[Ben]

If you're buying the iPhone 3G on contract, will you be pre-approved (by going in to O2 before launch day, or by doing an upgrade) or will you be hoping to pass the credit check on the day?

[miffed]

I am going the upgrade route - registered my interest day one and just got another "teaser" SMS a few minutes ago

iPhone 3G is almost here
As promised we are writing to you to keep you updated on the next steps to getting iPhone 3G

iPhone 3G goes on sale on the high street on 11th July 2008

We will be writing to you agin before the 11th with details about how you could place your order. We do , however expect demand for iPhone 3G ti be very high so orders will be proscessed on a first come, first served basis so that we can be fair to all of our customers . Orders will be limited to one iPhone 3G per customer
For now , ,Just go to www.o2.co.uk/iphone if you would like to look at the iPhone tariffs that will be available for launch

.....So basically , no news :confused:

[Ben]

I tried to get pre-approved at O2 Canterbury today.

I stood there for 10 minutes while the only two staff in the (large, airy) store serviced other customers without really achieving anything.

Nobody even said they'd be with me shortly. They just left me there, in my shirt and trousers and shoes looking rather smart, and totally ignored me.

I then left.

Great start, O2! I hate you already :p

[gorilla]

Apart from the 11th I can't see this being an issue. By the time I get around to getting one in September they'll probably have run out of stock, or Apple will be selling them instore without the need to activate, now wouldn't that be annoying for anyone who rushed out to get an O2 contract ;-)

[Hands0n]

I'm doing the Upgrade thing :D Already on iPhone 2G so it should just be a matter of walking in the shop. What I really want to know, though, is whether or not I can do the upgrade via Apple stores. Like, show my O2 contract, buy an iPhone 3G and either activate it there or take it home and activate it with my O2 SIM. I can't see why not ..... And I can't see Apple not wanting to sell through their stores also ... But they're being very quiet!! :eek:

[gorilla]

Yeah, there is so little info out there and that's quite scary. Surely for a product launch of this nature some heads up would be nice? Maybe they're not anticipating a mass stampede.

[Ginz]

I'm going to try and get pre approved early.. Seeing as it's a 7.02am launch.. I wasn't going to be getting up any earlier than 6 as that's just getting a little too nuts so reckon I'd be there by 6.30.. Am partly hoping there's not going to be crazy people queuing over night in Milton Keynes?

[MrBriz]

Ginz - I'm in MK too! Wow small world! There are 2 02 stores and three or four carphonewarehouses around MK so there should be plenty of stock!

I have taken the day off just in case I need to travel round to find one.

I'm tempted to camp out overnight if I can, but not sure if I will need to...

[MrBriz]

Has anyone got anywhere with pre-approval? I phone up two CPW stores and 02 and they both said you would only be able to register on the day....

[Ben]

Welcome to Talk3G!

I've got a feeling you'd have better luck if you actually went in to a store... but the information flow from Apple and, in the UK particulalry, O2 seems to be little more than a dripping tap at the moment.

I'm going to try next week, now, unless I'm around a store this weekend.

[MrBriz]

Any idea if it will be better going to 02 or CPW or will it not make any difference.

[Ben]

I'd have thought O2, for some reason I just feel things will be simpler staying direct with the network rather than adding in a third party to the mix. I've only heard of O2 stores doing the pre-approvals (credit checks) so far.

[chagle]

Alot of people seem to want to buy instore - But aren't there more benefits from buying online. Apart from the extra wait?

I thought with "O2 Online" you got more for your money? Or have things changed. Haven't had an O2 account for a while.... :o

[Ben]

AFAIK the iPhone tariffs are what they are - so I don't think buying online would make any difference? I don't *know* that though.

[chagle]

I'm not too sure either. Still I know what I'm like.. I remember when Leopard was released. I was at the Apple store, 2 hours before launch! In the Q - Well 3rd in the Q!

I want it .. and want it now; So a child I am and I don't care! :D

[MrBriz]

I'm not sure where I'll end up going. Both CPW and the bigger of the o2 stores here in MK have really good staff. The one reason I would lean toward CPW is because there is a chance I will be first in as I know staff there that will pull me out of line and into the store for a "chat" before anyone else gets in :) :)

I think at the end of the day it's the same. If I do go with CPW I will still have to go through o2 for any contract issues, it's just when I come to upgrade I would be able to go to CPW or o2 to see who is doing the best deal on the phone I want when I next upgrade. That plus all (asside from the iphone) phones from CPW are completely unlocked! I brought an LG Viewty from them a while ago and spent a while talking to the staff about how they specifically buy their phones unlocked.... you never know maybe one day the iphone will come unlocked as default from CPW?

[Ben]

Plus if you buy from CPW you get the added benefit of all that marketing crap ;)

[MrBriz]

Plus if you buy from CPW you get the added benefit of all that marketing crap ;)

What marketing crap? I don't get anything from them at the moment. I've never really had a problem with them at all.... am I just one of the lucky few that have slipped under their marketing net?

[Ben]

Hehe, maybe. I used to get quite a bit from when I upgraded a Orange phone in there, but I've not been in for so long that I get left alone now. They cross-sell so many services these days, though, it's hard to imagine most customers of theirs don't receive n invitations to join TalkTalk.

[freddyg]

I registered my interest with 02 a few weeks ago but never heard a thing. I even popped into my local store and they never offered any pre-approved anything!

[Ginz]

I registered my interest with 02 a few weeks ago but never heard a thing. I even popped into my local store and they never offered any pre-approved anything!

Same here but I think something is definitely coming..

[MrBriz]

I've just been into my local CPW strore and asked them about pre-approval, they looked a little confused then I said all I really wanted to do is make sure I pass the o2 credit check so that there was one less thing to do on the day. They said they could do the credit check (apprarantly it's a "standard o2 credit check"), and it took a couple of seconds. Passed! :) I think the reason it didn't take long is because they have all my details on their system.

I also went into one of the o2 stores and asked the same thing, they said that they wern't doning any kind of pre-approval or credit checks?!

Well at least I know I've passed the credit check, the fact that I've passed stays active until Aug. so if for some reason I don't get one next Firday (which is almost impossable) I know that I can walk into CPW and don't have to worry about the credit approval.

Anyways just thought I'd let you guys and gals know :)

Adios.

[Ginz]

Interesting, I'm only looking to get through 02 to keep it all in the famly!

[freddyg]

I got the same respone when I visited my local 02 store-no pre-approval at all avaiable plus they still dont know if their store will open early next Friday!

[Ben]

I read in MOBILE that O2 have stock concerns, which may relate to them putting an end to the practice of pre-approving customers before launch...

MOBILE has it that Apple are supplying less iPhone's this time around due to the general over-supply last time. O2, however, anticipates massive demand for the iPhone 3G, particularly due to the new pricing.