Reports reach us that O2’s exclusive contract to handle the iPhone in the UK will come to an end just before Christmas, with Orange allowed to sell the Apple handset on its network from October.
According to the mobile fans at Omio, they’ve had “word from a very, very credible source on the inside that the iPhone 3G will be available on Orange in the UK, possibly as soon as October.”
Weighing up the evidence for a deal between Apple and Orange, we should point out that the network already has a deal in place to sell the iPhone in France, Austria, Belgium, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, Jordan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Switzerland and Africa.
Add to that reports that Apple is unhappy with the UK’s reputation as the place to be for iPhone jailbreaking, and it’s understandable the firm wants to increase choice, and protect its revenues.
However, with O2 struggling to launch the iPhone 3G without a hitch in the UK, and news that it’s pulling best-selling handsets from shelves in an effort to push customers towards the iPhone, we’ve a nagging feeling there could be some credence to this.
What do you think? Would Orange be your network of choice for a freely available iPhone 3G? Give us a shout in the comments section below.
TBC | £TBC | Apple (via Omio)
Tags: 3G, Apple, iPhone, O2, orange, rumour
Goodness, if Apple really do ‘wake up’ and let Orange have the iPhone 3G, I will simply be in seventh heaven! O2 3G coverage in my area is hopeless as I’m apparently on the ‘border’ of 3g coverage but there’s no call signal even in the house or outside! Also, I’ve been with Orange for years and have always been very happy with them and their coverage is excellent. Steve Jobs, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, I emplore you, give the iPhone 3G to Orange as it is so unfair to limit the phone to one network, especially when 3g coverage on 02 is only 60% of the UK - that’s appalling! I cannot understand why Apple granted O2 the ‘contract’ in the first place for this very reason as it’s, guess what, ………………. a 3G phone! HELLO, please wake up and smell the coffee. I’ll keep my eyes closely peeled on the web and on the Orange shop website for ‘coming soon’ phones!