Irish taken as fools as O2 Ireland iPhone package comes with attached “Paddy tax”

Posted by Pat Phelan
On March 3, 2008
Filed under General, Telecoms
Tags Apple iPhone

59 Comments

Irish taken as fools as O2 Ireland iPhone package comes with attached “Paddy tax”

This press release was sent to Global networks today. RTE the national Irish channel have covered it already.

Press-release

Irish taken as fools as O2 Ireland iPhone package comes with attached “Paddy tax”

Irish company Cubic Telecom today blasted the prices that people will have to pay for the iPhone when it’s introduced in Ireland on March 14th. Cubic Telecom CEO Pat Phelan, speaking on the packages said:
“There is no excuse for paying such high prices and getting so little in return. The minutes, the text bundles and the data package are completely inappropriate for Irish people and the massive difference in what Irish and UK and Northern people get for the same price suggests that they’ll throw any old scraps at the stupid Paddys. ”

Phelan is calling for a boycott of the phone until o2 rethinks their charges. “It’s time for us Irish to tell O2 we’re not going to accept this. We have Apple’s European HQ here in Ireland, the iPhone itself is fantastic but there’s no way we should buy this phone until O2 cops on and looks after their very loyal customers here. We should get the equivalent package they’re getting in the UK and Northern Ireland

The difference in what those in the UK and Northern Ireland get and those in Ireland get is staggering:

Phelan’s company Cubic Telecom is also releasing a guide on how to buy iphone’s in the UK or America and unlock them so they’ll work on any network and not just O2 and Phelan says that if O2 won’t budge on their pricing then he’ll organise a bus to bring people to Northern Ireland to buy their phones in the North and unlock them to work on any Irish Network.

Cubic Telecom is a Cork based telecoms company which was started to give people better and fairer pricing as they roam around the globe.
Their flagship product is MaxRoam, a sim card that allows users to pay considerably less for making and receiving calls as they travel around the world.
Pat Phelan
President: Cubic Telecom ltd
+353872049121
+353214250658

Update
Fergus Ryan informs me that the Australian package is as follows
Same price for phone but for 39 euro/mo - 3GB data / 1000 Minutes / free T-Mobile Wifi and for 55 euro/mo - 3GB data / 4000 Minutes / 1000 SMS / free T-Mobile Wifi (4000 Minutes split across different types of calls (in network, out of network etc…)).

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59 comments...What do you think?

Posted by Jonathan Jensen 3rd March, 2008 at 7:05 pm
Nice one Pat. Good expose & nice PR for Cubic.
Posted by David Jackson 3rd March, 2008 at 7:06 pm
I’m with ya. whats going on? Its time for people power here, they are taking the piss. Gadget fans, hold your fire until O2 feel the pinch and reduce the prices. All signs are pointing to a new 3G based iPhone 2.0 by June anyway so it may be worth waiting.

Why no visual voicemail, i hear this is one of the best features on the phone, why is Ireland excluded?

Don’t buy the iPhone in Ireland, get your in the US and buy a prepaid Meteor/Vodaphone/Three sim - if we all do this O2 might cop on to the robbery.
Posted by Conor O'Neill 3rd March, 2008 at 7:12 pm
Unless people vote with their feet, the entrenched behaviour of the mobile operators will never change. Let’s hope the campaign strikes a note.
Posted by David Jackson 3rd March, 2008 at 7:17 pm
Hey, lets set up a petition to O2 and Apple, any good sites for this?
Posted by Pat Phelan 3rd March, 2008 at 7:25 pm
@davidjackson
leave comments here and I will set them up on a wicki
Posted by Shane Mc Allister 3rd March, 2008 at 8:48 pm
Love the bus idea Pat, but surely you can’t buy ‘em in the North from O2 without the signed 18 month contract? Better still, an iPhone cruise to the UK to buy them without contract in any of the Apple stores there? You’d get great media coverage of that one - “My big fat geek cruise” perhaps?

Hopefully March 14th will be a damp squib for O2 and they’ll learn from it. Not holding my breath though…
Posted by Tony D 3rd March, 2008 at 9:11 pm
Keep it up now Pat , its time they listened .
Ps , our friend Joe can bring IPhones from the east .
Posted by Damien B 3rd March, 2008 at 9:52 pm
congrats on the great coverage on this Pat. O2’s rates on this has been a disgrace, even compared to O2’s other plans.

