Updated October 24, 2011
Like many countries throughout the world, in the U.K., iPhone users can choose among three competing cell phone companies for their service. While O2 was the official iPhone partner in the U.K. when the iPhone debuted, Orange began offering the iPhone in 2009, and Vodafone joined the group in 2010.
Here is a comparison chart of the iPhone rate plans for individual customers in the U.K. offered by the three companies to help you decide which options is best for you.
The companies offer 18- and 24-month contracts (Vodafone also has a 12-month option). For simplicity's sake, this chart compares the 24-month plans only.
Individual UK iPhone Plans
All figures in British Pounds
O2
| £21.50 | £32 | £37 | £42 | £47 | £63 | |
| Minutes | 100 | 300 | 600 | 900 | 1200 | unlimited |
| Texts | 500 | unlimited | unlimited | unlimited | unlimited | unlimited |
| 50 Picture Messages | £5.11/month | |||||
O2 3G Data Plans
| £3 | £6 | £10 | |
| MB/month | 100 | 500 | 1000 |
| 1GB/month additional data | £10 | ||
Orange
| £25 | £30 | £35 | £35 | £40 | £40 | £45 | £45 | £50 | £75 | |
| Minutes | 75 | 150 | 400 | 600 | 700 | 900 | 1000 | 1200 | 1200 | unlimited |
| Texts | 125 | 250 | unlimited | unlimited | unlimited | unlimited | unlimited | unlimited | unlimited | unlimited |
| 3G Data | 250MB | 500MB | 750MB | 500MB | 750MB | 500MB | 1GB | 750MB | 1GB | 1GB |
| Wi-Fi - 10GB/month | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Photo messages | no | no | 50 | no | 50 | no | 50 | no | 50 | 50 |
| Satellite Navigation app | no | no | yes | no | yes | no | yes | no | yes | yes |
Vodafone
| £26 | £31 | £36 | £40 | £46 | £62 | |
| Minutes | 100 | 300 | 600 | 900 | 1200 | 3000 |
| Texts | 500 | unlimited | unlimited | unlimited | unlimited | unlimited |
| 3G Data | 250MB | 500MB | 500MB | 750MB | 750MB | 1GB |
| Wi-Fi - 2GB/month | yes | |||||
| Tethering | £5 - 500MB, £15 - 3GB | |||||
| 100 MMS/month | £3 | |||||
