We’ve known this for quite some time now, but we were starting to wonder if Apple and Orange were ever going to announce their deal. France’s wireless regulations and Apple’s revenue-sharing demands were rumored to have put the deal on thin ice, but those issues seem to be a thing of the past. Apple and Orange have jointly announced that they’ve partnered up to bring the iPhone to France next month.
“The iPhone is a marvelous product and will change how people think about mobile. I’m delighted that it is launching in France through Orange, and I’m sure that our customers share my excitement,” said Didier Lombard, CEO of France Telecom. “Our partnership with Apple is a natural fit because we are two global brands who share the same values of simplicity and innovation. It’s going to be a very merry Christmas for Orange customers all over the country!”
Well, it’ll be a merry Christmas as long as you’ve got the €399 including VAT (about $590) that Orange will be charging for an iPhone. Orange will be launching the iPhone on November 29 – following the UK and German release of the iPhone on November 9. And, like the US, France will only be getting the 8GB version of the iPhone.
Start saving them Euros, you mime-loving Frenchmen you!