Carriers Are Getting Rid of iPhone 3G

It seems that more and more carriers have started working on clearing their iPhone 3G inventories. While AT&T has been the first in line, with offering the handset with no-contract requirements, though only for its existing users, we learn now that more operators follow the line, with O2 in the UK, which has announced that it lowers the price for the iPhone, and Fido, which is reported to plan clearing its iPhone stock next month with no plans to order another shipment.

We've already reported that AT&T intends to launch a new offer that is aimed at its existing customers, allowing them to buy a new iPhone at no-contract prices and without requiring them to activate the device. Even if the handsets are not sold unlocked, it is still great news for some, as they would be able to purchase the 8GB iPhone for $599, while the 16GB variant would cost them $699.

Another mobile phone carrier to offer the iPhone at special prices is O2 UK, which has informed that, starting April 3rd, it will be selling the 8GB version of the device for free upon the signing of a two-year contract and choosing a data plan of at least £34.26 per month. At the same time, the 16GB iPhone 3G will go for free as well, only that the minimum data plan to opt for is of £44.05 per month, again with a two-year contract.

As for Fido, the third operator to plan getting rid of its iPhones, it seems that the company will try to eliminate the 16GB variant of the device from its warehouses, although the 8GB one might stick around for a while. Although there are no details at the moment, it seems that the prices for the iPhone will be lowered here too, so you might consider getting one now if previously available offerings haven’t been suitable enough for you.

For what it's worth, it comes as a surprise in a way to see the carriers trying to get rid of the iPhone all of a sudden, especially after Apple has recently announced the iPhone OS 3.0, which is meant to deliver no less than 100 improvements over the previous version to its users. On the other hand, the explanation for this might be a simple one, driven by the fact that Apple has been reported to plan launching a new version of the iPhone on the market.

This would suggest that carriers are preparing themselves for the landing of the new iPhone, maybe the iPhone Nano, and getting rid of the old stuff makes a lot of sense. At the same time, perhaps that other high-end mobile phones are expected to hit the market in the near future, and carriers are considering the possibility that some of them might see more traction than the iPhone, so clearing the warehouse is the move that should be made. Undoubtedly, we'll soon be able to learn what's heading towards us, so stay tuned to learn more details as they surface.