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It wasn’t so very long ago that I wrote a post reporting on the supposed attempts of T-Mobile 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 apparently retaining exclusivity on the 3Gs.
Well now The Guardian Newspaper in the UK is reporting that Vodafone 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’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]
About The Author
Ben Robinson
Ben is a 10+ year veteran of the Mobile industry – starting his career when SMS was a still a relatively new concept for most people (!), he has now consulted on everything from bleeding-edge Mobile content, to the next-gen accessories you might view it on. As a result he has a broad and deep knowledge in numerous areas of Mobile – from network operators to device vendors, to infrastructure and middleware vendors (not to mention content delivery) – and has worked for companies in all of these areas! He is based in the UK, a hotbed of activity for mobile, and recently became a father for the second time – as oppose to in his younger years when he was happy spend time tweaking all manner of mobile devices to 'nth' degree, he now looks for services and hardware that provide the most efficient, compact, and reliable improvements to his already manic life! It’s his opinion that Mobile solutions should be there to help to make your life better – if a particular solution (be it service or device) isn’t doing this, he believes you need to ask the very important question of why you continue to use it... His focus at IntoMobile is mainly on Mobile content, services, and infrastructure, particularly as regards the UK market – and with the occasional look at devices. Additionally, using his extensive experience in the industry, he will provide commentary on the industry at large, with regular (and hopefully thought-provoking) articles.
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Sarah K
