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Orange iPhone coming 10 November

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By Stuart Turton

Posted on 26 Oct 2009 at 08:35

Orange will begin selling the iPhone on 10 November, the day after O2's exclusive deal with Apple expires.

The network provider announced that it had picked up the rights to the iPhone in September, but refused to narrow the launch date beyond "before Christmas."

However, reports suggest it will be available in two weeks time through the company's own shops and Phones4U. Around 200,000 people have reportedly pre-registered their interest in buying an iPhone through Orange.

Customers are more likely to ask how much does the tariff cost, how much does the device cost? That's where they'll compete

Orange would not confirm the reports, or answer questions on the pricing of the device. With Vodafone due to enter the iPhone fray next year there were hopes we might see a price war, but analysts claim it's unlikely that will stretch to contracts.

"The cost of the handsets means the contracts have to last longer, so operators would rather have 18 month contracts, or 24 month contracts," says Emeka Obiodu, senior analyst at Ovum. "Customers are more likely to ask how much does the tariff cost, how much does the device cost? That's where they'll compete."

While the loss of the exclusive iPhone deal was expected to hurt O2, the company has described itself as "not an iPhone house" and turned its attention to the Palm Pre - which was released on the 16 October.

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User comments

Price?

The million dollar (or in this case, the five hundred and thirty eight pound) question...

Please be (a lot) cheaper than O2!

By cheysuli on 26 Oct 2009

What about the quality of service?

As was pointed out in the last PCPro podcast (28 Oct 2009) with the 3G service already well saturated and connections hitting the floor in urban areas, what will happen when Orange and then Vodafone launch the iPhone? I suspect without a major network overhaul there will be a lot of disappointed new iPhone owners out there. Will the forthcoming merger of the T-Mobile and Orange networks help the situation? I hope so as I planned to join the fan-boy ranks next year!

By ktillyer on 29 Oct 2009