News
Apple: Orange to be exclusive iPhone carrier in France
By Charles Starrett
Senior Editor, iLounge
Published: Tuesday, October 16, 2007
News Category: iPhone
Apple and Orange have announced that Orange will be the exclusive French carrier of the iPhone, which will make its French debut on Thursday, November 29. The 8GB iPhone will sell for 399€, or roughly $567, and will be sold in France through Orange’s online and direct retail stores. Details of available service plans have not yet been released.
“We are excited to partner with Orange and bring iPhone to France in time for the holidays,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “iPhone is an amazing product and we hope mobile users in France will love it as much as we do.”
“The iPhone is a marvelous product and will change how people think about mobile. I’m delighted that it is launching in France through Orange, and I’m sure that our customers share my excitement. Our partnership with Apple is a natural fit because we are two global brands who share the same values of simplicity and innovation. It’s going to be a very merry Christmas for Orange customers all over the country!” said Didier Lombard, CEO, France Telecom.
This announcement comes less than a week after Apple stated that it had no set date for the phone’s launch in France, and confirms a statement made by Lombard that the launch would take place “during November”.
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1
How come no-one’s made the comparison yet….?
Posted by ahMEmon on October 16, 2007 at 9:45 AM (PDT)
2
I can not wait to see the sales figures. European mobile users are miles ahead in maturity when it comes to phones. I would love to see the actual churn numbers of hard core European users who would trade in their 3G phones for a crippled, three year old (technology wise) phone, with no real chance of customization. Not to mention, in a few countries Apple will not get these sweetheart deals as in FInland, for example, subscription based contracts must have phones that offer 3G. No 3G, no subscription sales in FInland.
Now that the iPhone will hit European shores it should really get interesting.
Posted by Don Trammell on October 16, 2007 at 10:13 AM (PDT)
3
What about the French law that supposedly requires the iPhone to be unlockable? I remember reading something along those lines.
Posted by Alberto on October 16, 2007 at 11:00 AM (PDT)
4
To Don ...
As a mature European customer I was very very happy to drop my do-it-all Nokia E61 for the iPhone, unlock it and use it on Swisscom.
And anyone who catches an eye off my iPhone at the office wants one too ... even the Blackberry guys.
banker
Posted by banker on October 16, 2007 at 12:48 PM (PDT)
5
French regulations require that phones be sold both with monthly subscriptions and as “stand alone any network compatible” products. Obviously, Orange will have to comply and also sell the Iphone without any subscription. They just said that pricing details (covering both subscriptions details and the price for the naked iphone) will be announced later.
Posted by hhv on October 17, 2007 at 1:08 AM (PDT)
6
I’m reading all over the place that Apple-unlocked iPhones WILL be available in France. It’s clear that Apple doesn’t want ANYONE else to have an unlocked iPhone, so I’m wondering what Apple is going to do to keep those unlocked iPhones IN France.
After seeing how creative Apple’s developers were in chaining up the US iPhones when they first rolled out, I’m eager to see how they’re going to lock the ‘unlocked’ iPhones within the borders of France.
Are they only going to be sold in the French language? Will they only work on cell towers within that country? Is there a sensor within the iPhone that senses your willingness to surrender, and if the levels are too low, it explodes?
Posted by Matthew James Hill on October 17, 2007 at 4:25 PM (PDT)
7
So Apple will sell unlocked iPhones in France - but at an additional, yet to be revealed, cost.
The locked iPhone will be 399€ (£278 - £9 more than in the UK). I wonder how much Apple will add to the price ?
And will it be worth a ‘booze cruise’ to pick up an unlocked French iPhone?
Posted by Bob Levens in UK on October 18, 2007 at 5:21 AM (PDT)