Only existing O2 customers to get iPhone 4 in the first month

Mobile operator, O2 confirms that the new apple iPhone 4 will be sold only to its existing customers in the first month of launch due to extreme shortage in supplies.

The UK internet service provider has further clarified in a statement that only those customers who have subscribed to its home broadband, mobile broadband or mobile service before 24 May can get their hands on the smartphone which is set to launch on 24 June, in the first few days of launch.

New customers will need to wait at least a month to get the new device from O2.

“We want to make sure that our existing customers get priority so until at least the end of July, only existing O2 customers will be able to get an iPhone 4 from us. Whether you’re an existing O2 mobile customer looking to upgrade, or one of our broadband customers looking to move your mobile to O2, our iPhone stock is reserved exclusively for you. ” O2 said.

Initially, iPhone 4 is to be retailed through O2 shops, Best Buy, Carphone Warehouse, Phones4U and Apple stores. However, it is expected that the ISP would launch the online sales of the device only after a month.

O2 already offers iPhone 3GS handsets bundled with its mobile broadband with prices starting from £89 on a 18 month contract.

O2 plans to sell the new 16GB iPhone 4 for £209 with a monthly subscription of £30 on a 18 month contract, while the same device would cost £279 with a monthly subscription of £25 on a 24 month contract.

Recently, the operator has recently announced that it would end ‘unlimited’ mobile broadband contracts for smartphone users from 1st October. However, as a promotion, new customers will get unlimited data until this date and will need to buy ‘bolt ons’ when their usage exceeds the monthly download limit of 750MB.

Orange and Vodafone will also provide mobile internet service for iPhone users while Virgin mobile is yet to announce their deals for the new device.