@shane I’m using an ihone from an O2 store in Derry on Vodafone, as do about half a dozen of my mates. It’s not always straight forward, but they can be got.
Posted by Alan Murphy 3rd March, 2008 at 10:17 pm
Fair play to ya, them f**kers in O2 are completly takin the piss of us! Lookin forward to seein how to unlock the iPhone, heading to the states in the summer so ill wait to pick one up then! Hopefully O2 wake up and get a bottle of cop-on!
Posted by Ciaran Lee 4th March, 2008 at 12:14 am
Hi Pat,

Nice to see you kicking up a fuss about this.

I have a US iPhone, and had intended to get the legit device when it came out here, but can’t justify it with the current tariffs.

As some other readers have pointed out, the next generation iPhone is reported to be coming along in the second half of the year. I’m going to wait until then, then get one cheap from the US, crack it, and put in the SIM from my USB modem (which is pay as you go SIM for voice and SMS). This means I’ll be paying 20 Euro per month for 10 Gigs of data, plus pay-as-you-go usage.

Best of luck on the radio in the morning!
Posted by jim fallon 4th March, 2008 at 9:50 am
Great effort Pat, you spoke well on morning Ireland. How O2 can justify the rates with “that while the price plans here varied to those on offer in the UK, they were comparable to those in other EU countries where the iPhone has been launched.” I don’t know.

They seem to say It’s ok to rip off certain countries because THEY CAN.
I am a 30 something professional “gagdet geek”, the kind of consumer they are looking for, I won’t be signing up at those rates.
Posted by liam morrison 4th March, 2008 at 10:43 am
Well done Pat. O2’s arrogance on this is beyond belief.
Posted by Luke 4th March, 2008 at 11:09 am
excellent, some more pressure on o2 to get their price in-line with the uk. i also took a look at the france and german iphone, not too cheap there either. but at least they have free wifi hotspot use which o2 just don’t have, also visual voicemail and “unlimited” data use.
Posted by John 4th March, 2008 at 11:29 am
Fair play Pat, also O2 are doing no favours with those kind of comments, I’m sure they realise many people are already using the iphone on their network and others, this is typical of the Irish Networks, trying to fob us off with terrible packages and telling us we are lucky to have them!
Posted by Stewart Curry 4th March, 2008 at 12:37 pm
I was considering giving up being shafted by Vodafone and getting an iPhone to get shfted by o2 but it turns out Vodafone love me so muich as a customer that they couldn’t possibly let me out of my contract for less than 270 euros. Well, they did let me buy an N95 off them for a few quid less than full price so I suppose I should just shut up and be grateful.
Posted by Pauric O'Donnell 4th March, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Fair play to you - just heard you on Highland Radio. O2 are a disgrace and you summed it up with the term “Paddy Tax”.

Not only are the tarrifs the most expensive ever for an iPhone, its the most expensive handset to buy, it’s the first not to have all the features (no visual voicemails) and it’s the first ever to have capped downloads! All with no reason other than thinking we’re stupid!

I really hope nobody buys it on the launch, I love the iPhone but this is a disgrace!
Posted by Matt 4th March, 2008 at 2:07 pm
When is the guide for unlocking the phones going to be released.
Posted by Denis Murphy 4th March, 2008 at 8:37 pm
fairplay!!!!! O2 are just trying to make a fast buck.. what was Apple thinking no visual voicemail come on!!! , O2 Irl are acting like Cowboys… i’m sick of O2 Irl and Vodafone Irl, i getting mine in america… no thanks O2
Posted by uvox 4th March, 2008 at 8:49 pm
Well said Pat. Unfortunately, there’ll be plenty of suckers who will lap this rip-off up - just to show they can. Yet another example of Celtic Vugaris. O2 know exactly what they’re dealing with here. Still, I won’t be buying one from that shower of shysters.
Posted by Noel Davidson 4th March, 2008 at 10:04 pm
I have to agree with the sentiments expressed here.
I am extremely surprised at the Phone 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.

AND……. as well as calling the famous Apple faithful “freaks” Ms Danuta Gray, CEO O2 Ireland has said that no hacked/imported iPhones will be allowed to become legitimate and sign up for the iPhone Tarrifs.- This is just Plain wrong!!!
I wonder what Apple makes of all this!

BUT .. let me tell you my situation.
(I’m sure Pat’s guide will show the uninitiated just how easy this is…)
Bought a iPhone last November in O2 Store, Newry, Updated to current 1.1.4 version (which includes edge data for O2 Ireland) and Jailbroken, Unlocked and using my current tariff from O2 Ireland 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!!!!
Posted by D 5th March, 2008 at 6:59 am
I saw the press release they’ve issued in repsonse to you calling them out.

