Apple Confirms O2 as British iPhone Carrier; Announces Nov. 9 Launch Date

12:45 am on September 19, 2007 | Category: Business, Cell Phones, Mobile Devices, Wireless

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Apple Inc. confirmed yesterday that it had awarded a contract to sell its long-awaited iPhone device to Britain’s largest wireless carrier, O2, in partnership with mobile phone retailer, Carphone Warehouse.

The touch-screen iPhone device – which combines the functions of a cell phone, handheld computer, and iPod music and video player – will sell at a price of 269 pounds (US$536), including tax, at O2, Carphone Warehouse, and Apple retail and online stores, beginning on November 9.

“The price is in the upper end of expectations,” commented Strategy Analytics researcher, Neil Mawston, after the announcement. “For a non-3G (third generation) device in western Europe (it) is quite expensive.”

When asked about the terms of Apple’s contract with O2, Apple CEO, Steve Jobs, brushed off suggestions that the carrier had offered to pay up an exorbitant percentage of service revenue.

“It wasn’t an economic choice,” Jobs said at the London news conference. “It was a cultural choice.”

Jobs would not comment on iPhone negotiations in France and Germany, but did acknowledge that numerous carriers had competed for exclusive contracts in all three countries, and some had to be passed up.

“It’s kind of like getting married,” he said. “We dated a few people but didn’t get married to them. I guess there are a few upset girlfriends out there.”

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