Report: Apple chooses European iPhone carriers

Apple has chosen T-Mobile, O2, and Orange as its European launch partners for the iPhone after wrangling a revenue-sharing agreement, according to the Financial Times.

The four companies are set to announce their partnership by the end of the month, the report said. The deals would require the carriers to share 10 percent of all revenue from voice and data services over the iPhone with Apple, according to the report. Apple has a revenue-sharing agreement in place with AT&T, the exclusive iPhone carrier in the U.S.

No new details surfaced in the report about the type of iPhone that would hit Europe, but most industry observers think Apple has a 3G model in mind for across the pond. T-Mobile provides mobile service to Germany, Orange operates in France, and O2 is based in the U.K.

Apple has said it wants to launch the iPhone in Europe by the end of this year. Tim Cook, the company's chief operating officer, mentioned that Apple wants to start in Europe with "a few major countries," and France, Germany, and the U.K. probably fall into that category.

[MARKINNYC]

Euro Release and possible Effect on Apple Stock?

Some analysts have said that when Apple rolls out the iPhone in <br />Euro land - the stock is going to go to about 205 and hold <br />there! Considering it did hit nearly 150 a few weeks back (and <br />then dropped back to around 122 as of now) the 205 figure <br />seems to be possible. Holding it? Hmmm I guess that depends <br />on marketshare and revenue stream from the iPhone in Europe. <br />The roll out in the US was worth the wait and I bought four of <br />them in the first 2 days. My whole family is using them and <br />loves them! Pricey? Yes a bit. It bumped out AT&#38;T bill up by <br />about $50/mo for the addition of the iPhones. We did not <br />change service plans at all. Just added the iPhones. Worth the <br />money? Hell yes it was! I can do things on this puppy that I <br />could NEVER manage on my old Razr i series.<br /><br />Do you think this ongoing share of revenue from the Euro <br />release could push the stock up to that level? I do think it's <br />possible but would like to hear other's thoughts and opinions on <br />the subject.

[The_Decider]

iPhone is nice

But other phones(ie Nokia) have far more features.<br /><br />Usability is really the only thing going for it, and is it worth the massive price increase? Maybe, but if you are comparing the razr with the iPhone you might be a bit on the clueless side.

[technewsjunkie]

Damn, and we're locked into AT&T. 3G!

I'm waiting for for iPhone v2.

[aka_tripleB]

You'll probably be waiting for the v5 iPhone

From what I understand, AT&#38;T has a 5 year agreement with Apple to be the sole supplier of the iPhone. So unless you're just waiting for a 3G iPhone and not one on another network, you'll have to wait about 5 years.

[tecmic]

What happened to Vodafone?

How strange! The largest mobile service supplier in the UK and no iPhone deal?

[ade.j]

Correction to markets...

BTW, T-Mobile and Orange both operate in most markets in Europe, including the UK

[Tom Krazit]

The FT report mentioned those specific countries

It's not clear if that means T-Mobile or Orange can only operate in the specified countries, or across all of Europe. I'd bet they are confined to their home countries, but I don't know that for a fact and we'll have to wait to find out.

[sebastianlewis]

Those were...

Just rumors.<br /><br />Sebastian

[look4edmund]

Eventually all Telcos have to budge with Apples demand for high upfront payments.<br /><br />&lt;a href="http://www.apple.com/"&gt;Apple Rocks&lt;/a&gt;