Apple might choose a retail-only strategy when it launches its iPhone in Europe, as operators are complaining about the firm's arrogant demands. "Operators consistently told us – not for attribution, of course – that they had spoken to Apple and found the company 'unbelievably arrogant,' making demands that 'simply can not be justified, no matter how hot the product is,' Avi Greengart, a principal analyst covering mobile devices for Current Analysis wrote in an advisory report on Monday.
"Several [operators] were adamant that they will never offer the iPhone." The operators didn't disclose to Greengart what demands Apple imposed on European operators, he said in a phone interview. Apple is preparing a US iPhone launch on 29 June. The company has previously promised an European release in the fourth quarter of this year.
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News source: Vnunet
"Several [operators] were adamant that they will never offer the iPhone." The operators didn't disclose to Greengart what demands Apple imposed on European operators, he said in a phone interview. Apple is preparing a US iPhone launch on 29 June. The company has previously promised an European release in the fourth quarter of this year.
View: The full story News source: Vnunet
the problem is Europe doesn't have great EDGE coverage. most providers just went straight to 3G so most people most of the time are going to get a really low speed service. they really should put 3G in it for Europe.
i wonder what these demands that Apple could be making are that can't be justified. it's hard to imagine them being so arrogant that Vodafone or T-Mobile would turn down an exclusive EU wide contract.
Actually, they can't. In the UK at least, phone service providers have to validate the phone operates correctly on their network before they'll allow it to connect to their network. This validation process can take quite a bit of time and frequently requires them to modify the phones firmware to make some functions work correct. The firm I work for carries out some of this validation for Orange in the UK.
Indeed, EDGE isn't used here, 3G is. If they want it to sell, they'll have to get with the program and follow EU standards.
It's almost certainly down to the firmware. EU providers like to brand phones with their own software, and if Apple won't let them, there's plenty of other phone makers who will! The EU phone market is booming, and doesn't need the highly overpriced iPhone. Plus, it's missing basic features such as MMS, and MMS is a massive profit maker in the UK at least.
really?
Maybe, but the thing is I just hate when you only can get certain phone model from certain operator, who has conveniently branded the phone (which I can stand) and removed some of it's features (usually related to connectivity).
Maybe, but the thing is I just hate when you only can get certain phone model from certain operator, who has conveniently branded the phone (which I can stand) and removed some of it's features (usually related to connectivity).
Thing is, those removed features are usually removed for a very good reason, such as incompatibilities with that providers network.
Maybe, but the thing is I just hate when you only can get certain phone model from certain operator, who has conveniently branded the phone (which I can stand) and removed some of it's features (usually related to connectivity).
Thing is, those removed features are usually removed for a very good reason, such as incompatibilities with that providers network.
Sometimes it is, but eg. removing IR connectivity between phones seems hardly a matter of network compatibility. Same for the possibility of uploading your own java games from your computer. The only point of removing that kind of features is forcing the customer to spend more money on operator's services.
Well yes, there IS that side of things too, which is really just another bullet in the guts for Apple really... Phone providers want ways to leach the maximum cash from their customers; the iPhone won't let them do that, so why should they carry it?
Hmmm, every feature I've seen that has been disabled has been to increase operator revenue. Why else would Orange disable the ability to get photos off the C600 except via MMS or email (or putting on memory card, taking the memory card out of the phone and putting it into a PC) which are both revenue earners (when I flashed the phone with a standard HTC ROM it works fine).
They really have no idea what they are getting into with the Euro (let alone if they even attempt Japan/Korea) phone market.
Designing it for the US infrastructure was a bad idea in this market, it's just too different.
Last edited by Septimus on 13 Jun 2007 - 10:45
Good thing my one year old HTC Tytn has every single feature of the Apple's iPhone + an extractable keyboard, 3G, Video-calling, no artificial limitations, flash memory and third party software support and still costs less than the iPhone.
