The high price of iPhones in Ireland

DUBLIN, Ireland--Some of the papers are calling it the 1,200 euro phone.

Apple will bring its iPhone to Ireland on March 14, but the price the company will charge for the phone--particularly when the monthly service contract is added in--is raising eyebrows.

The 8GB iPhone sells for 399 euros (including value-added taxes) while the 16GB version goes for 499 euros. Plus, users need to sign up for service from cellular carrier O2 for 45 euros a month for a minimum of 18 months. The 45 euros per month fee, by the way, is the minimum. After 175 minutes of call time and 100 text messages, the price starts to climb.

Thus, the 8GB phone goes for 1,209 euros, while the 16GB version goes for 1,309 euros. The phones also run on slower, older networks than many other phones.

To put the price in newly devalued U.S. dollars, the 8GB equals about $600 while the 16GB version goes for nearly $760. With service fees, the 8GB sells for $1,834. In England, the 16GB iPhone, when only hardware is considered, sells for about $100 less than in Ireland.

While the price may be steep, there does seem to be a lot of interest swirling around. Chris Armstrong, CEO of PortoMedia, a Galway-based company coming out with a movie download services, loves his iPod Touch, which has the same keyboard. The same goes for Ray Nolan, CEO of Hostelworld, a portal for booking rooms in hostels. I saw a few other people with the iPod Touch at the Irish Software Association's annual conference this week.

[amandachuck]

And this is different than other phones how?

Any smart phone with a 2 year contract how? In the USA there are
$400 blackberries with 2 year contracts, total cost for cheapest
plan $40x24 + $10x24 (typical taxes and fees) + $399= $1600.

Big news: COOL PHONES + TWO YEARS OF SERVICE = NOT FREE!!!

[onlyauser]

For one this is a dumb phone...

...to own. It is the ultimate in restrictions and uses old cell technology.

Go ahead and enjoy sub-par for more cash money-bags.

[themick171]

Basic exchange rates

$1600 = ?2500 whats equal about that.

[sapporobaby]

New device???

What is an iTouch????

[MCOjerry]

Actually

I think they meant to say iPod Touch. It's the new iPhone like iPod.
Looks just like an iPhone, but no phone capabilities.

I always wondered if the phone works were in it...LOL

[LoneVVolf]

Why is this news?

Um, welcome to Europe. How do you think it is everywhere else?
You basically just described the exact situation in Germany as well.

[pseudomania]

Thanks Mike

Mike, Thanks for support and input to the ISA conference on Thursday. Fair play to you....Hope to talk to you again soon. Let us know when you're in Ireland anytime and we'll go for a pint.

Shane Dempsey

[SteveFerson]

Already here?

The iPhone is already in Ireland. I've noticed quite a few people have them in Belfast. I think you mean the Republic of Ireland.

[DNoelD]

iPhone - Rip Off Ireland

To all international readers - Let me clarifiy the current status
regarding the recent announcement regarding the launch of the
iPhone in Ireland (Republic of Ireland - as UK and Northern
Ireland have the iPhone for the past 4 months)

I am extremely surprised at the iPhone pricing.
8 GB -£269 Sterling at todays rate = ?352 against ?399 Here -
?47 Difference
16 GB - £329 Sterling at todays rate - ?431 against ?499 Here -
?68 Difference.
(Are they taking the mickey or what???)
Then?.. to add insult to injury:-
No Visual Voice mail!
No Unlimited Data!

Ireland:
?45 - 175 mins, 100 texts, 1GB data
?65 - 350 mins, 150 texts. 1GB data
?100 - 700 mins, 250 texts, 1GB data
15c for each voice mail !!!
NO visual voicemail, NO wifi hotspot access

UK:
£35 (~?47) - 600 mins, 500 texts, unlimited data
£45 (~?60) - 1200 mins, 500 text, unlimited data
£75 (~?100) - 3000 mins, 500 texts, unlimited data
Visual voicemail, access to UK-wide wifi hotspots.

Guys? any way you look at it..WE are getting a raw deal.

BUT .. let me tell you my situation.
Bought a iPhone last November (100 miles up the road in Newry,
Northern Ireland) Updated to current 1.1.4 version (which
includes edge data for O2 Ireland) and Jailbroken, Unlocked and
using my current tariff which includes a nice chunk of Data ?
and I?m sticking with that and waiting until a 3G model comes
out before even dreaming of changing!

Great Phone - Ruined by Bad Pricing Structures.
C?mon Apple - Cop on!!!!

[DNoelD]

Rip off Ireland

and....
Danuta Gray, CEO of O2 Ireland said yesterday...and I quote:-
"I'd say your Apple freaks will be queuing out the door when we
launch," Ms Gray said.
O2 said that Irish people who had imported iPhones and
'hacked' past security would not receive an amnesty.

"We won't accept unlocked phones," Ms Gray said.

Apple !!! For God's sake... Please grab control of this!!
Firstly I doubt whether you like your loyal customers to be referred to as "Freaks"
And ... in my case I am on of the million iPhone users that are
not on an offical carrier.
I am using my iPhone on O2 Ireland but according to Ms Grays
comments I'm not allowed to legalise my iPhone by signing up
for a legal tarrif.

What is going on here???

Great Phone - Ruined by Bad Pricing Structures (and improper
Carriers comments)
C?mon Apple - Cop on!!!!