Now that all the major UK mobile networks are able to sell the iPhone, it’s interesting to see how each of them is pitching for new customers.
When it comes to iPhone deals there’s really not much between Vodafone iPhone deals and Orange iPhone deals, or O2 for that matter.
Nevertheless, if you’re on a super strict budget, then the absolute cheapest deal with a free handset is on Orange and is £30 for a lengthy 24 month tie-in.
Don’t expect much talktime for that price however, (150 anytime minutes / 250 texts) if you want some decent minutes/texts combo expect to pay at least £35 per month.
Alternatively, if you to keep your options open with a shorter contract length, doing so will incur either a hefty upfront payment for the handset, or higher monthly costs… or both.
With pricing fairly similar across the networks you have to compare the relative benefits of the service they offer:
Orange is renowned for high standards of customer service, and bills itself as having the broadest 3G coverage in the UK and attracts customers keen to take advantage of the iPhone’s 3G capabilities.
Meanwhile Vodafone offer Sure Signal – a service which guarantees you service in your home – a useful service if you live in a trouble-some 3G void, but less important if you a mainly mobile, with your mobile.
O2 however, offer little in the way of extra services – perhaps they are complacent in the fact that they were the first to sell the iPhone and can rely more on customers upgrading their iPhone contracts.
However, over 2 years on from iPhone’s launch, many people have completed their contracts and are now proud owners of the handset. What customers are looking for in these circumstances is a SIM-only deal which suits their mobile needs best – the networks clearly know this and that’s why we now see more SIM-only deals with unlimited internet bolt-ons.
