Orange UK sold 30,000 iPhones on release day, despite their dodgy unlimited data = 750MB, and despite the iPhone already being available on rival O2 UK since 2007. By contrast, Verizon launched the much-hyped, geek-liked Droid for the first time on any network, anywhere, ever, and sold — according to Bloomberg — 100,000 over the weeked. Three and a bit times as much sounds almost as good as their “5x the 3G coverage of AT&T” commercials. But then the US is a much bigger market and Verizon a much bigger carrier, and Orange has only a day, not a weekend, but whatev…

The iPhone 3GS, as a third data point, sold over 1,000,000 it’s first weekend out the gate (300,000+ of those estimated to have been on AT&T). Sure, that was international, but then the iPhone 3GS was available internationally, all under the same brand, in several countries at the same time. Verizon licensed the Droid trademark, so even when the same device rolls out in Canada and Europe, it won’t be the Droid but the Milestone, which is 5x less the geek name sex-appeal.

What does this all mean? iPhone mindshare is still huge and demand in countries that were exclusive to one carrier is still high. In part, this may be because there’s a single, global iPhone brand (and feature set) for consumers to identify with, and rather than controlled by a carrier (like Droid), it’s controlled only to Apple — so it might just appear on your favorite carrier one day as well, be it Bell/Telus, Orange/Vodafone, or Verizon…

[via AppleInsider and BGR]

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Orange UK Sells 30,000 iPhones 2 Years In. Verizon US Sells 100,000 Droids 1st Weekend Out.

Long anticipated, longer rumored, the iPhone is finally set to hit UK’s Orange network this November 10. Carphone Warehouse and Phones4U are both expected to offer the Orange version of the Apple iPhone, though there’s no word yet on pricing (they’re — sigh — looking to “add value” rather than “reduce cost”).

With O2 exclusivity ended (but the iPhone still for sale on their network), Vodafone ramping up soon as well, and rumors of 3 next year as well, so UK iPhone lovers will have what US readers still lack — a huge amount of carrier choice.

Orange claims 200,000 registrations on their iPhone “interest” page. Are you one of them?

[Guardian via Engadget Mobile]

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iPhone to Hit Orange UK November 10

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TiPb Presents: iPhone Live! #69 — Two Billion Served!

Orange UK is set to start offering the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS according to ITProPortal. Previously exclusive to O2 in the UK, that deal is said to end on Oct. 9, clearing the way for some competition in the UK market. (At least beyond T-Mobile smuggling in a few units from Germany…)

Orange was previously the exclusive French iPhone provider until Bouygues-Telecom got into the game, and these latest deals seem to indicate Apple is serious about increasing their customer base…. at least outside the US. (Though it’s admittedly easier internationally where almost all providers are GSM and on similar frequencies).

Rumors about Orange getting the iPhone hit TiPb back in May, but there remain no details yet on when and how much. If you’re in the UK, however, let us know if you’re planning to make the jump to Orange when you can.

[Thanks bengillam for the tip!]

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Orange UK to Offer the iPhone

Updated: To address some of the comments, we edited out the URL field to protect the source, but it was not the public facing web address mentioned below. It was local intranet address. Of course, anything is fake-able, so we’ll just have to wait and see if — ever — Apple and Orange UK make an announcement… or not.

Seems strange to be writing about iPhone 3G launches when there are so many next-generation iPhone rumors flying around now, doesn’t it? Then again, there have been rumors about Orange UK getting the iPhone going back to the early days of iPhone 3G. Now, however, a helpful tipster has stumbled across what might be the first step towards confirmation:

iPhone 3G has shown up on internal systems at Orange UK (see the above pic), something that typically happens 6-8 weeks before a handset starts shipping on the network.

O2 has been exclusively carrying the iPhone in the UK since just after the original iPhone was first released, but competition is a Good Thing, right?

Any of our UK mates think iPhone on Orange is brilliant, yeah?

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Updated: iPhone 3G Coming to Orange UK?

