Orange UK gets iPhone for Christmas
Mobile operator says it will launch Apple handset later this year, bringing O2's exclusivity to an end.
Orange plans to launch the iPhone in the U.K. in the coming months, bringing to an end rival operator O2's period of exclusivity for the Apple handset.
Orange issued a statement on Monday saying that it will offer both the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS to U.K. customers later this year. It also invited potential customers to register their interest on its Website.
The telco has yet to announce an official launch date, although the device will certainly feature in its pre-Christmas portfolio. Tariff details have also yet to be revealed.
Apple and O2 have kept the details of their agreement under wraps, although there has been much speculation that the pair's deal was for a two-year exclusive period.
Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced that the company had selected O2 as its U.K. partner in September 2007, and the operator launched the device on 9 November.
Thus we might expect an early November launch date from Orange.
While O2 UK is unlikely to lose the rights to sell the iPhone altogether – the mobile operator has yet to comment on Monday's announcement – having to share the device with a rival could cost it.
Citing analysts from Bernstein, Dow Jones Newswires recently reported that losing exclusivity on the iPhone would reduce O2's EBITDA by £560 million in 2010.
As it stands, O2 offers the iPhone through a variety of tariff packages, the cheapest being a £29.38 per month contract over 18 months for an iPhone 3G, although customers are required to pay £96.89 for the handset. To get the phone for free, customers must sign up to a two-year deal at £34.26 per month.
O2's iPhone 3G tariff plans exactly match those it unveiled for the Palm Pre last week. With Orange now joining the iPhone party, O2 will be pinning its hopes on the Pre for pre-Christmas sales.
It would be reasonable to expect that Orange will sell the iPhone at similar levels.
The telco said will sell the Apple handset through all of its direct channels and via selected high street partners.
Orange added that it now offers the iPhone in 28 countries.
source
Orange plans to launch the iPhone in the U.K. in the coming months, bringing to an end rival operator O2's period of exclusivity for the Apple handset.
Orange issued a statement on Monday saying that it will offer both the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS to U.K. customers later this year. It also invited potential customers to register their interest on its Website.
The telco has yet to announce an official launch date, although the device will certainly feature in its pre-Christmas portfolio. Tariff details have also yet to be revealed.
Apple and O2 have kept the details of their agreement under wraps, although there has been much speculation that the pair's deal was for a two-year exclusive period.
Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced that the company had selected O2 as its U.K. partner in September 2007, and the operator launched the device on 9 November.
Thus we might expect an early November launch date from Orange.
While O2 UK is unlikely to lose the rights to sell the iPhone altogether – the mobile operator has yet to comment on Monday's announcement – having to share the device with a rival could cost it.
Citing analysts from Bernstein, Dow Jones Newswires recently reported that losing exclusivity on the iPhone would reduce O2's EBITDA by £560 million in 2010.
As it stands, O2 offers the iPhone through a variety of tariff packages, the cheapest being a £29.38 per month contract over 18 months for an iPhone 3G, although customers are required to pay £96.89 for the handset. To get the phone for free, customers must sign up to a two-year deal at £34.26 per month.
O2's iPhone 3G tariff plans exactly match those it unveiled for the Palm Pre last week. With Orange now joining the iPhone party, O2 will be pinning its hopes on the Pre for pre-Christmas sales.
It would be reasonable to expect that Orange will sell the iPhone at similar levels.
The telco said will sell the Apple handset through all of its direct channels and via selected high street partners.
Orange added that it now offers the iPhone in 28 countries.
source
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Wow, Christmas is already here…well, not really, it’s the retailers that are already attempting to eventually score it big this season…who knows, with this years job losses and foreclosures…we can only hope and pray for the best!!!
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