iPhone UK launch: everything you need to know

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This Friday is I-Day here in the UK, as the iPhone finally goes on sale here in Blighty. We’re a few months behind the US, but anticipation is still running high for launch day. With that in mind, here’s a beginner’s guide to the UK iPhone launch…

Where and when can I get one?
The iPhone goes on sale this Friday at 6.02pm (O2, see) in Apple, O2 and Carphone Warehouse stores on the high street, which is more than 1,300 shops. However, you’ll also be able to buy one from the comfort of your desktop, since all three will be selling the iPhone online too. Apple will be holding free workshops and training sessions on Saturday at its stores, while O2 says it’s hired hundreds of iPhone experts to lurk in-store and help buyers out.

Opinion: Mobile phone deals aren't call for cash

Jon_smal.gifThey’ve always said you don’t get anything for free in this life, but flick towards the back of any of the tabloid newspapers in this country and you’d have to question that view.

FREE Xbox 360, FREE iPod, FREE laptop, FREE Wii, FREE PSP, FREE HDTV, FREE money – and all you have to do is sign up for a FREE mobile phone. In fact, some of the deals even give you a FREE handset with your FREE handset. Please, tell me, where do I sign…

LG Viewty: UK operators confirmed (including O2, despite iPhone)

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O2 might have signed an exclusive deal to sell Apple’s iPhone in the UK, but the operator appears to be hedging its bets by also signing up to sell LG’s Viewty – one of the iPhone’s fiercest rivals.

However, O2 won’t be the only UK operator selling the Viewty – they all will. That’s what I found out during a visit to LG’s Seoul demo centre today, anyway. Besides giving a hands-on demo of the Viewty, LG said that it’ll be sold through Vodafone, O2, Orange, T-Mobile and 3 in Europe, and showed a model that was branded as O2.

iPhone UK launch: Everything you need to know about Apple's plans

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So, Steve Jobs jetted over to London for this morning’s iPhone UK launch, announcing that the handset goes on sale on 9th November exclusively on O2, costing £269 if you sign up to an 18-month contract. We’ve been covering the launch in-depth, as you’d expect.

For the basic details of the UK iPhone, read our news story. If you want to see how things panned out at the launch, check Susi’s liveblog. Meanwhile, Alex has been doing the sums to work out exactly how much a UK iPhone will cost you in the long run.