2008 has come and gone and Apple is still adding regions and carriers to their iPhone 3G rollout. This time it’s the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia according to Macworld:

UAE-based provider Emirates Telecommunications—aka “Etisalat”—will be selling the iPhone and providing service to both countries “later this month.” The deal was announced in an advertisement in an English-language paper in the region.

Meanwhile, long time iPhone carrier, Orange in France, has seen it’s exclusivity arrangement shattered by French courts (the same ones that said Amazon was being anti-competitive by offering free shipping — don’t get me started!). Ars Technica weighs in:

According to a report by Bloomberg, France Télécom, Orange’s parent company, was “shocked by this decision” and, naturally, intends to appeal. Bouygues Télécom, France’s third-largest mobile carrier and the company that brought the original complaint to the Competition Council, told Bloomberg that “talks are under way” with Apple to secure a distribution agreement. Vivendi’s SFR subsidiary, France’s second-largest carrier, also intends to strike a deal with Apple to sell iPhones.

Ars thinks a similar challenge in the US could theoretically lead to T-Mobile carrying the iPhone, but it’s TiPb’s understanding that T-Mo USA (unlike their parents in Europe) doesn’t use the same 3G bands and hence would be limited to EDGE-only iPhone service (likewise, during the Round Robin, we had to run the Android G1 on EDGE on AT&T and Rogers).

So, anyone in the UAE and SA plan on picking up an iPhone? Anyone in France psyched about more carrier choice? Let us know!

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iPhone International: Orange Ousted, Arabia Impending

“We have these fake queues at front of 20 stores around the country to drum up interest in the iPhone,” a spokesman said

What do you think? Would you buy a product because it looks like it’s going to be popular? What do you think the ‘actors’ are going to do when Orange Poland asks for personal information? Is this the most ridiculous act of advertising ever?

ReadVia

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Actors Paid To Line Up for iPhone 3G in Poland !?

WOW! iPhone plans and prices are dropping faster than Rogers stock these days. With a 22 country launch on Friday (and a few days later in France — vive la difference, eh?), some with multiple co-exclusive carriers, each with different tiers of service (from cheap, all-you-can-eat unlimited to tiny $$$ per byte ultra-rip-offs) it’s a lot to keep track of — but we’re still going to try!

Read on for the good, the bad, and a lot of ugly!

Rogers/Fido Canada – WAR!

On the Canadian front (and yes, it is a war here people!) rumors of an Apple/Rogers falling out are probably going to fall out. My guess? Nothing much there unless Rogers is fanning the scarcity flame in order to get people who might be sitting on the fence or holding it to suddenly panic and rush the line on Friday. Apple Stores in Canada, unlike the US, have only pointed to Rogers/Fido for availability, and if Apple is sending units away from Canada to Europe, it may have more to do with the power of the Euro. (Nintendo’s been accused of doing that with the Wii for months to profit from the stronger currency).

Telcel Mexico

2 year contracts south of south of the border in Mexico as well: MX$459/599/799 for 200/300/400 min., 100/150/200 SMS and MBs of data, with the 8GB handset going for MX$3419/2159/889 and the 16GB for MX$4689/3419/2159.

Ayaiyai! That’s US$77 for a tiny 200MB!

Vodafone New Zealand

The good news? Due to the international date line, New Zealand will be getting the iPhone first and Hawaii last. In Aukland, New Zealand, the lineup is already forming to be the first (after a certain Portuguese un-boxer) to get the blessed device.

The bad news? They’ll be paying out the pouch for it. 2 year contracts for NZ$80/130/250 for 120/250/600 min., 600 SMS, and 250/500/1000MB of data and 8GB handsets for NZ$549/449/199 and 16GB for NZ$699/599/359.

Ouch! That’s US$189 for 1GB of data! Once again, the closer you are to a pole, the higher your prices!

Optimus Portugal

Thanks to Mário for sending this in!

