Filed under: iPhone
Apple signs up 3 European carriers for the iPhone
I know our friends in Europe have been anxiously been awaiting news on when the iPhone (did you know Apple made a cellular phone? It is true!) will arrive on their shores. The Financial Times is reporting that Apple has reached a deal with three different providers:- T-Mobile of Germany
- O2 in the UK
- Orange of France
An official announcement is expected to come from Apple and these carriers in August.
Thanks to everyone who sent this in.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Jose said 5:59PM on 8-21-2007
Looks like they're pairing up with the ex-national companies.. O2 used to be British Telecom although it belongs to Spanish Telefonica now, Orange (France Telecom) in France and T-mobile (Deutsche Telekom) in Germany.
Makes me wonder what it will be in Spain. PRobably Movistar (Telefonica). So it's almost official, I won't have an iPhone. I refuse to change operator just for a phone. Too bad. (I have Vodafone by the way)
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Stephen Craggs said 6:01PM on 8-21-2007
I guess that means it won't be 3G then - reports were saying that Vodafone were desperate for 3G
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WBt said 6:16PM on 8-21-2007
What about Canada?
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James said 6:42PM on 8-21-2007
That's because here in Britain there is no such thing as unlimited text messaging, it's charged per message or a certain limit of around 200 for example. Therefore Apple will make BILLIONS.. I was hoping Apple would revolutionalize the mobile phone by bringing Unlimited Messaging, but doesn't look like it. So there's little hope of the unlimited data plan as well..
To sum things up my bill was nearly double the cost of that chick who had the 300 page AT&T bill, and I sent NOWHERE near the 30,000 text messages she did. Looks like Apple won't be getting my custom this time around, I'm happy with my N95 for now.
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Sam said 6:42PM on 8-21-2007
It's very dubious that all three pan-European companies are listed as having it for their original base countries only (T-Mobile is based in Germany owned by Deutsch Telecom, Orange is owned by the French, and O2 is British).
Maybe someone got some wires a little bit crossed?
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Owen said 9:19PM on 8-21-2007
"What about Canada?"
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jgjay said 6:54PM on 8-21-2007
@James - Orange, for one, do unlimited texts on their Dolphin £30 & £35 contracts, and both Three and T-Mobile offer unlimited internet (data) packages.
Lets face it, the iPhone is crippled without unlimited data, and Apple know this. There's no way they'd let O2 have it if they weren't willing to offer basic features (Visual Voicemail, Unlimited Data, etc)
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nfoo said 6:55PM on 8-21-2007
Well ... obviously a well respected and reliable source.
But it seems odd that Apple didn't take a carrier like Vodafone, which is very present all over Europe and instead took one for each country.
I happen to know a regional manager for E-Plus in Germany and for Vodafone Germany. And just on last Saturday the Vodafone Manager told me I should wait and see ...Vodafone would not give up so easy and there might be a suprise ...
So I'll only believe this when it's officialy announced.
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Matt J said 7:01PM on 8-21-2007
This seems dubious to me also, as all three carriers operate in all three countries.
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Mo said 8:03PM on 8-21-2007
I'll believe this when I see the official announcement.
I mean O2. Seriously? It's one surefire way to ensure that everybody uses the iPhone over WiFi, at any rate.
Mind you, they said that about AT&T too.
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effzehn said 8:04PM on 8-21-2007
@Matt:
Orange does not operate in any way in the German mobile market. And afaik T-Mobile does not operate in France.
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Reg Muffet said 8:18PM on 8-21-2007
> "Makes one wonder what kind of deal Apple has with AT&T here in the States."
Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Muster believed Apple was getting $11.00 per month from AT&T for new subscribers.
http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2007/07/analyst-says-at.html
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bibi-pov said 8:25PM on 8-21-2007
@effzehn I concur, T-Mobile doesn't operate in France.
Also, let me rant a bit by saying that to me it's no surprise that Apple chose Orange. They've the best coverage, the most subscribers, and unlike the French version of Vodaphone (SFR), they're a bit less greedy bastards. I can't imagine seeing SFR offer unlimited data, they'd rather charge you for every byte which would ruin the iPhone experience.
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Nic said 8:51PM on 8-21-2007
I think this is a positive development, in the UK at least o2 has by far the most slick and attractive brick and mortar stores, and the most apple-esque branding, the iPhone will fit right in.
It is going to be interesting to see how the iPhone is worked into the mobile phone industry over here - as far as I know it's extremely unusual to have to pay a lump sum for a phone and then additionally be tied into a contract, rather it's usually a choice of paying for the phone outright and then doing 'pay as you go' or signing up for 12 or 18 month contracts and getting a free phone, or one for a token sum.
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niclet said 8:43PM on 8-21-2007
Snif, snif!! What about Canada :´(
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John from Buffalo said 9:32PM on 8-21-2007
What about T-mobile cross-border offer? Like will a German T-mobile work on US T-mobile? Shit, I'll buy 3 if so.
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Jonathan Tyler said 9:39PM on 8-21-2007
Again I say, what about Canada?
I'd rather not buy a silly Moto Q or Blackberry when the iPhone is next door. And now overseas.
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Jimmy said 1:10AM on 8-22-2007
WHAT ABOUT CANADA!!!!!!!!
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WTi said 10:43PM on 8-21-2007
Well, is it so hard to figure out? Why haven't they say something about a deal in Canada!?
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Alan Francis said 4:56AM on 8-22-2007
Oh Dear. O2 sucks so bad, I went running back to Orange with my tail between my legs after an ill-advised carrier switch a couple of years ago. I demanded a particular phone for free or I'd leave, Orange called my bluff, I jumped to O2. Worst mistake I ever made. I ran back to Orange as soon as my year was up. I'd rather stick with a teeny little camera-less, monochrome phone that barely texts if it means I can stay with Orange.
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