Orange, O2 deny UK iPhone claim

Jonny Evans
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July 29, 2008
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Orange and O2 are have moved into damage control, denying claims that both will offer the iPhone in the UK from the end of the year, a report claims.

These denials follow reports which emerged last week, reports which suggested Orange would join O2 in selling the device in the UK market by the end of the year.

It was then claimed that the exclusive deal between Apple and O2 was due to expire this year, leaving Apple open to working with other carriers in the region. These reports were unfounded, it seems, with O2 once again stressing it holds a multi-year agreement with Apple for iPhone distribution in the UK. The iPhone has been available in the UK for under a year.

Public reaction to the reports suggested that should Apple want to tweak iPhone sales higher at any point, there is a demand for an Apple mobile to be sold free of any network restriction, a preference many in the value-conscious consumer market for mobile phones in Europe prefer.

 

Comments (4)

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | July 30, 2008 - 1:22am

Sounds like this isn't going to happen - I can't think of any reason for BOTH companies to deny the rumours. O2 are going to want as many as possible to take up the G3/ extended contract offer, which these rumours could impact, so denial is good for them, but is a shame for UK iPhone users. And I really didn't want to jailbreak.

ffistometer (not verified) | July 30, 2008 - 1:30am

Looks like I'll have to leave Orange after 14 years as a customer to go to O2 then!

Held off buying an iPhone for the reason that I wanted to see what Orange would offer to get the business of O2 when their 'exclusivity' deal expired.

Ah well, change is as change does. Come on Orange UK, buck your ideas up!

Limeybloke (not verified) | July 30, 2008 - 2:40am

Orange have until they release a 32GB version to keep me or after 15 years I will leave for O2, already 3 months out of contract but I'm not signing another to get stuck with any other phone, my crappy old N73 will keep me going till then.

When I've had those 'wanna upgrade?' calls that's what I tell them.

Orange have been a bit crap for the last few years though so it's not too bad.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | July 31, 2008 - 11:31am

"Come on Orange UK, buck your ideas up!"

i have to say, in fairness to orange, it's not really their fault there is an exclusivity deal in place, is it???