Orange Loses iPhone Exclusivity in France

[samab]

Now with this decision to free up the competition more (ie. getting rid of a monopoly) I am hoping to get a better deal and actually get back to the phone company I prefer. Orange have appealed a second time (and they might win) but in the meantime both SFR and Bouygues are in negotiations with Apple and are even encouraging people to be ready for a forthcoming plan on their web sites. Most people here believe that Apple is quite happy with opening up (even if they don't admit it in public). People don't like to be forced to change phone company just because they choose a different phone and I am quite sure that Apple have lost sales because of it.

You won't get a better deal just because there are going to be more than one carrier selling the iphone. Plenty of countries like Italy are offering iphones by multiple carriers --- yet their data plans sucked big time (250 MB data allowance).

The real disease is the lack of competition in France (3 national carriers and all 3 are French owned). You people only care about minor symptoms.(exclusive handset deals/simlocking)...

 

[JMP]

Well, it seems that Apple did not pull out of France. iPhone are a big success in France.

SFR will be offering iPhones starting April 8 2009.

Others may follow...

 

[Tulipone]

I think he meant unlocked iphones from France making their way to the US, like being sold on ebay or something.

Just because Orange may loose their Monopoly does not mean that all the French providers will sell unlocked iPhones. No reason why they would not still e locked down surely?

Chris