"Thousands" of iPhones on 3

As report suggests all five UK operators now offering Apple's mobile

14 October 2009 12:59 GMT / By Amy-Mae Elliott

There are "thousands" of iPhones running on the 3 network across the UK, a spokesperson for the operator has told Pocket-lint.

The comment came in response to our query following a report from The Telegraph that all five mobile carriers in the UK are currently offering the iPhone, whether or not they are official operator partners.  

T-Mobile has been offering the device to high-spending customers as part of an unofficial retention plan, and  3 is employing the same policy, albeit in very limited numbers.

"Thousands of people have chosen to use their iPhone on the 3 network", the 3 spokesperson told us, referring to iPhones that have either been unofficially unlocked - "jailbroken" - or officially unlocked and in the UK via distribution channels in Europe.

O2 is currently the only official Apple iPhone partner in the UK, but is soon to be joined by T-Mobile merger partner Orange this year and Vodafone in 2010.

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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

  • most phones/devices are unlocked anyway and will accept a number of networks

    I can confirm after trying a tmobile sim, orange sim and vodafone sim in my untampered iPhone 3Gs all function fine.
    Posted by Me, UK
  • I am thinking of buying an Iphone.
    How does one change the battery on the iphone 3G? As I would like to carry a few extra batteries for long distance travel? Also to be able to exchange the battery when it runs down.
    Thank you.
    Posted by Derek, UK
  • The battery is none changeable... unless sent back to apple for repair... oh back to my first comment my Iphone 3Gs was bought on O2. Posted by Me, UK
  • You cant change the battery, when you are going for a device this small you often make a sacrifice or two, and for the iphone its that the battery cant be replaced. I have one and am perfectly happy with it, but it does require charging every day with heavy use. In the end if you are going to have no access to any of the charging options for an iphone for more than a day, its not the phone you are looking for. Posted by Mr. British Citizen, UK
  • Thank you Me.
    I am stunned! All my other mobile phone had rechargeable batteries and very useful in deed.
    It just goes to proves....everything that glitters isn't gold.
    No Iphone for me then.
    Thank yo Me, Derek.
    Posted by Derek, UK
  • The battery is a non-issue, Derek you are the only one losing out if you don't have one ;) . I have mine on the 3 network working fine. Posted by Dom, UK
  • http://www.macworld.com/article/58916/2007/07/iphonebattery.html

    the battery isnt that bad it is down to how heavely you use the iPhone, I charge my 3Gs about 3 times a week.
    some smart solar chargers out now that work well, also car charger is handy to keep in glove box unless fitted to a kit.

    Posted by Me, UK
  • iPhone's performance is really amazing. I'm satisfied with it. And yeah, it works good with the 3 networks. Posted by Rick, UK
  • Discount Motorcycle Helmets Posted by rick, UK
  • To ME

    You mean to say that you hare recently purchased an Iphone in the UK, on O2, and you are able to us sim from other networks?
    Posted by Akhtar , U.K.
  • T-Mobile will start offering the phone in December ahead of Vodaphone. I have this from a discruntled ex-employee Posted by Steve, UK
  • I want buy iPhone 3Gs- take it my country use, then, where the plan buy iPhone?
    From Oct 10-20,2009 I come to Los Angeles.
    Posted by Le/MinhQuan, VietNam

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