The fcukin bollix’s.

Pat, you need to keep calling them out on this before the iPhone goes on release..

Don’t give up.

Go national again and make a fool out of them.
Posted by vinny 5th March, 2008 at 11:57 am
I had held off until the official announcement to buy a ‘proper’ iPhone with O2, but I just can’t justify paying that much per month.

I’ve just bought an unlocked iPhone and will be using it on Meteor, who IMO have the best rates. I will also upgrade my plan to include data, which is much cheaper on Meteor than on O2.

I’d love to go the official route, but O2/Apple have really messed this one up.
Posted by Sinéad 5th March, 2008 at 11:59 am
I think a great way to fight back against O2 would be to persuade Meteor to support the iPhone on their network - i.e their customer service would help people connect via edge. Also, Meteor could easily do a deal where you can have access to those Eircom wifi hotspots if you buy an Edge Data Bundle from them.

Why is it that O2 have given UK customers access to 7000 wifi hotspots but not 1 to Irish customers?
Posted by Fergus RYAN 5th March, 2008 at 2:46 pm
There’s only another week to organise a boycott. Try to get on as many programmes as you can, and call for a very high profile boycott campaign.
Posted by jan blanchard 5th March, 2008 at 4:06 pm
I love it, pure genius. let’s organise a NOO2 DAY where Irish people boycott completely O2. If all the blogosphere relays the message + at creative camp + at opencoffees + at home etc… that could drag attention - we could ask our UK friends to do the same just to support us
Posted by Kenneth 8th March, 2008 at 5:38 pm
I’ve sent o2 two emails stating all my greviences with the new iphone tariffs, namely the data limit and visual voicemail. Obviously their ceo is a complete twat and should appologise immediately. In my company I’m the go to person if someone wants to know about cool new technology like stereo bluetooth and the likes. You can guess what my response will be when asked about the iphone and o2 - brilliant gadget but wait for two things, 1. New 3g iphone with a2dp built in and 2. For o2 to give unlimited data.
o2 have made a grave error with their data etc and I hope live to regret it.
Posted by John Bosco 10th March, 2008 at 8:15 pm
Also sent emails to O2,no reply…No money for O2 from me,will wait until the updated iPhone is out during the summer and then see what the choices are,
Cheers Pat and Co,above ,for all your info,keep up with the good work.
Posted by Pol Mac Conleitreach 11th March, 2008 at 5:53 pm
I was thinking of moving over to O2,i wont be bothering now.Greedy company trying to rip us off and insult our intelligence.
Posted by FERGUS RYAN 14th March, 2008 at 9:10 am
Have you seen the Austrian tariffs?!! Same price for phone but for 39 euro/mo - 3GB data / 1000 Minutes / free T-Mobile Wifi and for 55 euro/mo - 3GB data / 4000 Minutes / 1000 SMS / free T-Mobile Wifi (4000 Minutes split across different types of calls (in network, out of network etc…)). o2 Ireland are cold, cynical and motivated by outrageous greed. Don’t buy this phone.

(Pat the latest feedback should be at the top)
Posted by vinny 14th March, 2008 at 11:13 am
Following on from my previous comment, I have been using my iPhone with Meteor pre-pay for a week now and have had no problems what so ever. I had to ring Meteor customer care initially to enable Internet Access (not WAP) on my SIM, but after that I just entered the Meteor ISP settings (found on boards.ie) and presto iPhone on Meteor pre-pay!
Posted by John Bosco 14th March, 2008 at 6:57 pm
Just goes to show,companies don’t care about the customer in Ireland..O2 will never get a cent from me and I hope that the CEO gets shown the door,GREEDY BASTARDS.
Posted by John Bosco 14th March, 2008 at 6:58 pm
Just goes to show,companies don’t care about the customer in Ireland..O2 will never get a cent from me and I hope that the CEO gets shown the door,GREEDY GITS
.
Posted by Kenneth 15th March, 2008 at 12:25 am
Danuta Grey, what makes you think you know your market, you don”. You obviously have no idea of what has gone on in the last 9 months. The iphone has been available in other markets and as such all the early adopters have already got the phone if they wanted the technology first. Therefore the cool factor is reduced and those who want it early have got it regardless. With that in mind what would make the iphone be purchased from o2 now…. let me think…..the decent voice, texts, visual voicemail and unlimited data you idiot!! (to Danuta). Anyone who has not got one already was obviously waiting for the package and they where assuming at the very least visual voicemail and unlimited data.

