iPhone not doing so hot in UK | Hacker News Reader

iPhone not doing so hot in UK

theregister.co.uk

11 pointsmattmaroon5 comments

This doesn't surprise me. I'm in a different part of Europe that's getting the iPhone in a few days, and I won't be rushing out to buy it. Sure, it looks like a nice piece of kit, but if I'm going to upgrade from my RAZR...

1. 3G please. Since the iPhone is expensive I expect it to be able to act as a decent modem for my MacBook Pro when I'm on the road. EDGE has a theoretical top speed of 200Kbps, but is more like 90Kbps in practice. Whereas I can go out and get a 3G+ (up to 36Mbps) modem for my computer for 9 EUR plus a contract.

2. Poor camera at price point. The Nokia N95 is similarly priced but has a much better camera (5 megapixel with a Zeiss lens and a flash).

3. While we're on the topic of the similarly priced N95 it also has GPS and is 3G+ and EDGE so satisfies point #1. And it has WiFi. The N95 probably loses on the screen and the "Apple experience" of very well integrated applications. Also, it's kind of ugly.

4. Non-interchangeable battery. This is a big deal for anyone like me who travels a lot.

So the iPhone looks expensive, nicely packaged, but not compelling. I'll wait for v2.

John.

Any theories about why it did so much better in the US? Do US buyers have lower standards? Are they richer? Do they like the Apple brand more? Or is there something broken about the iPhone they launched in the UK?

Pretty much summed up on the second page of the link, the market is much more competitive here: people are used to 3G, cheap contracts and discounted handsets, and there are established competing devices. Basically, the US mobile market is quite backwards compared to Europe, so the iphone looks more attractive there. Also, there are probably more, and more fanatical Apple fans in the US.

i think it has to do with alot of things

the iPhones data plan is pretty competitive in the US

People don't usually buy non-contract phones here so it isn't as much of a deterrent to have to get one.

also what i think is the mom factor. My mother who has never ever shown interest in getting a smart phone of any sort can't wait for her iPhone because she can check her email and surf the web while she's away from her desk. It's not that this technology hasn't existed, she just never knew it did. I don't think that "mom factor" is as prevalent in the UK because it seems like people use their phones differently there because of all the non-contract competition. She has a palm but doesn't really completely understand how to use it all, She see's the iPhone as something she'll actually use as opposed to the palm that her office got her that collects dust.

its a great bit of kit but too expensive, especially as they'll be better versions in 6 months

I'll keep my Sony Ericsson

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