O2 hints at 3G iPhone launch date
The 3G version of the iPhone will be unveiled "in the coming weeks", the boss of Apple's exclusive mobile phone partner in the UK and Ireland hinted today.
Speculation is rife that Apple will reveal the 3G version of the phone at its Worldwide Developers' Conference in San Francisco, which starts on June 9.
Apple has not released any technical details for the next-generation iPhone, but it is widely expected to include 3G connectivity. This would let users download data such as high-quality video much faster, and could even support mobile TV.
Speaking after the announcement of O2's first-quarter results, the chairman and chief executive of Telefónica Europe Matthew Key said his company will be making an announcement with Apple in "the coming weeks".
Asked exactly when the 3G phone will be available he said: "That's more of a question for Apple ... but over the coming weeks we will do a joint announcement with Apple as Telefónica Group".
O2 has a "multi-year" exclusive deal to sell the iPhone in the UK and Ireland and will be the Californian group's partner for the new version of the phone. It has already sold out of the basic 8GB version of the current model.
Key refused to comment on how many iPhones it has sold, but it added 206,000 new contract customers over the first three months of the year - a significant number of which are understood to have bought an iPhone.
He also refuted suggestions that the deal O2 signed with Apple gives too much revenue back to the electronics firm. He pointed out that revenues in O2 UK grew almost 13% over the first quarter which "doesn't look like a bad deal to me".
Key was also asked about his interest in buying the UK operations of Tiscali, which has already sparked interest from rivals such as Vodafone.
He said the company had looked at it but "frankly the combination of the technology they are on, the quality of the customer base and the price they want (means) we are not interested."
source
Speculation is rife that Apple will reveal the 3G version of the phone at its Worldwide Developers' Conference in San Francisco, which starts on June 9.
Apple has not released any technical details for the next-generation iPhone, but it is widely expected to include 3G connectivity. This would let users download data such as high-quality video much faster, and could even support mobile TV.
Speaking after the announcement of O2's first-quarter results, the chairman and chief executive of Telefónica Europe Matthew Key said his company will be making an announcement with Apple in "the coming weeks".
Asked exactly when the 3G phone will be available he said: "That's more of a question for Apple ... but over the coming weeks we will do a joint announcement with Apple as Telefónica Group".
O2 has a "multi-year" exclusive deal to sell the iPhone in the UK and Ireland and will be the Californian group's partner for the new version of the phone. It has already sold out of the basic 8GB version of the current model.
Key refused to comment on how many iPhones it has sold, but it added 206,000 new contract customers over the first three months of the year - a significant number of which are understood to have bought an iPhone.
He also refuted suggestions that the deal O2 signed with Apple gives too much revenue back to the electronics firm. He pointed out that revenues in O2 UK grew almost 13% over the first quarter which "doesn't look like a bad deal to me".
Key was also asked about his interest in buying the UK operations of Tiscali, which has already sparked interest from rivals such as Vodafone.
He said the company had looked at it but "frankly the combination of the technology they are on, the quality of the customer base and the price they want (means) we are not interested."
source
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