Here's some good news for people in Switzerland, Spain, Poland who are awaiting iPhones. According to Fortune, all three countries may sell them soon.Earlier this week, Le Matin Online reported (linked page is in French) that Swisscom will be the official iPhone carrier for Switzerland. Coincidentally, Apple is rumored to be opening an Apple Store in Zürich in July of this year (we first heard rumors of a Zürich store in 2006).
Likewise, France Telecom stated their intention to extend coverage to "...more than just two countries" via their CFO Gervais Pellissier. As the largest European countries that still lack a carrier, Poland and Spain are obviously attractive to France Telecom.
In related news, French iPhone customers can expect no immediate changes, as France Telecom intends to remain the country's exclusive carrier for the next two years.
To all the TUAW readers in Switzerland, Spain and Poland ... we've got our fingers crossed for you! Let us know if you hear anything from your local news outlets.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-08-2008 @ 8:25PM
Erik said...
Funny I read "Le matin" today all excited (since I have a hacked iphone here in switzerland), but the article is just one big rumor, nothing new. The author talks of "a source close to swisscom" and the fact that a 3G version is coming but that's about it. Swisscom has not released any information and is denying any finalized contract with apple.
I did hear from my own sources :) that swisscom is trying to get their brand on the iphone, which of course is a big no no for apple.
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5-08-2008 @ 8:27PM
tukan said...
I don't expect iPhone in Poland anytime soon (at least not officially), however it would be nice to have it - I wonder who'll offer it, cause there are three major players on the market and they are all linked to global carriers, which already sells iPhones abroad (Plus-Vodafone, Era-TMobile and Orange-FranceTelecom). Orange has certainly been promoting its wireless internet capabilities recently so what better than an iPhone to compliment it :P
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5-08-2008 @ 9:48PM
HansWurst said...
There are already more than 40 thousend iPhones activated in Switzerland and this i quite a huge number when you compare it with the size of the country.
See: http://www.espace.ch/artikel_516803.html
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5-08-2008 @ 10:40PM
Ryan Jensen said...
So how many countries is that now with the iPhone? And we still can't get it in Fargo? Thanks for nothing AT&T.
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5-08-2008 @ 11:27PM
Mark said...
No offense to any Polish people, but there's just something wrong in Denmark... er, Canada, if Poland is getting the iPhone before Canada is.
There's actually something wrong with Canada and Rogers specifically that all these other countries are getting it first. It comes down to greed, and monopolies, and Rogers' complete idiocy when it comes to offering a reasonably priced connectivity plan.
Yeah, I know that it's coming 'sometime later this year', but the current word is, get ready to spend $150 or more a month if you want it officially. Just insane on the data plan.
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5-09-2008 @ 3:02AM
Wojtek said...
STFU, Mark. Poland is a market of over 35 million GSM users.
The local Polish sources, however, suggest that the iPhone ill be launched anytime betweeen June (Plus GSM, Vodaphone's affiliate) and October (T-Mobile's Era GSM network). No word from Orange yet.
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5-09-2008 @ 3:27AM
Josh said...
what's up with people who refuse to realise vodafone is written with F ?
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5-09-2008 @ 3:50AM
Marc Rinderknecht said...
The iPhone is already in Switzerland: There are about 40'000 phones (illegally) in use
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5-09-2008 @ 6:20AM
Guillermo said...
The iPhone in Spain has been rumored to be launched with Telefonica's Movistar since day one (O2 in the UK is owned by Telefonica as well). I think Movistar and Orange (France Telecom) both will have the iPhone (Vodafone has said nothing about Spain)
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5-09-2008 @ 3:06PM
Andrew said...
I thought it would go to Telefonica moviStar in Spain as well since Telefonica owns O2 in the UK and they already have an existing partnership with Apple.
However when I was in Spain a few weeks ago while roaming my iPhone would default to the Vodafone network for roaming over Orange and MoviStar - Dont know if that has anything to do with it, maybe just a preference by ATT for international customers to roam on Vodafones network?
5-09-2008 @ 7:42AM
Armin said...
The Apple Store in Zurich is reality.
In 2006 Apple announced the address, but the current shop (Benetton) didn't wanna leave, they had a valid contract. Now Benetton's contract wasn't renewed by owner and Apple will open its shop in July.
Also is Swisscom already set as carrier in Switzerland, but at the moment it isn't sure if it will be the only one. Apple wants a second carrier, but Swisscom would like to be an exclusive partner. So that's the problem right now.
And yes, there won't be any release in Switzerland before Apple ships iPhone 3G - so everybody, expect it end of June, beginning of July.
That's it, all I know and believe me I have very good sources...
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5-10-2008 @ 9:35AM
Shunnabunich said...
Does the blue part of their logo remind anyone else of Tiger's Aqua wallpaper, or is it just me?
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