Apparently analysts are saying that demand for the new iPhone 3G S will be subdued compared to that of the iPhone 3G launch when iPhone 3G S becomes available today says a report on the telegraph.
This is believed to be due to the pricing of the iPhone 3G S for upgraders whereby O2 customers in the UK, who wish to upgrade to the iPhone 3G S will have to pay off their current contract.
General Manager of devices at O2, Steve Alder has said contract and upgrade terms for the iPhone are the same as any other O2 device, and they cannot justify invalidating a contract to subsidise a 2nd device.
CCS Insight analyst, Ben Wood believes the iPhone 3G S upgrade pricing argument could impact on iPhone 3G S initial sales.
This isn’t very surprising, unless you’re a Daily Mail reader, of course. That excuse for a newspaper is predicting that the 3GS will sell out at O2 and CW stores “within minutes” today.
“Steve Alder has said contract and upgrade terms for the iPhone are the same as any other O2 device, and they cannot justify invalidating a contract to subsidise a 2nd device.”
???
But that’s exactly what you did last year Steve when you let everyone upgrade TO the 3G iphone from the original one even though they (I) were only halfway through the contract.
All this hype with regards to the sale and demand of the Iphone 3GS is exactly what it is - Hype. I am an existing Iphone user and yes, would like to upgrade to new model, but not at those prices,. To me, O2 are using every trick in the book to make money, take tethering charges for instance and the cost of MMS?, 4 times what a normal one costs? does it get there any faster?, I doubt it. have personally seen no queues outside or inside, O2 ships or carphone warehouse for that matter