Deutsche Telekom AG ’s T - Mobile division has won a lot to sell Apple ’s iPhone in Germany begin Nov. 1 , according to a report in a German regional paper .
T - Mobile win the bid at the last min from Europe ’s largest roving wheeler dealer , Vodafone , according to the reportin Germany ’s Rheinischen Post newspaper on Wednesday .
Apple ’s immix phone , music player and Internet equipment will be sold in Germany for € 450 ( US$ 613 ) , according to the newspaper , which cite unnamed “ sources in the business community . ”
T - Mobile declined to comment on what it call a “ rumor , ” and remark that Vodafone and The Carphone Warehouse Group PLC have also been link up to potential iPhone raft in old news reports . A Vodafone spokesman also declined to comment , and Apple could not immediately be reached .
Apple launched the iPhone in the U.S. on Friday to largely positive reviews , although its mobile partner there , AT&T , experienced delays in trip some the great unwashed ’s phone over the weekend .
The hand with AT&T is an undivided one in the U.S. , mean other operator there wo n’t be able-bodied to proffer the iPhone for some time .
It ’s unclear what distribution model Apple will habituate in Europe , although it seems probable it will sign up several operators to tackle Europe ’s fractured telecommunication marketplace . No one mobile hustler cover all the most populous markets in Europe . T - Mobile is present in Germany , the U.K. and eight other countries , but not the enceinte market place of France , Italy or Spain . In France , Vodafone only has a nonage holding in Gallic operator SFR , while Orange , a subsidiary of France Télécom SA , is not present at all in Germany or Italy .
Heated talks are probably under way between Apple and most of Europe ’s bragging operators , pronounce Niek van Veen , an associate analyst at Forrester Research Inc. All of them could potentially benefit from the connection to Apple ’s brand , and the long subscription contract the iPhone could aid them to secure , he said .
Unlike some operators , T - Mobile has not invested heavily in its own TV and music divine service , which may make it easier for Apple to negotiate with , van Veen said . On the other hired man , T - Mobile does n’t have as many client outside of Germany as some of its rivals .
“ The difficulty for Apple is that the operator will have their own demand , and they would probably like to launch with the service in all countries , ” he enjoin .
Apple is reportedly call for AT&T to partake in some of the revenue it makes from the iPhone , he noted , a novel clientele model that Europe ’s operators may be reluctant to accept .
“ So it ’s more than just a question of reach and what Apple wants , it ’s how much operators are uncoerced to sacrifice their current [ business ] model for this telephone set , ” van Veen tell .
Apple has say it expect to launch the iPhone in Europe in the fourth twenty-five percent but has provided no other detail .
