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3 iPhone 4 tariff deals ‘to undercut rivals’

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Posted 18th June 2010 at 3:12pm by Jonathan Leggett

iphone 4 dual

Newbie Apple smartphone carrier is set to unveil the best-value iPhone 4 plans on the market, reports suggest.

Compare iPhone 4 deals at Top10: iPhone 4 Deals

According to unnamed sources at 3 cited by Unbeatable, the network is deliberately delaying unveiling its tariffs to assess what its rivals are offering. In the meantime, the network's parent company Hutchinson Whampoa is negotiating directly with Apple to be able to offer the best tariffs available.

Once all its competitors’ tariffs are out in the open, 3 will make its move and cause a splash with a host of low-cost tariffs, it is claimed.

The report states: “Thanks to some rather forthcoming Three UK employees, it turns out the mobile operator are in talks directly with Apple to ensure that they offer the cheapest tariffs on the UK market

“3 are patiently waiting for all the other mobile operators to announce their iPhone 4 prices, once they are all out in the open, 3 intend to aggressively price their plans and undercut everyone.”

Credence is lent to the rumours by 3’s status in the UK market as a low-cost specialist. The highest-priced smartphone tariff the network currently offers is £30 per month.

Also adding a tang of veracity to the speculation is that 3 delayed its iPad microSIM deals until its competitors had shown their hands. It subsequently came to market with a £15 per month deal that is significantly below its nearest rival.

There is a also possibility that 3 could look to distinguish its contracts by bundling them with free access to music streaming service Spotify, as it did with the HTC Hero Android smartphone. Alternatively, it could offer unlimited data plans.

With Orange, Vodafone and O2 all confirming their tariffs this week, the sole remaining network aside from 3 yet to unveil its offering is T-Mobile. However, T-Mobile’s affiliation with Orange suggests that its prices will differ little from its partner network.

Compare iPhone 4 deals at Top10: iPhone 4 Deals

More news on: New mobile phones, Upcoming mobile phones, 3, Apple, Touchscreen phones, iPhone, Smart mobile phones, iPhone 4

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7 Comments

  • @top10, 18th June 2010, via Twitter.

    iPhone 4: can 3 really undercut the UK's larger networks' prices? Check out the latest rumours here: http://bit.ly/a0uXxS #iphone4 #apple

  • Techtotaller, 18th June 2010.

    If they do manage to come out as the cheapest there won't be much in it. Pennies, TBH. What makes anyone think that a junior network will any sort of bargaining power with Apple?

    Reply

  • Anonymous, 18th June 2010.

    Woohoo - go three! Three is the best provider for cheap deals!!

    Reply

  • Ben, 19th June 2010.

    I don't know why people have such a condescending attitude about 3. Their 3G coverage is the best of all UK mobile networks and their call coverage is pretty decent. I think their PR lets them down: they never make any points in their adverts.

    Reply

  • Dave, 19th June 2010.

    @Techtotaller Do some research on Hutchinson Whampoa, chap.

    Reply

  • Argonaut56d, 19th June 2010.

    Because the parent company of 3 in all countries is Hutchinson Telecommunications Intl who are majority owned by Hutchinson Whampoa which is a very large worldwide company!

    And 3 are in Australia, Austria, Croatia, Denmark, Hong Kong and Macau, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, as well as the UK, some quite big markets there!

    So maybe, they may have a good deal!

    Reply

  • Kishan, 20th June 2010.

    Techtotaller you are wrong. Just go and look at some of 3's iPad data plans compared with others.

    Reply

  • Andrea, 21st June 2010.

    I get the latest gizmos and love 3, but I left as I wanted the iphone. I'm so pleased they have thought about it and took the best phone on :)

    Reply

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