iPhone® Buyers Guide
Can I keep my number? Yes. You can transfer your mobile number to your iPhone, whether it's on O2, Orange or Vodafone. The transfer takes 48 hours during which time you should transfer your contacts and other data stored on the SIM before they're lost.
3G data usage explained
Many features of your iPhone work over the Internet, the bandwidth you use is restricted and subject to fair usage policies as per your contract. Visual voicemail, email, maps, and the majority of iPhone programs all rely on Internet data. How much time will you spend online? If the answer is a little or none, then it’s not a major consideration: 500MB per month is not very much. During an average browsing session your iPhone could use over 10MB on YouTube in no time at all.
The new iPhone 4 contracts just published have increased the amount of Internet data to 1GB per month on Three and Vodafone, 750MB per month on Orange and 500MB per month on O2.
Wi-Fi
Providing you have access to a wireless point then your iPhone will switch to using Wi-Fi, with unlimited data usage.
Bt Openzone is offered as an additional Wi-Fi service, although to get a signal you need to go to the nearest BT Openzone Hotspot. As you can see the disadvantage is you can’t find a hotspot without using your iPhone’s 3G in most cases.
Are picture messages free to send on iPhones? No, MMS are not included in the Unlimited Texts. The cost is 36p per MMS message. All providers differentiate between MMS and SMS text messages in contracts.
Voicemail and Visual voicemail? Visual Voicemail is exclusively available on iPhone mobile phones, but not all networks support it. O2 and Orange do support visual voicemail. The data usage comes off your contract Internet data allowance.
What do I get with my Orange iPhone Pay Go handset? Orange iPhones come with incremental £10 top ups, giving increasing amounts of free texts, Internet and minutes, however this cost more than buying one on Contract. Mobile Internet Wi-Fi/3G is data capped to 250MB per month. Data usage over the quota is charged at £2 per day for up to 25.5MB and £4 per MB over 25.5MB.
What do I get with my O2 iPhone on pay go? O2 iPhones come with 12 months Wi-Fi and 500MB 3G data (excluding Visual Voice mail), when you top up £10 per month.
Can I transfer my iTunes MP3s on to my iPhone? Yes. Use iTunes to synchronise your music. A number of free tools are available which allow further processes.
Which provider offers the best signal in my area? Check coverage.
Buy direct from Service Provider or an all-network Shop? Service Providers offer loyalty schemes which are still applicable whether you buy direct or from an All-Network Mobile shop. Service Provider Vs Retailer.
What's so good about an iPhone? iPhone owners' testimony and iPhone review.