Optimus (Orange) in Portugal has pre-paid, post-paid monthly, and 2-year contract prices. Contract minimum monthly usage plans are €30/45/64 which get you €0.149/0.129/0.099 per minute or SMS, 100/300/500 free in-network SMS, and MB of data, with the 8GB handset running €250/200/150 and 16GB, €350/300/250.

Vodafone Portugal

Meanwhile, Vodaphone is offering the Portuguese 2 year contracts as well: €29.90/44.90/64.90, with 100/230/500 min. and SMS, and a miserly 250MB of data, with an 8GB handset going for €299/219/129 and 16GB for €389/309/219.

Yikes! That’s US$102 for 250MB?!

AT&T USA

AT&T Mobility’s President of Network Services has his own podcast where he goes over iPhone 3G performance. Check it out.

And while nowhere near as hackneyed as the iReady riff, Apple has posted its own information on how to prepare yourself for launch day.

Apple’s VP of Retail, Ron Johnson, tried to set expectations: he claims they’ll be taking 30 customers at a time, be able to handle 100 customers an hour, and aim to complete activation in 10-15 min. But they won’t rush you if you want to take your time (though the crowd behind you, torches and pitchforks in hand, might help keep you moving at a brisk pace!)

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iPhone 3G International Roundup! USA, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, Italy, Portugal!

Although the date of July 17 is a bit confusing, given the international 22-country rollout is set for July 11, Orange is at least doing a better job than some other countries by delivering unlimited data with their plans.

And what plans are those?

€149 for the 8GB iPhone 3G, and €199 for the 16GB. Plans start at €49 for 2hrs of voice, 2hrs of night/weekend voice, and 50 SMS and top out at €149 for 12hrs/12hrs and 1000 SMS.

Special offers will be made for business customers to “change their mobile”, and for upgrades from existing iPhone (2G) sets/plans.

Read

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iPhone 3G in France: Orange Dates and Rates

French iPhone exclusive, Orange, has just added to the iPhone country count by announcing a deal to bring the (presumably next-gen 3G version) device to:

Austria, Belgium, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, Jordan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Switzerland and Orange’s African markets later this year.

France Telecom spokesman Bertrand Deronchaine said Orange will be the exclusive iPhone provider in Belgium and Romania, with co-exclusive or non-exclusive deals in other countries. He declined to offer more details about the arrangement.

What might that portent, if anything, for the US, UK, France, Germany, and Ireland?

Table shattering score card now link list:

Launched: Austria (T-Mobile), France (Orange), Germany (T-Mobile), Ireland (O2), UK (O2), USA (AT&T) 

Announced: Africa (Orange), Argentina (America Movil), Australia (Vodafone / SingTel),  Austria (Orange), Belgium (Orange), Brazil (America Movil), Canada (Rogers), Chile (America Movil), Columbia (America Movil), the Czech Republic (Vodafone), Dominican Republic (America Movil/ Orange), Ecuador (America Movil), Egypt (Vodafone / Orange), El Salvador (America Movil), Greece (Vodafone), Guatamala (America Movil), Honduras (America Movil), India (Vodafone / SingTel), Italy (Vodafone / Telecom Italia), Jamaica (America Movil), Jordan (Orange), Mexico (America Movil), New Zealand (Vodafone), Nicaragua (America Movil), Paraguay (America Movil), Peru (America Movil), Philippines (SingTel), Poland (Orange), Portugal (Vodafone / Orange), Puerto Rico (America Movil),  Romania (Orange), Singapore (SingTel),  Slovakia (Orange), South Africa (Vodafone), Switzerland (Swisscom / Orange), Turkey (Vodafone), Uruguay (America Movil)

Rumored: Netherlands (?),

Note: Extent of America Movil and Orange Africa deployment not yet fully detailed.

So, with the board filling up like the cable car to WWDC, the question remains: who’s next?

(PS: We’re not claiming iPhone Candyland… yet.)

Read Via + Via

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iPhone Risk: Orange EMEApalooza!