July 5, 2007
Telefónica nears UK iPhone partnership
Telefónica’s O2 mobile phone business was poised on Wednesday night to clinch a deal as Apple’s exclusive network partner for iPhone in the UK, said people familiar with the matter. The FT reports.
"O2 is set to be the first European mobile operator to reach a deal with Apple for its much-hyped iPhone. Apple is to limit iPhone’s European launch this autumn to the UK, France and Germany. It will follow elsewhere in Europe next year, when it will also launch in Asia."
Carolina Milanesi, research director at consulting firm Gartner, said an iPhone launch in three European markets could make sense as no one operator covers the entire continent. Apple would logically deal with operators with most customers in each of the three markets. Orange leads in France, T-Mobile in Germany, and O2 in the UK.
Ms Milanesi said Apple would be under pressure to launch the iPhone in other European countries soon after the French, German and UK markets because otherwise it could upset potential customers.
O2 said: “We have not signed a deal with Apple.” Apple said: “We ... do not comment on rumours or speculation.”.
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