UK iPhone too expensive, suffering network problems
As predicted, the launch of Apple’s iPhone in the UK hasn’t been as smooth as its US counterpart. Although preliminary research indicates awareness of the slick handset is high – with three-quarters of British customers stating that they were aware of the iPhone and more than a quarter expressing some degree of desire for it – a mere two-percent have put it on their Christmas shopping list with price the single most dissuading factor. Analyst Richard Jameson, of research firm GfK NOP, blamed existing cellphone culture and the curse of the network subsidy as the primary stumbling blocks:
“We must take into account that the UK mobile market’s success has been down to subsidised handsets, so the iPhone’s price really stands out. Consumers are not used to paying in excess of £200 for a phone” Richard Jameson, GfK NOP
Meanwhile, those who actually have justified the purchase are in some cases discovering that the most holy thing about the Jesus-phone is the coverage.
