Review: Carphone Warehouse Silicon Case for iPhone 3G
Having finally managed to track down a 16Gb model, I was looking for a case for my new iPhone. I wanted something similar to my original iPhone case, which was made by XtremeMac. This case has fared fairly well in my hands, but had been destroyed by those of a toddler. Anyway, it wouldn’t work with the new iPhone because it covers the optical sensor.
Requirements were:
- Soft case, not hard plastic
- No need to remove the case or open a flap to dock
- Slim and form-fitting – the iPhone is brick-like enough already
- Relatively inexpensive – in case of needing replacement thanks to toddler attack
- Available in-store for instant purchase – any waiting could result in scratches
Replacement cost of a lost iPhone
When I upgraded to my new iPhone last week I was warned by the O2 sales rep about not taking out any insurance. “If you lose your phone, that’s it. You can’t buy a new one, at least not until the PAYG version is released at Christmas”. It turns out of course, you can.
CPW’s iPhone FAQ states:
If you don’t have Lifeline insurance, you’ll need to get a replacement phone and SIM card:
To replace your SIM, contact O2.
If you want to buy a replacement iPhone contact our Direct sales team on 0800 049 0049, option 2. (You must have a Crime or Lost Reference number to buy a replacement SIM free handset. The 16GB model costs £410, the 8Gb model £352).
So if you’re with CPW, then you can at least get a (costly) replacement. No news yet on whether O2 will permit this as well. It’s also an indicator of the minimum amount that PAYG iPhone are likely to be when they finally launch.
No online ordering with O2 anytime soon
O2 have updated their iPhone availability page, and it now states:
2.3. We are expecting further stock this week.
2.4. For the forseeable future the only place to purchase iPhone 3G will be in an O2 Retail, Carphone Warehouse or Apple store if you are new to iPhone. Existing iPhone customers looking to take advantage of the special, early upgrade can do so in any O2 or Carphone Warehouse store up until 11th October, 2008.
Previously, O2 had said:
2.3 We are expecting considerably more stock from Friday 25th July onwards.
2.4 Soon after this date we are hoping to open our online upgrade shop for existing customers and online shop for new customers
Obviously, demand is still far outstripping supply, and O2 have not received considerably more stock. Either Apple is not able or not willing to supply the UK with enough phones to satisfy demand. The last update to the iPhone availability tracker indicates that there seem to be plenty of iPhones available in the US, so I would imagine they have stuffed their home channel first, and left the international carriers on a slow drip until manufacturing can catch up.
So no online ordering for the foreseeable future. If you’re still after an iPhone 3G, then your best bet is to phone your local Apple, O2 or CPW to check availbility, then get in the queue.
Only on O2 – but for how long?
Over the weekend, El Reg alerted me to a blog post at Omio which reckons Orange will be the next iPhone provider in the UK. The original iPhone was only launched in four countries – the US (AT&T), UK (O2), France (Orange) and Germany (T-Mobile) – and none of those carriers have so far lost the exclusive deal to sell iPhones in their markets.
How long are these exclusive deals?
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O2 promises more iPhones on Friday
But how many will they get?
If – like me – you’ve been unable to get your hands on a 3G iPhone yet, then the O2 iPhone availability page has been refreshed a fair bit lately. Recently, O2 have updated the page to state that “We are expecting considerably more stock from Friday 25th July onwards.” They also say that “Soon after this date we are hoping to open our online upgrade shop for existing customers and online shop for new customers.”.
Fingers crossed they will have a lot more coming in. But how many are Apple going to ship over? Chris Barnes has whipped up an iPhone availability tracker for the USA, based on Apple’s own data feed. What does this tell us? There are a lot of stores without iPhones. And which market do you think Apple will resupply first? Yep, home sweet home.
Up early again on Friday, then…
Bungie + iPhones = ?
This little tidbit came to me along the grapevine. I have it on very good authority that Bungie is handing out free iPhones to all its employees. Why would the company behind Halo be giving them away to their staff?
I’ll bet there are all sorts of excellent freebies to be had working for Bungie. However, I’m sure that this move is more than just generosity on the part of the company, and that they are going to develop titles for the iPhone.
iPhone OS 2.0 Cheers and Jeers
The new firmware is a very welcome upgrade for existing iPhone owners, but what have I found good and bad so far?
iPhone 3G vs Touch Diamond – The Smartphones Show reckons it’s not even close…
Over in Smartphones Show 63, embedded below, I look at all the reasons why the theoretically outgunned Apple iPhone 3G manages to completely trounce the also-new HTC Touch Diamond. It’s not all about the interface, you know, but when one of said interfaces is a horrible kludge then picking a winning device really isn’t that hard.
You may want to fast forward over the first review of a budget S60 phone, although do note its amazing specs and price point – it’s not going for the same market as the iPhone, but it sets interesting precedents.
Carnival of the Mobilists 132 is out
I’m a bit late on this one, but there are some great reads as ever. One article of interest to iPhoneistas should be Igor Faletski’s post about the 3G lifestyle. He writes about how his new iPhone is essentially a digital multimedia portal, and that in hours of usage, he hadn’t made a single telephone call.
The level of non-telephone use will come as no surprise to people toting other HSDPA-tastic devices. But, what really comes through in his writing is the seamless nature of the connectivity, coupled with ease of use of the device.
Also, Krisse at All About Symbian has the Post of the Week with “Have you seen what budget phones can do now?“. For all the hype with the iPhone 3G, some budget handsets outstrip it in pure hardware terms, and the software features are often very impressive. Apple will need to keep up the pace of iPhone development, lest it be overwhelmed by a tidal wave of feature rich “budget” smartphones.
The Carnival is up at Mippin Blog
Mellow yellow? iPhone 3G screen issue considered
Whilst some iPhone 3G owners have barely noticed the warmer hues of the new screen, others it would seem are becoming quite upset. In this video I take a quick look at the difference in colour temperature between both devices. What do you think? Is this something that Apple should ‘fix‘, or do you see this as an improvement on last year’s model?
