Word reaches us that O2 UK's exclusive iPhone deal with Apple times out later this year, and competing network Orange is going to step up to the plate, offering the device in the UK market.
Electric Pig claims "credible sources", who let them know the iPhone 3G would be available on Orange, "possibly as soon as October".
Orange already sells (or will sell) the iPhone in France, Austria, Belgium, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, Jordan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Switzerland and Africa.
The move could reflect Apple's slow shift away from exclusive deals with carriers in other countries, though it has been left committed to existing exclusive deals in first-ramp iPhone countries, such as France, Germany, UK and and USA.
We've been curious as to just how long Apple plans to keep with its exclusive carrier deals for the iPhone, and while we have to take this report with a pinch of salt, it makes sense for the company to attempt to harmonise its international deals with operators.
Added to which, the requirement to be locked onto specific networks in order to use an iPhone has become one of the last few key criticisms causing potential iPhone customers to resist purchasing the Apple mobile.
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I heard O2 had a 5 year
I heard O2 had a 5 year exclusivity deal.
Germany
There are rumours in Germany that Vodafone Germany will also sell the iPhone later this year. Vodafone just started iphone specific data plans only for use in hacked iphones. Maybe we get sometimes the total freedom in choosing the carrier you want.
I thought O2 UK had a 5 year exclusive with Apple?
No?
It was never specified.. even
It was never specified.. even the length of the AT&T deal is largely speculation (and possibly where the 5 year idea comes from).
Of course this is ElectricPig - the site that claimed the white iphone would never reach the UK and that the UK was having deliberately restricted supplies because apple was annoyed with them somehow. They make shit up to get hits.
If you ask around you can find salesmen from all the providers who claim to be getting the iphone soon. Doesn't make it true - lying is part of their job description.
I for one will be jumping..
If this is the case then I for one will be jumping from O2 to Orange for an iphone when my contract runs out.
They aloud their iphone1 customers to upgrade early to iphone2 when they were only in their contracts for 6 months.. but when I asked if I could upgrade (been in my 18 month contract for 13 months) they told me to wait 6 months then I can upgrade... been with them 7-8 years and absolutely nothing for it. Bitter... yup im bitter but with reason! ;)
Ace (if true) - had to leave
Ace (if true) - had to leave Orange to get iPhone - reception is pants. Okay could be the iPhone and not O2's fault but the Apple:O2 combo means I have no voice function (ie phone) at work, which is in SW London UK not some backwater. As soon as my 18/12 are up I'm moving back.
Sucks they don't offer the same luxury to their own countrymen
It's a shame they don't offer this option to people in their own country. They probably would have sold twenty times as many iPhones if they had. Hopefully, Android will become more than just vaporware and people will have other options.
Personally, I think in the long run, Apple may have slit their own throat on this one. Sales look decent now but, it's only a matter of time before somebody comes up with something comparable that will be available on ALL U.S. carriers. Apple will have missed an opportunity to have complete dominance in the American handset market because, whatever that comparable phone may be, will make people happy enough to not be interested in trying out an iPhone.