You think £45/month + unlimited data for iPhone is too much?

Then read how it works in Poland. Today two Polish mobile networks started selling iPhone. But the terms customers get are so silly you may start thinking is it real.

In UK customers may upgrade their existing contract to £35/month + £99 deposit, sign new contract or upgrade existing contract to 18 month for £45/month and leave the store without paying anything. So it is pretty straightforward. In Poland it is much MORE (I mean MUCH MMOORREE) expensive. There are two mobile netwoks: Era and Orange (second one operates also in France and UK). With Era customers must sign at least 2 years contract for 120PLN (about £30) what gives 70PLN for mobile connections and 50PLN for data transfer. That is exactly 2999PLN (£700) in two years for 8GB iPhone. For 16GB it is 3279PLN. The most expensive option with Era it is 330PLN (£80/month) for mobile connections and 50PLN for data transfer. That is 3 years contract and iPhone costs in total 8281PLN (almost £2000)!

With Orange it is little bit cheaper. Basic contract is 125PLN (around £35) + 60PLN /month for data transfer. Though I’m not quite sure for how long… But total cost is estimated to 3849PLN (£820) for how long the contract lasts! Higher option is 200PLN (£50) what gives 6001PLN in contract time (£1200).

That’s not all. We all heard anytime customers get unlimited data package for free when they buy an iPhone, right? That is the condition Apple negotiated with mobile operators all over the world. Well… that doesn’t work in Poland. Cheapest contact with Era comes with 500MB monthly transfer and 1GB with Orange. Highest option customers may get is 2GB with Era and 5GB with Orange.
According to operators’ web sites the highest price for an iPhone+highest data package in Poland is more than 12000PLN (more than £3000!!!) for 3 years contract with Era. That is rip-off!