New iPhone, which provider

[Matblack]

I'm getting a bit fed up with my 3GS and Heather would like an iPhone so the ideal solution would be to buy into a new contract.

However I am stuggling to work out which provider to go with. I've always had a soft spot for Orange for some reason and Heather is on Orange. I won't get much of a loyalty deal from O2 because I never go over my minutes and I'm not a big spender I also want an 18 month contract because I don't want to wait too long for the iphone5 (although I understand its likely to be delayed which is why I'm considering my options).

The things I am wondering

Which public wifi hotspots can I use within the standard tariff (likely to be the lowest tariff) I can use some BT Openzone ones at the moment, are the Orange ones the same?

Does the iPhone 4 aerial probem actually exist?

Opinions?

MB

[Belmit]

Only part I can really comment on is the aerial issue as I'm on a monthly Simplicty contract (O2). Not sure if it's been fixed yet but it certainly does/did exist. Since I put my replacement Geleskin on though the problem is all but non-existant. The iPhone 4 Geleskin is in about six separate pieces, two of which are skinny bits that fit down the sides. This pretty much prevents your hand from bridging that all important sweet spot and, as you're already aware, adds almost no extra dimension to the phone like a case would.

[Burble]

I'm yet to have a problem with calls dropping on my iPhone 4 in the 5 months that I've had it.

[Glaucus]

If you can afford. It, it will likely be cheaper to but. Phone iphone4 can be had for 430-460 brand new, got mine for 460 as I wanted factory unlocked and could find any cheaper at the time.

For example and I'm really happy on vodafone and just 30 day contract should I choose to change.


Vodafone for iphone 4 16Gb, 300 minutes, unlimited texts 500mb internet.

12months
£299
£35
Total = 719

24months
£199
£30
Total = 1636
1 year equivalent = 818

Sim only 30day contract
£430
£20 and an extra 500mb a month
Total £670


.

[Joe 90]

My contract is up at the end of June & I've been looking at this.

I think its not worth the contract anymore. The rolling contract option seems to be the best way to go nowadays. You've just got to accept that initial cost of the handset.

[Matblack]

I suppose I could drop to a simplicity contact and stay with the 3GS until the 5 is released, maybe flirt with a Galaxy inbetween.

MB

[kaiowas]

I've been using GiffGaff since December. Good SIM only option if you're a low volume user. It piggybacks on the O2 network. My usage is low enough that I stick with the standard PAYG option (8p/min, 4p/text, data was free until the start of this month but is now 20p a day up to 20MB) but you've also got the option of a 'Goodybag' which is basically a way of paying a fixed cost per month. £10 p/m gets you 250 minutes, unlimited texts, unlimited data.

Oh and I can get £5 free credit for a referral so let me know if you plan to sign up ;)

[Blighter]

I'm yet to have a problem with calls dropping on my iPhone 4 in the 5 months that I've had it.

Same, but had it since launch. Why do you think the media hasn't paid any more attention to it? It was a complete non-issue :P

I've been with O2 for years now and haven't had a single problem. They were the only people to offer an early upgrade deal when the iPhone 4 came out too :)

[Mark]

The problem exists if you hold the phone like you're attempting a Vulcan death grip on it. As Steve Jobs says "don't do that". The problem can be avoided almost entirely by using any kind of case or bumper.

I went the Simplicity route with my 3GS last year. Was undoubtedly the right choice for me at the time as I hadn't (and still haven't) found a killer app for the 4.

Sept/Oct timing is fine for me with the 5. Wasn't planning anything until then anyway.

No particularly preference on networks - I've been with three of them so far and they all have their good and bad points.

[A Place of Light]

I suppose I could drop to a simplicity contact and stay with the 3GS until the 5 is released, maybe flirt with a Galaxy inbetween.

MB

I had a conversation with an Apple rep last week who said that the iPhone5 was news to him. It is good to see they can lie at the grass roots level as well as at corporate. :D

[Blighter]

To be honest, what with the white iPhone 4 around the corner, I can see them taking an iPhone gap year this year.

There really isn't much more that can be done with it at the moment!

[A Place of Light]

To be honest, what with the white iPhone 4 around the corner, I can see them taking an iPhone gap year this year.

There really isn\\\'t much more that can be done with it at the moment!
With the blind fanaticism that Apple products tend to attract, they would not have to in order to sell huge amounts of a new iPhone.

[Blighter]

With the blind fanaticism that Apple products tend to attract, they would not have to in order to sell huge amounts of a new iPhone.

IMO it will just be a major iOS update this year and not a hardware update.

Could be wring though, at the end of the day nobody ever guesses correctly with apple products :p

[Mark]

Suits me if they do, but I doubt it - unless of course the white iPhone is the 5. ;)

[A Place of Light]

Rumours a-plenty as usual.
Their roadmap has been fairly predictable upto this point though and, while that is no guarantee it will continue like this, it does suggest a July iPhone 5.
Perhaps it might be an iPhone 4gs instead?

[Blighter]

Rumours a-plenty as usual.
Their roadmap has been fairly predictable upto this point though and, while that is no guarantee it will continue like this, it does suggest a July iPhone 5.
Perhaps it might be an iPhone 4gs instead?

There are normally rumours flying around saying things like "front camera" or "better screen" which normally turn out to be true, but this year I've seen very very few rumours?
All I can remember is a thing for NFC for 'swiping' to pay for stuff, and maybe a larger screen?

[Mark]

My guess is Apple are in lockdown given last year's 'incident'. More than one's job is worth to even take a prototype off the premises now. That, and the suggestion that the Chinese manufacturers haven't seen designs yet mean it's going to be impossible to get any vaguely reliable insights.

I don't believe the usual schedule is going to happen. We'll just have to wait and see what is. It's not important either way.

[Joe 90]

yeah the way the usual sites have been posting stuff its more like the parts that have been snapped by the chinese are just test pieces from the concept/prototype phones that don't get far... I'm sure they make loads of phones with 'rough ideas' before they get near a final product... If they were near to a final product, the rumour mill would be a bit more exciting this year.
Its a shame. but I'm not fussed. My jailbroken 3Gs running 4.1 does enough to keep me happy at the moment. Especially after getting that PKG backup thing to backup everything for me every thursday now!

[Mark]

Think the battery in my 3GS might be giving up - twice in the last week I've found it off. Whether it's the 50% needed for AppleCare I know not. So long as I can get a new phone before this one can't be traded in then that'll do for me.