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September 28, 2009

Orange UK to offer Apple iPhone

No pricing or availability details yet

Carrie-Ann Skinner

Orange has announced it will soon offer Apple iPhone in the UK.

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The announcement, which comes as Apple's exclusive deal with O2 ends, follows months of speculation as to whether other UK networks would be able stock the handset.

"Orange UK and Apple have reached an agreement to bring iPhone 3G and 3GS to Orange UK customers later this year," the network said.

iPhone 3GS on Orange

Orange, which claims it has the largest 3G network in the UK, said it will sell the handset in all its shops, as well as through its website, telesales channels and selected high-street partners.

The network has yet to release availability dates or pricing for the handset. However consumers can register their interest at a dedicated website.

O2 has responded with a barbed statement stating its continuing relationship with Apple, but mentioning its deal with the iPhone's rival Palm Pre smartphone.

The news comes just weeks after Orange and T-Mobile revealed they plan to merge.

The two companies hope to complete the deal in October, provided the plan gets approved by competition regulators. Orange and T-Mobile are currently the third and fourth largest operators in the UK, but the combined company would leapfrog O2 and Vodafone to become the UK's largest with 28.4 million customers and a 37 percent share of the market.

If the merger gets the green light, it's expected that the two brands would continue to operate for at least 18 months while the company decides on its future marketing strategy.

Mobile phone buying advice

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See also: Orange improves mobile phone voice quality

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Comments received


Voxpop said on Monday, 28 September 2009

I hope Orange will have a pay as you go tariff and the phone won't be hideously expensive. They would really score over O2 and, indeed, all the other mobile carriers in this country as customers previously reluctant to sign up to an 18 month contract flock to them.

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