As an American, I am sorry that our friends on the other side of the Atlantic who would like an iPhone have issues with it (pricing, coverage or provider restriction).
I agree with the poster (whatever?) who asserts that the problems in the UK, FR and Ger are more an issue with the telco than with Apple. It seems to me that many (but not all!) of the posters here seem simply to be lashing out at Apple in a misguided sort ot of way. I'd like to hear one good (i.e., rational, logical) explanation why the complaints about the contract is to be levelled at Apple's doorstep instead of at the telco's.
Too much about Apple's so-called greed strikes me as typical blah, blah, blah that one usually finds on a free-for-all Internet message board or blog.
BTW, I an not an Apple "fanboy" (or "girl"). I have never owned any Apple products until recently - an IPT 16G. True, I will probably one day buy an Apple computer and an iPhone, but that is by no means guaranteed (especially if the missus has any say about this).
I am mostly reading this thread and following Apple issues to see if AAPL stock offers good short-term or long-term investment opportunities. That so many posters in this thread vent emotionally instead of logically is just so much noise.
EVP