International iPhone rumors: Germany, France and the UK
Over the last 48 hours, several overseas publications have weighed in with claims regarding when and with which carrier Apple Inc. plans to launch its well-received iPhone device in European markets.
iPhone in Germany
The rumors began with a report in the Rheinische Post, which stated that Deutsche Telekom's mobile phone unit T-Mobile had clinched a deal to bring the Apple handset to Germany.
Without citing sources, the German daily said in a preview of a story to be published on Wednesday that T-Mobile is expected to sell the iPhone exclusively with a T-Mobile contract for around 450 euros ($612) starting Nov 1.
iPhone in the UK
Hours later, UK-based Times Online ran a story regarding its own region, in which it said O2 has beaten out rivals to win the exclusive UK rights to offer iPhone.
"The tie-up, the mobile phone industry?s most sought-after deal in years, marks a major coup for the 18 million-customer group," the paper said. "The final contract is expected to be signed imminently."
The UK's version of iPhone will reportedly arrive by Christmas, and is expected to prove a key weapon in enabling O2 to win and retain customers in one of Europe?s fiercest mobile markets.
The deal with O2, however, is said to come as a bitter disappointment to Vodafone, which had been tipped as the front-runner for the deal.
"Arun Sarin, Vodafone?s chief executive, had been pushing hard to secure a deal for the iPhone, which has been at the centre of one of the most fiercely contested mobile battles since the £22.5 billion auction of 3G rights," the Times said. "However, as negotiations reached a climax, he is thought to have decided that the commercial terms on offer were not viable."
iPhone in France
A third and final report published by Financial Times Deutschland appears to corroborate reports of a fall iPhone launch in Germany and the UK, adding that the device will also launch in France around the same time.
However, iPhone's European availability will be limited to just these three continues in 2007 and will not include a 3G version, the report adds.
iPhone in Germany
The rumors began with a report in the Rheinische Post, which stated that Deutsche Telekom's mobile phone unit T-Mobile had clinched a deal to bring the Apple handset to Germany.
Without citing sources, the German daily said in a preview of a story to be published on Wednesday that T-Mobile is expected to sell the iPhone exclusively with a T-Mobile contract for around 450 euros ($612) starting Nov 1.
iPhone in the UK
Hours later, UK-based Times Online ran a story regarding its own region, in which it said O2 has beaten out rivals to win the exclusive UK rights to offer iPhone.
"The tie-up, the mobile phone industry?s most sought-after deal in years, marks a major coup for the 18 million-customer group," the paper said. "The final contract is expected to be signed imminently."
The UK's version of iPhone will reportedly arrive by Christmas, and is expected to prove a key weapon in enabling O2 to win and retain customers in one of Europe?s fiercest mobile markets.
The deal with O2, however, is said to come as a bitter disappointment to Vodafone, which had been tipped as the front-runner for the deal.
"Arun Sarin, Vodafone?s chief executive, had been pushing hard to secure a deal for the iPhone, which has been at the centre of one of the most fiercely contested mobile battles since the £22.5 billion auction of 3G rights," the Times said. "However, as negotiations reached a climax, he is thought to have decided that the commercial terms on offer were not viable."
iPhone in France
A third and final report published by Financial Times Deutschland appears to corroborate reports of a fall iPhone launch in Germany and the UK, adding that the device will also launch in France around the same time.
However, iPhone's European availability will be limited to just these three continues in 2007 and will not include a 3G version, the report adds.
Comments
However, iPhone's European availability will be limited to just these three continues in 2007 and will not include a 3G version, the report adds.
[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]
After reading Steve Jobs interviews on the eve of iPhone day in the us.. He cited 3 major reasons that iPhone does not have 3G.
1. Sporadic coverage outside of major metropolitan areas.
2. Current gen 3G chips are too large for iPhones current form factor.
3. Current gen 3G chips are a major battery drain..
It was almost as if he was hinting that iPhone would not have 3G for a while yet.. If what he says are actually the "real reasons," I don't see how European iPhones could have 3G unless it was designed in a larger form factor, which I doubt will happen...
well, O2, at any rate better than Three.
Vodafone would have been the best, but this just means that maybe the iPhone will come at a more favourable rate. And it also means you will see Arsene Wenger speaking to an iPhone from the pitch-sides... :P
What about CANADA!!!!! CANADA!!!! CANADA!!!!
I am amazed Canada wasn't 2nd in line for iPhones.
After reading Steve Jobs interviews on the eve of iPhone day in the us.. He cited 3 major reasons that iPhone does not have 3G.
1. Sporadic coverage outside of major metropolitan areas.
2. Current gen 3G chips are too large for iPhones current form factor.
3. Current gen 3G chips are a major battery drain..
It was almost as if he was hinting that iPhone would not have 3G for a while yet..
But in a live interview with Goatberg - Jobs also said...
Jobs: ...The second reason is more profound: they have spent and are spending a fortune to build these 3G networks, and so far there ain't a lot to do with them. People haven't voted with their pocketbooks to sign up for video on their phones. These phones aren't capable of taking advantage of it. Youv'e used the internet on your phone, it's terrible! You get the baby internet, or the mobile internet -- people want the REAL internet on their phone. We are going to deliver that. We're going to take advantage of some of these investments in bandwidth.
I don't think you can read that without concluding that the iPhone was designed to deliver on the promise of 3G.
If the reports about iPhone sales are even remotely true then all these European carriers that have been sitting on the fence to see how well it sells in the US have just lost a good deal of their bargaining power.
yeah, now that they are sold out everywhere, they may have hit the one million sales mark in less than a week..
But in a live interview with Goatberg - Jobs also said...
Jobs: ...The second reason is more profound: they have spent and are spending a fortune to build these 3G networks, and so far there ain't a lot to do with them. People haven't voted with their pocketbooks to sign up for video on their phones. These phones aren't capable of taking advantage of it. Youv'e used the internet on your phone, it's terrible! You get the baby internet, or the mobile internet -- people want the REAL internet on their phone. We are going to deliver that. We're going to take advantage of some of these investments in bandwidth.
I don't think you can read that without concluding that the iPhone was designed to deliver on the promise of 3G.
Oh I have no doubt that a 3G iPhone is in the works... I just don't think it will be in the first generation version for any country..
I am amazed Canada wasn't 2nd in line for iPhones.
I'm amazed that they never talk about Canada. In January Jobs talk about Europe and China for end 2007 or 2008 but never say a small word about Canada
I'm amazed that they never talk about Canada. In January Jobs talk about Europe and China for end 2007 or 2008 but never say a small word about Canada
The touch screen requires un-gloved hands. That leaves out 90% of the Canadian popular for 10 months out of the year.
http://news.worldofapple.com/archive...with-apple-uk/
How does apple get pass EU laws that say phones MUST BE UNLOCKED?
Find me proof of that, I came across a friends phone that was on Three that was locked.
How does apple get pass EU laws that say phones MUST BE UNLOCKED?
My first guess is that they only sell the iPhone in the countries that don't have the law.
I am amazed Canada wasn't 2nd in line for iPhones.
It's sad to say [I'm a Canadian] but Apple simply doesn't care about Canada right now. We're an after thought, an extremely after, after thought. With a population of 33 million, slightly less than half of which even own a cell phone, we're viewed as a market that's too small.
Someone needs to tell Kasper that there's a separate iPhone forum now.
Heh. Erm ... I should do that.
However, iPhone's European availability will be limited to just these three continues in 2007 and will not include a 3G version, the report adds.
Three continues? Has iPhone been playing too many video games?