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)
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!
hell yeah orange will take over the uk when the iphone is released to the orange network people only went with o2 cause no one else could have the iphone.. well im ready come on orange.. hurry up
Brilliant if Orange can sell the Apple IPhoneG3. If Apple dont. bad luck for them as Samsung and all the other phone producers will soon catch up with better prices
Samsung make top quality phone gear but as yet still haven’t nailed how to do software on a phone properly, but you’re totally right about competition tiger: the more the merrier we say!
i am already on orange,and was going to change networks when my contract runs out and go to 02 so that i could get an iphone,so this is great news for me as i am very happy with the service give me on my mobile,this means i will stay with orange…
Go On Apple do it I have been waiting for a year, O2 is crap in my area orange has been here for 15 years now I keep checking the Orange web site but still no news I will keep waiting if I have to
I have bee an orange customer from 18 years now they have been great never had a problem with my bill my kids and wife are all on orange so we get free calls to each other which is great as kids are that much older GO ON ORANGE don’t let us down.
This is great news. I have been with Orange for years without any problems. I only swapped to O2 to get an phone 3g. Hopefully by opening up the competition, we will also see competitive pricing plans
Hope you’re right Phil! Although I’d settle for O2 (or Orange) bundling tethering packages for free!
Just don’t let 3 or t-mobile anywhere near it!