Orange to sell iPhone in UK
By Stuart Turton
Posted on 28 Sep 2009 at 10:16
Orange has announced a deal with Apple to sell the iPhone in the UK, bringing an end to O2's exclusive two-year distribution deal.
"Orange UK and Apple have reached an agreement to bring iPhone 3G and 3GS to Orange UK customers later this year," Orange says in a brief statement.
"Orange, which has the largest 3G network covering more people in the UK than any other operator, will sell iPhone in all Orange direct channels including Orange shops, the Orange webshop and Orange telesales channels, as well as selected high street partners," it adds.
"More information on pricing, tariffs and availability dates will be released in due course," it concludes.
The iPhone has proved a huge success for O2, which claims to have added one million subscribers to its network since it acquired exclusive rights to the iPhone. This is only a drop in the pond for Apple, which has sold over 20 million iPhones, since launching the smartphone in 2007.
The deal comes as Orange and T-Mobile announce plans to merge, creating the UK's largest mobile-phone company with 28 million customers and a 37% share of the market.
From around the web
looking foreward to moving back to Orange, 02's 3g coverage is a joke.
By Gz_nigelcarter1a on 28 Sep 2009 
Yeah I agree with you there although I'm not keen on Orange either :(
By TimoGunt on 28 Sep 2009
With any luck that'll bring the pricing down to a more sensible level and make the iPhone a more attractive option for many more people for whom it's just too expensive right now.
By gpmfitzgerald on 28 Sep 2009
finally
this is good news... o2's 3g network consistantly suffers congestion, im guessing due to the amount of iphone users out there.
at least this will shift some of that load onto another network, o2 havent remedied the congestion by upgrading their network capacity so i think alot of people will take the opportunity to move to a less congested network, i know i will certainly be considering it in January when my contract is up for renewal.
By saqib_ on 28 Sep 2009
With any luck that'll bring the pricing down to a more sensible level and make the iPhone a more attractive option for many more people for whom it's just too expensive right now.
By gpmfitzgerald on 28 Sep 2009
With any luck that'll bring the pricing down to a more sensible level and make the iPhone a more attractive option for many more people for whom it's just too expensive right now.
By gpmfitzgerald on 28 Sep 2009
Breaking or reinforcing the price monopoly?
We can only hope the price goes down. I'm not holding my breath (or my credit card either)!
By cheysuli on 28 Sep 2009
Too late!
Damn! I thought this might happen but my contract was up and I wasn't going to sign another contract with Orange as I didn't like any of their smartphones. Jumped ship to O2 but pay more now.
I agree with the 3G coverage though, it is poor. And never mind 3G, I can't even get a signal in my house! I have to go to the chip shop on the corner to be able to send and receive texts or make calls!
I saw a 3G coverage map from January of this year for the providers and Orange had the best by quite a bit. Still, I may go back to Orange after my contract is up but it will have to be with an iPhone, it's by far the best portable computer/comm device I have ever had.
And no, I'm not a fanboy, I prefer Windows actually (no flame war intended or required thanks).
By mviracca on 29 Sep 2009
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