Metropol

Sput wrote:I assume you took it with a pinch of salt, it being a man working in a phone shop for the competition and whatnot. Doubt it in the short term, personally.

I take anything a salesman tells me with a pinch of salt, but there's nothing in it for them by telling me this. We had a fairly frank exchange about why I'm not really interested in any other handset, and the chap agreed. He wants one too and is waiting for the announcement. I'm already registered with O2 but would stick with orange if they get it.

This conversation went across the shop floor and included other members of staff. If they're playing me for some elusive reason then they're masters of acting - which strikes me as unlikely.

I believe they believe what they were saying - but I guess we'll find out soon enough.

Oh I hope they are too, it'll definitely cause a bit of competition and maybe make the price more reasonable. I also just realised that if Apple stores sell the PAYG version I might be able to score £30 off by being a no-good student.

Gavin Scott wrote:Anyone else heard this?

Gavin, my understanding is that Apple is abandoning its exclusive distribution model. I'm fairly certain all new launch markets for the iPhone will include multiple operators rather than just the one. It would not surprise me in the least if Apple were to reverse its position in existing markets as well. Given the massive interest in the iPhone now, not to mention the widespread hacking issues that have made the current locks near worthless, I don't think there's much value for Apple in tying the new product to any one operator.

Mr Q wrote:

Gavin Scott wrote:Anyone else heard this?

Gavin, my understanding is that Apple is abandoning its exclusive distribution model. I'm fairly certain all new launch markets for the iPhone will include multiple operators rather than just the one. It would not surprise me in the least if Apple were to reverse its position in existing markets as well. Given the massive interest in the iPhone now, not to mention the widespread hacking issues that have made the current locks near worthless, I don't think there's much value for Apple in tying the new product to any one operator.

Sounds promising.

I'm not sure why they did exclusive deals in the first place. Commissions for every new account opened? Passing the launch advertising costs to the exclusive carrier? It all reeks of money grubbing to be honest.

Just as well they're good at designing pretty phones.

They're pretty good at making money too! I think they were trying to play off the operators against each other to secure the maximum cut of the monthly contract payments.

iPhone on Orange? It looks like the Orange logo, and the prices are in sterling...

Yeah, but that's the original iPhone, and I doubt that's an Orange Store.

Just updated my iPod touch today, against the usual scaremongering that it will brick it again, something with itunes just dosent make me feel very comfortable that it needed .25 gb for ''bug fixes''. Anywho i ploughed on and thankfully I didnt need another €7.99 to update (thanks apple, always a rip off), and all i can see it that switching my homepage is slightly faster and apps crash a bit less, well they shouldnt be doing that in the first place! Mails quite good, Safari and keyboard still achingly slow, annoyingly space doesn't work 24-7 but all in all pointless update.

Got the Playstation 3 to do tomorrow, more reports of disc trouble when you update, is anyone seriously getting miffed with constant updates, patches etc, i mean today, the PS3, Xbox, iPod, GTA4 and Assasins Creed all needed updates!!! What was wrong when people had to put the work in first and not then release updates all the flecking time! Aargh!

Another week, another iPod update, wheres the ''OMG THE ''insert iphoney thing here'' IS SO MUCH FASTER'' guy when you need him?

Absent, we got the "OMG WHY ALL TEH UPDATES??!!1!" guy though.

Yeah, the thing deleted all my music again, thanks apple