet.com/o2s-iphone-tethering-is-a-serious-case-of-double-charging/13169
  
  Tin Posted by Tin Man, UK
• I just spoke to a O2 manager..
  
  He said O2 use a type of software called ABS or somthing like that to indicate to them if someone is 'illegaly' tethering there phone to there computor and your phone gets 'Flagged' and even Barred from the network if it is discovered, but apparently the Contract is Terminated so if your on a contract were you get a iphone included then happy days you just got yourself a free iphone! :D i don't really see the point in one day of tethering my phone i used 60mb.. why do they want to charge for that they should simply put on somthing to make sure you don't go downloading file that are 50mb+ onto your computor so you can still use Msn, browse sites and use VOIP low bandwith systems like ventrillo and teamspeak Posted by AlexC, UK