iPhone’s UK carriage strategy is rapidly becoming a free-for-all. After Vodafone and Orange grabbed deals for the handset, now supermarket giant Tesco emails us to say…
“Tesco Mobile, through its joint venture partnership with O2, is pleased to announce that it will shortly introduce iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS in Tesco Phone Shops and online through Tesco Direct in the UK.”
Like all the other big carriers, Tesco has set up a pre-registration website – but it doesn’t yet work (works now).
Tesco Mobile is an mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) running on the network of O2, which, until now, had been Apple’s exclusive UK iPhone carrier.
But it’s a low-end network, focused on PAYG minutes-and-text bundles. Whilst it now has monthly tariffs, there’s no mention yet of data bundles.
Orange and Vodafone (NYSE: VOD) have so far steered clear of an iPhone price war with O2, but Tesco is well used to buying bulk goods and knocking down prices to get people through the door.