iPhone 3G - No Support, still got 12 months to go

[damoandclaire]

Hi there, Just wondering if theres anything I can do about this (probably not but you dont get if you dont ask). Here is the scenario, Joined Orange this time last year and got iphone 3G for myself and my partner on 24 mth contract. Everything has been running fine up until last month (12 months in). Various problems in the browser (Safari) with a few other issues, also having problems with the signal. I did a bit of research around the issues I was experiencing and found out that the latest iphone software (version iOS 4.3) would rectify the issues I'm having. Attempted to complete this upgrade only for itunes to tell me that i was already up to date on ios 4.2.1. Thinking that this is strange, i dug a little deaper and found out that Apple have withdrawn IOS support from my model and that the last update available was ios 4.2.1. Somewhat discruntled by this I contacted orange who said that this particular issue is nothing to do with them and that I should approach Apple as they withdrew the support. I have spoken to representatives there and they state that it is up to my Provider to sort my issues out. Going back to them, they state that as the most recent update sorts my issues out it would ultimately be apple that has to deal with and so on and so forth......never ending circle. Obviously my problem is the fact that I can get no support for my phone at present. I've tried all the basic stuff but ultimately, the latest software will fix my phone (apparently). Where do I stand with this? Providers and manufacturers alike are just passing me from pillar to post blaming each other. When i initially took this phone out there were no reports of support being withdrawn in the future and now I am lumbered with two pretty much useless iphones for the next 12 months as no one (manufacturer or provider) wants to take responsibility. Is there anything I can do, anyone I can contact about this? I don't mind staying with Orange but I am some what annoyed that no one is taking responsibility for this as it clearly isnt my fault that a company has withdrawn support.

[rebel11]

Hi da

 

Welcome to CAG

 

The guys will advise as soon as they are available.

 

You've got the OFT guide on SOGA in my signature number (10).

[locutus]

The phone and the "contract" are 2 diferent entities, although you are still covered by SOGA. I feel you would have a hard time making any claim of the goods not being "fit for purpose" and it is up to apple if they want to add further support for hardware... it is not malfunctioning, it is just not performing as well as it should. It would be a very hard battle to get any "higher authority" to accept that Orange have done something wrong (and after all it is Orange that need to deal with Apple as it is them that you have a contract with).

 

You could complaint to [email protected] but I think it will fall on deaf ears.

[postggj]

i (believe) from unconfirmed good authority that there is nothing wrong with the phones

 

when orange get whatever phone from the manufacturer, they deleate the soft/firm ware on the phone and put there own version on

[Richard1973]

This is indeed true orange t mobile vodafone etc all install their own firmware which in turn can sometimes cause operating problems this is not always a problem with the phone but indeed there firmware!

[Lee Vodafone Company Rep]

Hi all,

 

Just thought I'd pop on here to clarify that although with the firmware on some phones is customised by the network this isn't the case with any variant of the iPhone.

 

For more information in regard to our policy over firmware see here.

 

Thanks,

 

Lee

 

Web Relations Team

 

Vodafone UK

[Human Writes]

I agree with Lee, Apple not Orange are to blame in this case, if they know the phone has issues which can be resolved by a software update yet refuse to release that update to you via iTunes then they are to blame. Orange fix the problme if Apple refuse to release the software to all customers with your particular model of phone. The networks don't control the release of software in he case of the iPhone Apple do.

[Lee Vodafone Company Rep]

Hi Human Writes and all,

 

Although I can appreciate the sentiment here, I would like to clarify that I wasn't apportioning blame to any party rather than clearing up the firmware discussion that has begun following the OP's initial post.

 

Hopefully the OP will be able to return to the thread with an update soon.

 

Thanks,

 

Lee

 

Web Relations Team

 

Vodafone UK