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July 20, 2009

Orange and T-Mobile to offer iPhone 3G?

Speculation mounts as O2 exclusive set to end

Carrie-Ann Skinner

Apple's iPhone 3G could soon be available on T-Mobile and Orange.

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According to Mobile Today, Apple's exclusive deal with O2 covering the Apple iPhone 3G comes to end in September and Apple is considering opening the handset to the two competing networks in the hope that sales will increase.

Mobile Today said T-Mobile's staff have started telling customers that the handset may soon be available through the operator, while The Telegraph claims the network is buying contract-free handsets from Europe to offer to UK customers.

O2 still has a contract with Apple to offer its iPhone 3GS exclusively

The newspaper said sources at T-Mobile claimed Apple could not stand in the way of the ploy as its deal with O2 doesn't cover operators importing contract-free iPhones from abroad. T-Mobile has yet to comment on the matter. However, the operator told MocoNews that the suggestion it would make the handset available to its UK customers was  "merely speculation".

Mobile Today said sources had revealed O2 was "furious with the news" and particularly concerned that Orange and T-Mobile could entice users by undercutting the cost of the handset. However, O2 has been granted an exclusive deal to offer the new iPhone 3GS.

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Comments received


Darren said on Monday, 20 July 2009

As far as I'm concerned, Apple and O2s "exclusive" deal is nothing short of anti-competitive, and is not in the best interests of the consumer. But I guess the EU is too busy with its anti-Microsoft witch hunt too notice.

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