Tesco to offer the iPhone

Apple mobile goes mass market with Britain's biggest retailer

Tesco to offer the iPhone
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25 November 2009 9:38 GMT / By Amy-Mae Elliott

Here in the UK supermarket behemoth Tesco has announced it is to offer the Apple iPhone in time for Christmas - a real sign of how mass market the handset is to become.

Going back 2 years, at launch the iPhone was only available on one network - O2 - and through O2, Apple or Carphone Warehouse stores, but fast forward to the present and the mobile is set to be available on three operators, and through a growing network of retailers, including now, Britain's biggest supermarket.

Tesco will offer the phone on its O2-powered Tesco Mobile network, according to a statement from the retailing giant: "Tesco Mobile through its joint venture partnership with O2 is pleased to announce that it will shortly introduce iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS in Tesco Phone Shops and online through Tesco Direct in the UK".

Those hoping for Tesco pricing on the handset will almost certainly be disappointed, O2 and Orange - the two operators that offer the mobile now - have kept contract and handset prices high and with very little difference between them.

So will the ever-increasing availability of the iPhone see some of its shine rub off? Will Tesco offering the device lose the iPhone some kudos? Have your say in the comments box below.

 
Full tags
Phones, Mobile phones, Tesco, iPhone, O2
UK Shopping
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
US Shopping
bestbuy.com, ebay.com

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Comments

  • I must admit that seeing the iPhone on the shelves at Tesco next to the Value baked beans is probably going to make me start wanting to buy a different phone, lol. Posted by Joe, UK
  • If this is facebook I would "like" what Joe just said. Posted by Matt, UK
  • At the risk of sounding boring (something that never stops me on twitter) I have said this before in other missives on this site, but my 'relationship' with the iPhone is akin to the 'Emperors New Clothes' story. Never had one, never wanted one, never will have one and wonder why sites like this get a little top-heavy when it comes to coverage of the iPhone.

    I have a feeling that this next step will be the one just prior to everyone listening to me and seeing that the Emperor is in fact naked (or in this phones case old fashioned).

    IMHO the future is Android. The iPhone will die a death soon and what can Apple do about it? They can't really tinker too much with the design and the firmware is pretty restrictive too. It's like a curve on a graph thats about to peak, the only way is down.

    90,000 apps! Need an app to make stupid noises so you can dump the 'kiddies off at the pool' in peace? Theres an app for that! Need a shortcut to your fav website? We'll call that an app too, and if we can charge you for it, all the better!

    The iPhone represents the past. Multitasking is the way to the future. Never mind that you can barely do two things at the same time, look at the classic design!

    OK I'm gonna shut up now! And I didn't even say the 'H' word!     Posted by Tony Hedges, United Kingdom
  • Just think! 90 thousand apps average £1 = £90000. Lucky for me there's a few apps I won't need. I'll need to carry a spare battery. Oh! That's not possible with the iphone. Posted by Derek, UK
  • I love my iphone, it is fantastic. If everyone else has one from Tescos, it won't make me love mine any the less. Posted by marksany, UK
  • I have the Nokia N95, and have had it for nearly 18 months, so what tesco and Vodafone have it , i won't be upgrading to the new one or a touch one, cos i don't see what all the fuss is all about. And still Apple can't play videos because they are not offering Adobe enough money , and yet people still want it, i don't get it !!! Posted by Paul Kieley, U.K

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