UK: Now Vodafone throws its hat in the ring for the iPhone!
By Ben Robinson on Tuesday, July 28th, 2009 at 4:48 PM PST In O2, Vodafone
It wasn’t so very long ago that I wrote a post reporting on the supposed attempts of T-Mobile (NYSE: DT) and Orange to secure distribution rights for the iPhone in the UK. The specifics were that they were looking to sell the iPhone 3G, with O2 (NYSE: TEF) apparently retaining exclusivity on the 3Gs.
Well now The Guardian Newspaper in the UK is reporting that Vodafone (NYSE: VOD) is chasing to become a retail outlet for the iPhone too, which would destroy O2s exclusivity in spectacular fashion, were it ever to happen. Now, Vodafone DOES sell the iPhone in some countries that it has operations, but there are some key ones missing in that set – the UK being one of them.
So could it happen? Well, I think there’s a good argument from Apple (NSDQ: AAPL)’s perspective to open the distribution of its 3G model, and then perhaps keep the latest (3GS) model back for its exclusive deals – you could see Apple wielding its marketing magic to get this deal in fact. But would it be reasonable for Apple to ditch the exclusivity arrangements that have served it so well, so far? Not in my view, though with speculation being rife now with 3 Operators in the UK, anything could happen! Watch this space, methinks!
[Via: The Guardian]
Spoke to Vodafone UK today about the possibility of upgrading to thegoodle phone and the customer services gentleman ‘guaranteed’ me that Vodafone UK will be stocking the iphone next month, when i pressed him on this, he said he couldn’t give me the confimration that they would have the 3gs but the 3g would be definate, now, call are recorded so if he was lying, his job could be on the line.