The UK Iphone: 28 Days Later
November 5, 2009 by admin
Filed under Communication
Queues the length of Regent street, Internet forums alight with fervent discussion, astronomical sales figures it can only be a new release from computing powerhouse, Apple. In this case, the iPhone, after many months of waiting the UK public has now had some time to search for, purchase and show off the hotly anticipated mobile phone.
Many people didn’t think that the UK launch would draw the feeding frenzy experienced in the USA, but much like their American counterparts, UK Apple fans queued up outside Apple, O2 and Carphone Warehouse stores despite the typical drizzly British weather. The flagship Apple store in London
was awash with press and photographers as the doors opened where customers were greeted by hoards of Apple staff cheering them as they entered to buy the first batch of iPhones at 6:02pm, a clever play on the network which the iPhone is locked to for 5 years (Telephonica’s O2).
So now that the dust has settled on the media circus, the public has had a chance to live with the phone and draw their own conclusions. The response has been mixed to say the least with many people who didn’t buy the phone nay-saying and people who have bought it singing it’s praises to anyone that will listen. There is no doubt that the phone itself hits the mark with Apple’s styling: minimalist, sleek and innovative. The phone only has two physical buttons, the majority of the phone is operated by a revolutionary touch screen interface with such elaborate gestures as pinching the screen to move photos around the screen and pushing two fingers apart to zoom into a fully viewable web site.
The inclusion of the iPod media player has done away with the owner’s need for a separate mobile phone and MP3 player, but it’s in other areas that the iPhone has drawn some criticism; some may argue some very basic areas too.
For example, the iPhone, at present is unable to send or receive MMS messages, something most basic mobile phones with colour screens can handle these days. The exclusion of high speed 3G data has been a sticking point for most, with Apple claiming that battery life is improved drastically by its omission and the inclusion of WiFi provides high speed internet when you need it.
The fact that anyone who wants one for themselves has to pay for the handset (£269) is forced to be in a 18 month contract with O2 (Minimum line rental of £35 per month, subject to a credit check) is also off-putting to most UK buyers who expect more options such as buying their mobile phones on pay as you go for instance.. In a recent survey 46% of British public refused to consider buying an iPhone based on pricing alone, which is hardly surprising considering the mobile market in the UK where handsets are traditionally subsidised by the network, even with top range handsets like the Nokia N95 being free on some tariffs.
The main problem that seems to have dented interest in the device is that considering how long it has been anticipated and the staggered release in the USA then the UK, is that when it eventually
came out what was supposed to be a revolutionary, high tech mobile phone actually ended up having some decidedly “last Generation” features (lack of 3G, 2MP camera), the iPhone’s saying grace is probably the brands name and it’s interface, which luckily is something most buyers are impressed by.
Despite these criticisms all three companies involved stated that in the first weekend alone O2 estimated between 20,000 and 40,000 iPhones were sold. These figures would pitch the iPhone as one of the fastest selling mobile
phones in the UK and is not surprising considering the hype and press coverage of its release.
iPhone News Never Fail To Excite
Not even three months after its monumental release, Apple’s iphone is making really big news not only in the traditional media but also in the World Wide Web. iphone news have recently become more than just about features of the touchscreen-phone iPod. In fact, a person around the world search for iphone news even before the phone was launched last June.
When the rumors first came out that Steve Jobs’ Apple will be issuing an iPod with call and SMS capabilities, a lot of people have started calling it an iphone. With no official iphone news from Apple, many bloggers and tech enthusiasts have started discussing about the then-to-be-launched iphone. Soon, more iphone news was published in the Internet.
Truth be told, when Apple made the iphone available to public that very historic Friday in June, iphone news was indeed big news! Customers lined up for the iphone launch. The earliest was Monday, 4-days before the official launch. iphone news has it that many were excited with the product that combines an iPod, amobile phone, and even a wireless Internet device into one.
Apple Fans Love the Latest iphone News
Until today, Apple has never failed to give the Apple lovers and even those who think the cellphone is just hype with all the iphone news they want. The first week of September saw the release of Apple’s newest iPod models: the clip-on shuffle in new colors, the new fatty iPod Nano, the iPod classic, and the iPod Touch. The announcement proved to bring another Apple sensation in the media and the world. Just like iphone news, reports on the newest iPods are taking the world by storm.
However, early iphone adapters are disappointed with Steve Job’s statement that the iPone’s price will go down by almost $200, 3 months after they bought the $599 Apple phone. The change in price came with the release of iPod touch—an iphone without the phone. But 2 days after the announcement during Apple’s The Special Event, Steve Job’s sent out an open letter to the iphone owners that they will be receiving a $100 store credit reward. Now, the iphone owners are more than happy with the rebate after crying foul over the price cut.
Over the past few months of iphone news history, it is easy to note that Apple iphone is not just hype nor hysteria. It can be considered as a breakthrough gadget because it paved the way for many new hi-tech gadgets such as touchscreen phones, touchscreen MP3 players, and of course, the new iPods.




