How to Select the Best Apple iPhone 5 on Contract in the UK?

Apple announced the iPhone 5 on Sept 12th and units will go on sale Friday September 21. Apple sold 2 million units in the first 24 hour that they were on sale. So expect initial supply to be limited.

You do have the option to buy an unlocked unit directly from Apple for £599 for a 32Gb device.

We have scoured the options for you and show below pricing for a 32Gb unit on a 24 month contract.

The markets are a little hard to compare as different carriers offer so many differing solutions. We have listed the basic option, the middle option and the eat all you want option for each carrier.

As you can see the offers are might similar. Orange and T-Mobile are to all virtually identical and will soon be rebranded EE and will become one. Vodafone stick out as the most expensive option. Three offers a solid and reasonable price solution.

What we don't know as the UK Government has yet to make its mind up is when additional 4G networks will be available: This is cloud over 02, Vodafone and Three. If you are desperate for high speed and you live in the initial coverage cities then a EE solution will be best for you.

Event then it is not clear as T Mobile, Orange and EE states that at present the LTE plan is unknown and have presented us with a vague promise "When 4G launches a compatible plan on EE is required. Charges may apply and you'll have to agree to a new minimum term on EE". Hardly cast in cement.

Carriers:

02 - The very first UK carrier of the original iPhone. Now just one of many but does have a considerable number of iPhone 3G and 4 users who are out of their 24 month contract who will be looking for an iPhone 5.

Phone cost is £200 and £36 per month for a 24 month total of £1,064: Provides unlimited talk, text with 1GB of data.

Phone cost is £200 and £36 per month for a 24 month total of £1,064: Provides unlimited talk, text with 1GB of data.

EE - This is the brand new joint venture between Orange and T-Mobile. No pricing for 4G / LTE network have been announced.

Orange

Phone cost is £220 and £36 per month for a 24 month total of £1,084: Provides unlimited talk, text with 1GB of data.

T-Mobile

Phone cost is £220 and £36 per month for a 24 month total of £1,084: Provides 2,000 minutes plus unlimited T mobile talk, text with 1GB of data.

Three

Phone cost is £89 and £39 per month for a 24 month total of £1,025: 2,000 minutes, 5000 Texts with unlimited data and iPhone tethering.

Vodafone - Most Pricy

Phone cost is £89 and £47 per month for a 24 month total of £1,217: Provides unlimited minutes unlimited text with 2GB of data.

As well as the three measurable values: Talk time, Number of Texts and amount of Data there are a number of others considerations.: Do you have access to Wi-Fi zones. - 02 offers access to the BT Wi-Fi zones. Of course if you are a BT Broadband client you have access to these already.

Hotspot access. This is big question if you want to share you 3G or 4G connection. With the iPhone you can broadcast a Wi-Fi signal to other devices, such as you iPad. Most carries either block this is or charge more. Three offers this a standard.

The other significant factor that may be of importance is the alliance between Three and EE that is supposedly giving Three access to the EE LTE network at around year end. We assume that this will allow EE to share some of the costs of deploying LTE with Three while Three go through the spectrum auction process.

Conclusion.

If you want to be the first on the street with 4G and LTE hight speed network then select the EE brands T-Mobile or Orange. If you can wait a little longer take a look at the Three offering as you could save a few hundred pounds over the two years.

Contact

For more details on these plans and other mobile date options and applications contact Taybridge Consulting on 07810 261671 or visit the Taybridge Consulting website.

The author has extensive background in mobile computing having worked in London and Silicon Valley for Psion and Symbian. Alastair now runs Taybridge Consulting advising clients on mobile applications and has developed and deployed numerous mobile solutions.

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