Jun 10
Apple is releasing the iPhone 3G in the UK on July 11th. There is an upgrade path for existing iPhone users as well. The big news is that the iPhone 3G with 8 GB of storage is going to be £99 on low end tariffs (£30 and £35) and free on high end (£45 and £75). The iPhone 3G with 16 GB will be £159 on the low end tariffs, £59 on the £45 a month tariff and free to users on the £75 tariff.
What’s new in the iPhone after June 11th?
- Software - the new iPhone 2.0 brings some incremental improvements over the iPhone 1.0 software but the big news here is the new App Store so you’ll be able to add third party software - from eBay auction watchers to games to vertical medical applications. They demonstrated games from Sega, a music ‘band in your pocket’, a native application from the Associated Press and other applications - all of which will work for the current iPhone in July and is also available for the iPod touch (for about £5).
- 3G - much faster UMTS/HSDPA networking which scales back to EDGE if you move out of coverage. This is a massive speed increase and will mean it’s possible to download apps and movies over 3G rather than having to wait until you’re in a WiFi area.
- GPS - a proper GPS module rather than relying on cellphone towers and Wifi triangulation. It is assisted by the other methods for those times when you might be out of line of sight of a GPS satellite. And it live updates so - as well as being more precise - you can see where you are when you’re moving.
- MobileMe - the new name for .Mac - it incorporates push email, push contacts and calendaring as well as a 20 GB iDisk. It works with Mail, Address Book and iCal on a Mac, Outlook on a PC and Mail and your applications on iPhone or iPod touch. It syncs mail, contacts and calendar events over the air so there’s no need to dock up any more. .Mac wasn’t for everyone but for those of us who have been using it, it’s a welcome upgrade.
- Deals - apart from the upgrade options which are pretty compelling, the iPhone will add to the free WiFi access from the Cloud by also adding in BT Openzone. This creates a huge number of WiFi spots out there so you may not even have to use WiFi. It’s one of the first time I’ve actually started believing the hype about ubiquitous networking.
I’m sure you’ll sound off in the comments.
20 Responses to “WWDC: the iPhone 3G and new software”
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June 10th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
REALLY excited about iPhone 3G - defo going to get one this time. Only disappointment is still no improved camera, and no mention of video. Apart from that i think it’s spot on, and it has GPS which i wanted, but didn’t honestly expect!
Now I just need to decide on the contract! I’ll probably go for the white 16gig one on the £35 contract, unless the pay as you go option is better value. I’m guessing it will be more expensive to buy, and not include unlimited data though.
In the US, it will also have to be activated IN-STORE, which probably means an end to unlocking / jail breaking
No word if this is the same in the UK
June 10th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
I think we shall look to third parties to provide video.
The camera bugs me because it’s SO bad compared to the 3.2 Mpixel camera I have in my SonyEricsson K800i.
I’m going to continue with my £45 contract, just for another 18 months. I mean - what is there to lose????
June 10th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
Yes. Time to go for it.
Vodafone contract due to run out soon, so its an obvious choice.
Anyone … what is the best protective case? (I do like to drop, kick, manhandle mobile ‘phones) …
Tim
June 10th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
I had a Revo case which I really liked. And the Switcheasy Capsule was great (but it’s fragile when not ON the iPhone).
The new one will not fit in older cases. Important to note
June 11th, 2008 at 10:32 am
Guys could you just confirm for me that iPhone 3g has no mms support, no video capture and it’s not possible to transfer files via bluetooth?
Thanks
June 11th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
Anyone know what the craic is with trading in the 1.0 phone? There was a rumour of a trade in or some sort of amnesty… Any news?
June 13th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
ccc - yeah that’s all true, but may be fixed in future updates, or by 3rd party apps. regarding mms support - i’m not bothered at all - i have only used it max 2 times, and it will be easier, and cheaper to send a photo as an email attachment.
big paul - http://www.o2.co.uk/iphone/existingiphonecustomers
you can upgrade to the new iphone at launch, you just have to sign a new 18 month contract. You pay the same as if you were a new customer - The 8gb is free on £45+ contracts, £99 otherwise…
June 13th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
Will the 3G be available on any other networks besides O2? Am tempted this time, the first one was out of my price range, but with a wedding in less than two months it may not happen just yet…….
June 13th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
It won’t be available on other networks unless jailbroken.
That said - the ‘old’ iPhone will be available VERY cheap on eBay and probably even as a pay as you go option.
June 13th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
PAYG, I’m in!
June 14th, 2008 at 11:27 am
http://www.o2.co.uk/iphone/paygo
June 16th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
Does anybody know where I could find a programmer to write code for the iPhone?
June 16th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
I’d immediately suggest three places for locals
1) Open Coffee Belfast
2) BarCamp Belfast
3) XCake.org (launched today)
Outside of that, there’s heaps of them out there. Matt Gemmell is a nice bloke and relatively local. What are you looking for?
June 17th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
As an investor, I am looking for a programmer to write applications to upload onto the Apple Apps Store.
June 17th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
Try XCake.org first. Leave a comment there
June 17th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
I’ve been on the site but there is no where to leave or send my contact details!?
June 25th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
according to stuff.tv iPhone 3G will be £370 for 8GB and £470 for 16GB
hummmm…. By my calculations (for the 16GB) that means that over 18 months if you topped up £15 per month or less, you’re better off with Pay&Go, any more and the £35 contract works out at less.
For myself, I currently have an orange pay&go sim, which gives me 300 free texts when I top up £10 each month, and I do usually use the full allowance plus the £10 credit on calls or additional texts.
The only unknown for me is the data use on the iphone - if you get unlimited data / wifi on the pay&go tariff, plus the free texts for topping up it’s a no-brainer, however I doubt they will be quite so generous, which gives me a lot to think about / work out!
What tariff is everybody else going for?
June 25th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
Well, iPhone is free on the 45/month tariff. I am on the 45/mo iPhone tariff anyway cos I need the mins and texts. So, free iPhone 3G in July.
I think the pay as you go is a 7.50/month for unlimited access. A little birdie told me.
June 26th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
from macrumours it looks like the iphone 16gb will be £360, and 8GB £300 on pay&go
it will come with 6months free wifi/data, which will go up to £10 a month after the 6months
aside from that you will have a normal 02 pay&go tariff - so you will be able to get the 300 free texts with £10 top up etc…
seems like a good deal for me, but if you use lots of minutes per month then contract is probably better.
June 26th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
Not bad. The PayGo option will be very good for those people who are actually getting a first generation iPhone as a hand me down.