Vodafone in talks with Apple: 3 not keen on Irish iPhone
While all US consumers have to worry about now is getting hold of an iPhone, for European iPhone lovers, there's still a lot of uncertainty over who will take Apple's phone.
Vodafone are currently tipped to be favourites to launch the iPhone, and according to Dutch magazine Bright, they are already in talks with Apple over a possible deal.
They report that Vodafone is pushing for more control over the price of the iPhone, and how much it will be subsidised - something that Apple effectively got its own way with in the States with AT&T.
Meanwhile, Irish iPhone lovers can forget the 3 mobile network taking the device. Talking to Silicon Republic, Graeme Slattery, head of music for 3 Ireland, said what we'd already suspected - the iPhone in its current 2G form wouldn't be compatible with 3's 3G network.
"The speed of downloads is really important to us," he said.
He also hinted that whoever takes the iPhone may not offer a flat-rate data plan, as is the case for AT&T customers.
“It’s not going to be like visiting the iTunes store on your computer to buy music because you’re going to be hit with a data charge from a 2G operator. It’s going to make a track very expensive to purchase," he said.
Of course, he could be referring to the monthly line rental and tariff, but you'd have to pay that anyway.
I wouldn't be surprised if 3 in the UK took a similar stance, though sources I've spoken to don't have anything official yet.
(Via news at ZDNet and Silicon Republic)
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