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SearchO2 get first bite of the Apple in the UK
It looks as though Apple have sealed deals with the major European networks, providing each of the major players with exclusive rights to sell what has become the Buzz Lightyear of the mobile phone world - the iPhone.
Orange get to release the iPhone in France, T-Mobile in Germany, and here in the UK the first people to get their hands on one will be greeted with the familiar O2 logo when they turn it on for the first time.
The first generation iPhones will not feature Bluetooth stereo and will not be 3G, as they will be aimed at casual users for whom BlackBerry-esque instant email access is not a priority. A 3G version is expected to be released in the near future, much as different sizes and specifications of the iPod (Nano, Shuffle, etc) were released.
However, as there have been no official noises yet from either Apple or any of the networks, its unsure if O2 - who have paid upwards of £4 billion for iPhone rights - will get first dibs on future versions. An iPhone with VoIP would be a real coup for any network, in particular Orange and O2, who also sell broadband services.
Everyone concerned is staying silent on the issue - Apple and the respective networks will formally announce the deal the IFA international consumer electronics exhibition in Berlin next week. We’ll post updates on this as and when they come in.