The iphone is great but a product alone does not make greatness. You need to have the right service to back up the product to make it feel special.

Danuta you have made a very large mistake, a sign of a wise leader is to know when it happens, admit it, appologise for it and then FIX IT.

THIS IS THE FIX.
One price, €45 for 300mins, 150 txts, Unlimited data.
Get visual voicemail.
After that just offer add-ons for €10 additional package for more mins and txts.

And that’s how you do it.
Posted by Dylan H 15th March, 2008 at 11:52 pm
o2 Have relesed the iphone without changing or rethinking the tarrifs its absoulutly unacceptable and i think o2 should be brought to court for this rip-off its not fair that they treat ireland like sh*t!
Posted by chris 16th March, 2008 at 9:42 am
I was moving over to 02 not now
I also believe that Apple’ have got to take some responsibility for this also. After all this company have put a lot of work in to this phone and then allow potential new customer and product to be abused in this way
Posted by Pedro 16th March, 2008 at 10:54 am
exactly… I got my iphone in the US around October, and I was thinking of going legit now on O2. I have a contract that came a my BBerry 150min, unlimited data. Like this I’m keeping it as it is. No Visual VM, no unlimited data, no going legit.
Posted by Kenneth 20th March, 2008 at 10:28 pm
Hi there, after 3 emails I finally got a single reply.

This came from o2. When I asked about the greedy data rate from o2.

Dear Mr. Smyth

Thank you for your feedback regarding our recent announcement of O2’s launch of the iPhone in Ireland on March 14th.

With regard to the 1GB data allowance, studies have shown that the majority of Customers around the world who use the iPhone use on average 250MB of data. As such 1GB should be absolutely sufficient for the majority of customers planning to use the new device. We will of course continue to closely monitor this in the coming months.

Once again, thank you for taking the time to provide your feedback regarding the iPhone.
Posted by D 22nd March, 2008 at 12:03 am
Well 02,

If “studies have shown that the majority of Customers around the world who use the iPhone use on average 250MB of data”, why then have you given the UK an uncapped allowance?

Idiots.
Posted by Neil 22nd March, 2008 at 6:50 pm
Hi, I was just about to purchase an iphone until I stumbled across your post, while I am with O2 I will stick with my Nokia N95 and double minutes package 500mins for 50 euro rather than be screwed just to have the latest phone, hopefully another carrier takes up the mantle and gives us some much needed competition what ever happened to free trade why have O2 got the monopoly ? Keep up the pressure Pat..
Posted by Kenneth 24th March, 2008 at 10:16 pm
The reason they are capping it at 1gb is actually very simple. The edge networks are available in the urban centers but only gprs in other areas. Since o2 do not have the wifi cloud available over here all users who are not in or move about outside of the urban centers would have to use gprs.

Using gprs on a very data driven product could possibly hold up their standard phone network if data was unlimited so o2 have no other choice but to limit data until the 3g iphone comes along.

The question that should be asked is why bother to sell the edge version in europe as that is the greed factor - selling a device that is not suited to the market and using its brilliant ease of use and looks to sell it not the device and its suitability.

I like everyone else on this site wants an iphone but truth be known we really need to wait for the below to ensure you are getting the device of the future and full conectivity.

1. 3G iphone
2. Full bluetooth implementation with a2dp stereo bluetooth.
3. Visual voicemail
4. Good minutes and txts
5. Unlimited data.
Posted by Wawa 2nd April, 2008 at 2:59 pm
That’s it Pat!!
No one should buy the iphone in Ireland
It is completely horrendous what they are charging!!!!

Thanks!
Posted by Mark 5th April, 2008 at 1:56 pm
interesting stats relating to this.. european cariiers are overstocked in contrast with usa.. sales in germany to clear the way for 3g iphone.. will the edge phone be defucnt in that case? why is there this thing that you pay throught he nose to be one of the beta testers of a device so to speak.. in this case suckers!

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/08/04/04/piper_german_iphone_cut_clearing_inventory_ahead_of_3g_launch.html
Posted by Calbhac 7th May, 2008 at 10:06 pm
I was planning to get round to writing to Danuta Grey but this site says it all. I am one of those Mac ‘freaks’ she mentioned and a natural customer for the iPhone. But not at that price. I’ll wait until o2 sees sense. The original UK deal was about as bad, but o2 quickly improved it there. It obviously takes the Irish for mugs.

Does o2 get to see these comments? If so, we can hope the message will sink in. I’d love to see their early sales results. I’ll bet they are below expectations