While reports claim Apple's agreeing a deal with Carphone Warehouse for Mac sales in the UK, the company has seen setback in Ireland, where O2 Ireland has chosen to end sale of iPods and Macs at its Experience chain of stores.
Irish newspaper the Sunday Business Post makes the claims, citing an O2 source who said, ‘‘O2 has decided just to go after customers that it can retain relationships with. The problem with iPods and computers is that there isn’t an ongoing revenue stream in the same way as there is with a mobile phone customer."
This is a bad thing for Apple as it limits the company's high street presence in Ireland. O2 has been selling Apple equipment in its flagship O2 Experience Stores since 2004, the report informs.
These moves do make it more likely Apple will open up its own chain of retail stores in Ireland, but information on such plans remains scarce. Apple has so far only opened one store in Northern Ireland in Belfast.
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what ever!
what ever, I want my MBP now!
We will always have the Apple Store
We haven't lost anything with O2. I prefer having the 2nd year warranty with Apple than with them.
FYI the Belfast store is in
FYI the Belfast store is in Britain where o2UK operate not o2IRL.
there is hardly any apple presence in the ROI aside from there European HQ in Cork,
their iPhone deal with CPW & o2 retail stores is about it
I sell mac computers & our shop is commonly referred to in town as the iPod shop but we are not an authorized reseller simply because apples criteria are far too stringent for a small town business. & I would love to be able to sell the iPhone along with hundreds of other o2 resellers around the republic but apple for some strange reason won't allow it.
Where is Dublin's Apple Store
O2 sucked when it came to Apple products. They would take anything up to 2 months to get the latest products in!! and that's just not good enough. I know Apple have a deal with PC world in Ireland (and possibly in the UK as well) where they are official retailers, BUT they have a section in store that is EXACTLY like the Apple Stores in the US (the light wooden benches, they Genius Bar and all that jazz... But that's just not good enough Apple. They take FREAKIN Ages to get new products in as well!!!
Come on apple, where is Dublin's own Apple store??? It's really needed at this point!
At this point, I don't really
At this point, I don't really care about that, though an Apple Store in Dublin would really be great... but o2 should go ahead and get some iPhones first... they have been out of stock since mid-september... o.O
I have been waiting for an
I have been waiting for an Apple store in Dublin for at least 2 year, since I left Apple HQ in Cork.
and what about a pre pay iphone in O2? about time...
Experience stores are a
Experience stores are a particular kind of o2 concept store designed to enhance the buying and owning experience of an o2 mobile/ tariff.
So if they're only removing the apple product from the experience stores that accounts for about 3% of the country.