“The big mobile phone operators, including O2, are battling for the exclusive rights to Apple’s new iPhone in the UK. Telefónica, O2’s Spanish owner, is understood to have held preliminary talks with Steve Jobs, Apple’s chief executive, about a potential tie-up in Britain and Europe,” Elizabeth Judge reports for The Times.
“Apple, which launched the iPhone on Tuesday, is expected to offer the revolutionary touchscreen mobile phone exclusively to one network operator when it launches in the UK at the end of the year,” Judge reports. “O2, Vodafone, Orange and T-Mobile are all contenders for the contract.”
“Apple is understood to be seeking exclusive contracts with mobile operators in order to secure greater control over the product and customer service offering,” Judge reports. “Mobile phone companies might also be prepared to pay a higher price for the rights to have their brand exclusively aligned with the iPhone, which is expected to become a bestseller for Apple.”
Judge reports, “The share prices of rival mobile phone manufacturers slipped yesterday, amid concern that the iPhone launch could damage their sales seriously.”
Full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “British Mac Head” for the heads up.]
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RealMoney: Apple just blew up the whole damn mobile-phone supply chain with its new iPhone – January 11, 2007
eWeek: Apple iPhone fallout: ‘They must be crying in Nokia-ville and other telephony towns today’ – January 10, 2007
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The massive FUD campaign against Apple’s iPhone ramps up – January 10, 2007
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Despite the huge amounts of FUD – it’s obvious from this that the whole phone industry is scared of the iPhone. This is going to be great fun to watch……
I think O2 will get it in Ireland because many of their stores here are also Apple stores.
Apple’s got to time to decide; besides my 1-yr contracts with Vodaphone (in UK) doesn’t run out till Nov. Perfect timing?
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Quick, somebody notify Noryway’s Ombudsman, something else to sue Apple for.
Count T-Mobile out.. they are giving free broadband in the US for MS Vista launch..
Make that wi-fi at hotspots…not broadband!
Wow–it sure takes the news a while to make it across the “pond.” This article is dated Jan.11! MDN, are you not keeping up on your British news?
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Jake.
It’s one that slipped the net. I found it this morning!!!
BMH
Its great to see the phone networks grovel ;>)
Discount Orange from the list – they have very close ties with Microsoft and Windows Mobile OS. Orange is also owned by France Telecom and knowing how much France hates Apple they havent got a chance.
So Orange will be cut from the list when SJ finds this out.
Vodaphone are not an option as they are primarily a corporate carrier, and add to the fact that the 1st generation iPhone is not 3G compatible.
So Vodaphone is out.
T-Mobile have shit UK coverage wheras 02 has biggest UK market share.
Personally I think it will be 02.
Heres hoping for t-mobile that way they can link it with the t-mobile hotspots to give you wireless access at any area that has a hotspot
…lifetime service for free!!
Well, I think this is rubbish.
many people travel a lot in Europe, even live in various places. I have used 2 different SIM cards for the last 6 years, working and living in the UK and in Austria / Germany.
shame that Apple are not opting for the unlocked phone.
Zune Tung, no funny post today? However, pretty accurate in your summary of the four main UK MNOs in regard to iPhone IMO.
Although you forgot to mention the fifth network “3” who are obviously ruled out because their network is 3G only. Unless Apple have a 3G version of iPhone available by year end, for use outside USA.
I hope O2 too, because Orange and T-Mobile don’t work in my house, and I wouldn’t have to change operator and go through the malarky of number portability.
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In UK, I believe it’s law that after one year, the provider must provide for unlocking the phone for free, to be used with any other network. There will be a lot of those iPhones on ebay.
Noooo…. You needed <strike>Cingular</strike> AT&T for the launch…now we could use competition elsewhere!!!
That is…unless you can strike a really sweet deal for the consumers of your 45-50%-margin iPhone.
Maybe that’s the [magic word]: answer.
Had an ‘upgrade call’ from Orange today.
Told ’em I was waiting for the iP — whoever gets the UK contract gets my business.
[sic] – that sounds good. unlocked phones are the way to go! choose your phone, choose your network. whatever works best for you!
I hope the iPhone in the UK will be with Virgin Mobile & I hope it will be pay-as-you-go, but i doubt that will happen straight away.
I think that people are missing the point that Apple doesn’t have to offer the iPhone to one network in the UK and Europe, since the different networks are more compatible with eachother than they are in the US. Apple made the decision to make their phone as internationally compatible as possible by using GSM Quad band, so they *had* to go with Cingular in the US. But as I understand it all the networks in the UK will be able to work with the Iphone. They might team up with a single network to sell the phone in their retail stores, but I would expect to be able to get iPhone with Vodafone, T-Mobile, O2 or whoever else I want.
Apple should give the contract to Orange purely of the basis of the existence of the phrase “apples and oranges”. Plus the fact that I’m with Orange.
I hope Vodafone win it if they want it. Problem is that I have atouch screen phone and somtimes its annoying. Sometimes buttons is best. Not many people like my touch screen in praticality. Vodafone offer fab service and covergare that is 2nd to none. They could stiill be buying something that dosent take off. There aint no such thing as a sure thing!
not true Zune Tang, Orange (ex-France Telecom) made recently a special operation offering a MacBook with internet connection + the company is fully equipedwith mac for its own equipment + they have offered in the past several combined offers (Mac + a France telecom service) + Orange CEO recently has been invited at steve Jobs house to try iphone + they are in the market on a lot of european countries + apple and orange both are fruitname
And Orange – when it was owned by Hutchison Telecom – was very keen on Apple back in the days of the Newton.