If they bring a mobile without the most modern tech in a market that goes so fast as this one they are going to fail. And if they sell it without the providers support it's going to sell even less.
when you've got phones out there at the moment that have more features, are more powerful and are cheaper or the same price range then being arrogant isn't going to get anywhere. the other problem will be that at least in the UK you'll get terrible reception with an iphone because its on edge, probably in most other european countries too.
when you've got phones out there at the moment that have more features, are more powerful and are cheaper or the same price range then being arrogant isn't going to get anywhere. the other problem will be that at least in the UK you'll get terrible reception with an iphone because its on edge, probably in most other european countries too.
You're exactly right about Japan, as far as I know Apples don't sell well there, even iPods aren't that special there, so I don't know how they're planning to sell their sub-par phone there. One thing Japan loves is it's phones and the more advanced the phone, the more they'll love it.
when you've got phones out there at the moment that have more features, are more powerful and are cheaper or the same price range then being arrogant isn't going to get anywhere. the other problem will be that at least in the UK you'll get terrible reception with an iphone because its on edge, probably in most other european countries too.
You're exactly right about Japan, as far as I know Apples don't sell well there, even iPods aren't that special there, so I don't know how they're planning to sell their sub-par phone there. One thing Japan loves is it's phones and the more advanced the phone, the more they'll love it.
Don't know about that. Remember the movie about the apple store opening in japan......
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TyR3fyLO_I check it
Japan is one of the best markets for apple
when you've got phones out there at the moment that have more features, are more powerful and are cheaper or the same price range then being arrogant isn't going to get anywhere. the other problem will be that at least in the UK you'll get terrible reception with an iphone because its on edge, probably in most other european countries too.
You're exactly right about Japan, as far as I know Apples don't sell well there, even iPods aren't that special there, so I don't know how they're planning to sell their sub-par phone there. One thing Japan loves is it's phones and the more advanced the phone, the more they'll love it.
Don't know about that. Remember the movie about the apple store opening in japan......
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TyR3fyLO_I check it
Japan is one of the best markets for apple
One store, gigantic population... really doesn't prove anything without real statistics. Also, one day of a huge lineup doesn't mean they love apple, for all you know they went in and said "wtf is this?" and left.
Apple require Network to work with them to get Visual VoiceMail work.
Apple demand a better Edge services ( Like At&T Fine Edge )
And later being apple want xx% of money from the subscrption....
Apple can demand better Edge infrastructure if they want. Europe uses 3G, and we're not going to change anything for Apple.
The iPhone will work fine in the EU. Someone will support it in each country, maybe not the biggest companie, maybe someone like Virgin. But if it sells well in America, it will sell in the EU. Companies usually dont turn down potential profits.
The phone is designed for the US market; it's missing key features that EU consumers are used too and I struggle to think they will spend a huge amount of money on a phone containing mostly outdated technology that doesn't do all they want just because of the Apple brand.
There's also the issue that the phone is a closed environment; which seriously limits 3rd party developers. One of the reasons Windows and Symbian based phones are so popular in the EU is due to their open platforms for 3rd party devs.
Style over substance, the Apple way. But it looks good so it will sell... especially to footballers and their bints.
Money ... 75% for Apple 25% for Op ... :p
Now all you need is a provider that will let you connect to it! :p
/me rubs hands evilly.
Validation: FAIL
Companies usually cripple IR ports and such things, which sucks. Apple's demands were probably money. I doubt they asked the companies to not cripple the conectivity of the phone, considering the phone is also an ipod. There are plenty of mobiles sold out there free of any carrier that don't cripple anything...
There are plenty of good mobile phones out their made by excellent manufacturers who don't seeminlgy pull these sorts of stunts. I don't see why Apple think they are any different.
I really do hope that the iPhone helps change the US cellphone industry because right now everyone is getting ripped off.
I really do hope that the iPhone helps change the US cellphone industry because right now everyone is getting ripped off.
SO $599 is NOT a rip off?
I really do hope that the iPhone helps change the US cellphone industry because right now everyone is getting ripped off.
The EU cellphone network is already way ahead of the US one, Why would we want to downgrade our tech so the iPhone can work?
Maybe if Apple upgrade their phone to support EU requirements it might go somewhere, but otherwise, forget it.
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