News
Non-Orange contract-free iPhones appear in France
By Charles Starrett
Senior Editor, iLounge
Published: Monday, December 29, 2008
News Category: iPhone
Following a ruling by the French Competition Council suspending the exclusivity agreement between Apple and France Telecom tying the iPhone to Orange in France, contract-free iPhone 3G units are now available from at least one other source. FNAC is now selling the black 8GB iPhone 3G for €799 (roughly $1,133) and the white 16GB model for €899 (~$1,275). It is unclear whether the handsets are unlocked, or simply sold without a contract but still tied to French carriers, and whether other French carriers plan to offer the handset as well.
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1
I live in Monaco and Monaco Telecom have told me today that they will be rolling out iPhones tied into a contract which will still run on Orange Network, but there will be no roaming fees if u go over the boarder to France or Italy. This means that wherever one is with the iPhone in Italy, France or Monaco you pay the same for the different calls and services.
Posted by Phil on December 29, 2008 at 6:08 PM (PDT)
2
Hi,
This exactly what the Council rules : the possibility for others tiers (telco operator or not, like FNAC or Phone House) to sold iPhone -without- Orange, and unlocked. Before these tiers can sold iPhone, only with Orange contracts. Now, they can sold contract-free iPhone. Before you can buy raw iPhone, only on paper, not in reality : that’s why the Council was requested. And have to go to Orange to unlock it with 100€ more. Before you can buy, -> only in Orange store <- , a nude one, and have to paid 100€ to unlock it.
SFR and Bouygues (the 2 others French telco mobile operator) just have a “waiting list”, before they have a complete offer : iPhone+contract. FNAC already have iPhone stock. Not SFR nor Bouygues.
The question about unlocked iPhone in FNAC remains. It’s not clear, but the price is just the old one nude + 100€ unlock, plus some more bucks.
Posted by Fyr on December 30, 2008 at 12:25 AM (PDT)