Europe Going iPhone...Soon.

Mon, 09/17/2007 - 8:09am — Quincy Pince-Nez

Europe iphone

With Apple set to announce it's European iPhone strategy later this week, a lot of questions still remain on the specifics of the deal. What we know:

The carriers will be O2 in the UK, Tmobile in Germany, and Orange in France. Spain's Telefonica might also pick up the device because of the O2 relationship.
Even with the rampant SIM hacking, the devices will be locked to the carriers initially. Different Laws in Europe REQUIRE that device manufacturers open up their devices after 6 months of use. This might not be a huge issue as the phones are likely to be sold with 2 year plans.
Apple's UK announcement will likely open the iPod Touch floodgates as the employees have been asked to stay late the day of the announcement.

What we'd like to know:

3G or not? It is looking more and more like the 3G iPhone will be hitting the ground around Macworld. Could Apple be trying to slang EDGE iPhones to the 3G spoiled Europeans? If so, will that alone cause the iPhone to be poorly regarded in the land of copious Wireless bandwidth?
Will the iPhone match the iPod's 16Gb storage requirements? If so, how far up can the prices go?
Apple traditionally sells its products in Europe with a premium that is also due to its language requirements, different channel density and absurdly high VAT. What price will it try to fetch with it's current lineup
How will Apple keep the hackers out of the iPhone? IT is having a hard time doing just that in the States where there is only one other carrier besides AT&T (Tmobile) that carries the iPhone and Americans are used to being screwed by their Carriers. Europeans are much more accustomed to freedom to move carriers
What goodies besides international keyboards, mobile itunes and more hacker prevention will the 1.1.1 firmware have? iChat? Copy/Paste? More photo tools?

The event is just around the corner at the Apple store in London. Could we also see the long awaited Beatles on iTunes announcement? Is there anyone left who hasn't downloaded the entire anthology off of Torrent. So many Questions....

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Comments

IF this thing is not 3G,

Mon, 09/17/2007 - 9:13am — macmanager (not verified)

IF this thing is not 3G, then what is stopping me from getting one sent form US for $299 - what is that like 30 quid? Apple better have something good up their sleeve...

Why would letting the UK

Mon, 09/17/2007 - 9:16am — san (not verified)

Why would letting the UK know the iPhone will soon be available in their market make people rush out to buy iPod touches? It's more likely to make them wait. I bet they're having the stores stay open late because they're going to have working demo models of iPhones and display people will be coming into see those.

Man, forget about The

Mon, 09/17/2007 - 10:03am — gudbergur (not verified)

Man, forget about The Beatles already... Who cares if they're on iTunes Store? This is such an overblown rumor.

They're staying late because

Mon, 09/17/2007 - 10:06am — macmanager (not verified)

They're staying late because the iPhone goes on sale tomorrow in the UK. FACT.

;)

3G? Macworld?

Mon, 09/17/2007 - 10:55am — newbie (not verified)

i'd have bought the iphone yesterday if it had 3G. when is macworld? i'll try and hold out till then.

Macworld

Mon, 09/17/2007 - 11:37am — murfee (not verified)

Macworld is in january.....

Dont hold your breath for 3g for europe....

Tut, tut...

Mon, 09/17/2007 - 11:56am — Alex Brooks (not verified)

9 to 5 you're really tarnishing your rep with this article.

First up last month you stated that a 3G iPhone in Europe was a fact, going back on your word now? [http://9to5mac.com/apple-orange-ipone-details-43252450]

Secondly Steve Jobs said last week in an interview that Beatles were coming in the first half of 2008, so why even start the speculation? [http://www.macnn.com/articles/07/09/06/jobs.no.iphone.refunds/&startNumber=10]

1. There will be a 3G

Mon, 09/17/2007 - 12:33pm — admin

1. There will be a 3G iPhone in Europe. WHEN is the question
2. Beatles shmeatles

Errrr....

Mon, 09/17/2007 - 12:42pm — Alex Brooks (not verified)

Wow, what a poor reply.

I'm sure there will be a 3G iPhone in Europe sometime, there will be one in the US as well. But it might be three years away, not much of a rumour.

As for your other answer...I won't even go there.

We'll just have to wait and

Mon, 09/17/2007 - 2:18pm — G Money (not verified)

We'll just have to wait and see won't we? They haven't steered me wrong yet. Based on past experience, I am paying attention to what 9to5 says... Like I said, wait and see...

Absurdely high VAT?

Mon, 09/17/2007 - 3:13pm — Bulu (not verified)

Saying that Europe has an absurdely high VAT as a general statement is just plainly wrong. For example Switzerland has 7.6%, which is clearly lower than what I pay here in Dallas with 8.25%. The one general big difference is that prices include the VAT in Europe while in the US taxes are excluded.

Edit: 9to5 is putting in a link to EU VAT (sales Taxes) which range from 18-25%. Yes, these are included in Prices, unlike the US and therefor represent a significant price increase.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Value_added_tax#EU_countries

Couldn't agree more...hope

Mon, 09/17/2007 - 3:47pm — Mars (not verified)

Couldn't agree more...hope they will change that statement soon. I'm going to be quite disapointed if they don't release a 3G version tomorrow though... :( Maybe there will be a 8GB 2.5G and a 16 GB 3G version...here's for wishes to come true...

The French press was

Mon, 09/17/2007 - 10:32pm — ND (not verified)

The French press was reporting last night that the iPhone will go on sale in France last week of November (Nov 29); that it wouldn't be 3G; and worst of all, there would no unlimited data plan with European carriers, or with Orange at least. There could well be a 16G version.

Deutsch Telecom will handle the release in Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and two other countries.

http://fr.techcrunch.com/2007/09/17/fr-scoop-liphone-en-france-le-29-nov...