UK: Orange reach agreement to sell iPhone

Roar

what knock on effect will this have for the Irish market, if any?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8278073.stm

Orange has reached an agreement to sell Apple's popular iPhone in the UK.

The deal ends an exclusive arrangement between UK network operate O2 and the Californian phone maker, which has been in place since 2007.

Orange said its customers would be able to buy the phone "later this year" but did not specify a date or pricing.

Orange now offers the popular handset - of which more than 25 million have been sold worldwide - in 28 countries and territories

Tom Dunne

I had to laugh at the "Californian Phone maker" bit.

It's not clear if that is the 3GS version, or the 3G version. I wonder if/when Vodafone will get it here.

ADSLUSER

Tom Dunne wrote: »

I had to laugh at the "Californian Phone maker" bit.

It's not clear if that is the 3GS version, or the 3G version. I wonder if/when Vodafone will get it here.

According to Engadget, it includes both the 3G and newer 3Gs versions of the phone.

drunkmonkey

Is it the same as the 02 revenue share deal that's in place? would like to see apple move away from this and let the iphone loose on all networks...cant see vodafone/3/meteor taking it until then....
Very coincidental the iphone beater is excluseive to 02 as well....

wexican

ADSLUSER wrote: »

According to Engadget, it includes both the 3G and newer 3Gs versions of the phone.

Orange say on their website that it's the 3GS model.

I wonder if there is any potential for any of the other Irish carriers to try weasel in on O2's deal here. Be nice to see a bit of competition on prices and contracts.

http://shop.orange.co.uk/shop/

godtabh

drunkmonkey wrote: »

Very coincidental the iphone beater is excluseive to 02 as well....

What's that when its at home?

Tom Dunne

kearnsr wrote: »

What's that when its at home?

We are told it's the Palm Pre.

As if.......

drunkmonkey

i'd be more inclined to think the sony satio could give it a good bashing, but o2 don't have an exclusive on that, praise the lord...

some of the new inq phones coming out will also sink with itunes which should also help to free up itunes users choice of phones.... http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/aug/04/inq-phone-twitter-itunes-doubletwist and these definatley won't be on o2:)

godtabh

Tom Dunne wrote: »

We are told it's the Palm Pre.

As if.......

Its just marketing pr on over load

whiterebel

drunkmonkey wrote: »

Is it the same as the 02 revenue share deal that's in place? would like to see apple move away from this and let the iphone loose on all networks...cant see vodafone/3/meteor taking it until then....
Very coincidental the iphone beater is excluseive to 02 as well....

Didn't the idea of revenue sharing go out the window pretty quickly? With the launch of the 3G if I remember correctly, maybe even before that?

kod12

i have heard from a few sources that it will be on metero and vodafone by crhristmas but dont know how true these are??

dubmick

kod12 wrote: »

i have heard from a few sources that it will be on metero and vodafone by crhristmas but dont know how true these are??

what sources? I've yet to see anything about this in the mainstream media

Dankoozy

The iPhone is like the "Lisbon treaty" of mobile phones. might appear to be good in the short term but we will get screwed in the long run

more phones that are perma-locked to one particular network. great

G-Money

The fact that O2 said this gives me hope it will appear on other networks in Ireland soon. From the article on the BBC News website:

• O2 said that it always knew that its exclusive deal was for "a limited period of time".

Bluefoam

Unless it comes to meteor I won't be getting it

Deep Thought

Was in Paris last week and was nearly certain that I saw Orange selling the iPhone

Creamy Goodness

that's because as far as i know, Orange FR are the official carrier of the iPhone in France.

Apple will never allow the iPhone to be on all networks, they want a cut of profits, and they also need to ensure that the carrier can handle the extra load in data etc. as not to royally piss off their loyal fanbase.

All contract between apple and iPhone carriers are separate so don't assume just because O2 UK have lost the iPhone doesn't mean O2 IE will. they are separate entities.

Dankoozy

i don't know what kind of a schmool would buy a locked phone in this day and age anyway. who cares what network it 'comes to'. just buy the damned thing unlocked and use on bill pay lite. or 3, or something but not ohtue

Fingleberries

Creamy Goodness wrote: »

All contract between apple and iPhone carriers are separate so don't assume just because O2 UK have lost the iPhone doesn't mean O2 IE will. they are separate entities.

Just to clarify, I don't believe O2 UK have lost the iPhone, just their exclusivity of having the handset.