iPhone 3G S Not Fast Enough for Me!
Today Apple announced that as well as the iPhone update coming 17th June a brand new iPhone 3G S is to be released two days later. The S on this occasion indicates ’speed’. The phone is reportedly faster and as someone who is interested in photography boasts a 3megapixel camera with auto focus and video capabilities. I want one !
The possibilities and potential of a device that allows the recording of video, quick editing and output direct to YouTube all from the palm of your hand are massive in education. Excitedly I headed to both the Apple and O2 websites to gather up as much information as possible in advance of the launch.
Previous Apple iPhone launch dates have been historically particularly exciting and memorable. In 2007 we have the launch of the first iPhone in the UK and many of us queued to get our hands on this cherished technology. Good friend Vox O’Malley documented his unique experience in Larne. Last July we had the epic fail of the iPhone 3G launch where thousands of UK customers all tried to upgrade through o2 at once. At this stage O2 offered the ability for current iPhone users to upgrade but re-start their contract. Again we queued, hogged phone lines or refreshed the O2 website and despite the pain most of use had a new iPhone on launch.
All memories and the content of many reviews and blog posts. This time round things are different. In fact according to the information on the O2 website you won’t seen any 3G S content on this site until around next January as current customers can only upgrade when their current contract expires. I genuinely don’t think my current predicament is down to Apple who, I would think want to sell as many iPhone 3G Ss as they possibly can !
Renowned for my cynicism I wonder if this is to protect providers from the upgrade headache as iPhone 2G and 3G customers clamber for the latest release. My understanding is only current first generation owners (or new iphone customers) are able to upgrade without buying their way out of their current customers. The result with be a rather lackluster affair, exceptionally short queues (if any) and considerably less tweeting or blogging about first impressions or hands on.
It is a shame as devices such as the iPhone live on hype. If the bleeding edge technologists who live for upgrades aren’t able to get their hands on the device for another 6 or 7 months other devices have the opportunity to shine. I can see massive educational potential for the 3G S but won’t be able to put any of it into practice until 2010.
Like most other iPhone customers I can’t get my hands on the new device fast enough, sadly though I have 7 months cooling time. I would happily renew for an 18 contract for the new device but the option (currently) just isn’t there. A blow to the fanboy market and a real boost to the gray marketeers. Wise thinking ?
I cannot believe that O2 are taking this stance, its an awful way to treat early adoptors and loyal users, we should have the option of no upgrade fee if we sign a new contract. Apple need to open the iPhone to other UK networks as to be frank O2 stink with coverage and pricing, I am stepping back from this and really considering where to go next, I may now keep my 3G and as soon as my contract expires unlock it and switch networks, to be honest the Palm Pre has just received an amazing boost from O2’s attitude but maybe they are not worried as from what I hear O2 will soon have the power to shaft us on that one too.
Reading great things about the Palm Pre. I am actually considering going pay as you go from now on. No contract means no limits.
I am very surprised at this decision from O2, there are a vast amount of people currently with an iPhone 3G who were looking forward to upgrading, however having to buy out of their current contract has taken this option away from most.
It is almost like they don’t want us to buy more kit from them…madness.
I am going to do the Maths tomorrow re PAYG. I really don’t want to be tied into a contract and miss the next one in June 2010. The 3GS is a great looking phone but is it a real revolution? Perhaps the next one will be? For current 3G owners you could go to 3.0 and hold off until June 2010.
Exceptionally well said. Those of us that have camped out for the first two iphone releases surely played a part in the generation of the buzz and excitement. It would be a shame if we can’t participate in this release because of AT&T (who in my opinion is rapidly becoming a greater and greater liability for Apple).
Chris H not much better here. I noticed AT&T don’t seem to be offering tethering ?
So those that ponied up and bought a 3G are screwed over while those that didn’t are rewarded?
Gee, thanks Apple / O2.
Well said, indeed.
I like the hardware improvements, especially the performance improvements, never mind the camera, video, etc, but I don’t think I like them enough to pay that much for an upgrade. (PAYG is probably the only option there, anyway, as it would be daft to enter into another contract in the new year with the chance of another revision next summer – although there’s obviously no guarantee of it. But PAYG is way spendy.)
In an ideal world I;d be able to pick one up for development/testing, but that won’t be in the next few months.
For scale, the cost of a PAYG iPhone 3GS is a large chunk of the cost of the top-end 15″ MBP I’m lusting after.
The original iphone was bought out right, if you remember £269, therefore they were not paying it up with portions of line rental, as all subsequent iphones have been.
What on earth are you people thinking? How dare o2 hold you to a legally binding contract that you agreed to? How dare they expect you to honour that?
No one is stopping you buying a 3GS and using it on your contract.
Your contract is for a minimum fixed term. Just because you are crazy enough to like the opver hyped and over rated iphone, does not mean you get special treatment.
Imagine your outrage if o2 doubled the length of your contract just because you were an iphone customer – you wouldnt be happy, well why would you expect them to half it, just because you are an iphone customer.
If you dont like the terms and conditions of a contract – dont sign it! its not rocket science people…
seriously, get over yourselves and grow up