O2 hikes high-end phone prices

July 31, 2008

Nokia N95, Sony Ericsson C902 and Samsung Tocco available for 'free' on GBP 75 per month deals, instead of standard GBP 35 priceplans

O2 has dramatically hiked the price of high-end handsets.

The likes of Nokia's N95, Sony Ericsson's C902 and Samsung's Tocco handsets are now only available for 'free' on £75 contracts.

Previously, they were available on £35 per month deals.

The move is the first by a UK network operator to slash handset subsidies. But, so far, the handsets remain on lower value monthly contracts via other networks.

The 8GB Nokia N95 is available on £35 deals from Vodafone and £50 contracts from T-Mobile. The Sony Ericsson C902 is free on £30 priceplans from Orange and Vodafone.

Carphone Warehouse offers it for free on O2 and T-Mobile contracts of £25 per month and over, and T-Mobile stores offer it free on £35 per month deals.

It is available from 3 on £22 per month tariffs.