Orange have now struck a deal with Apple to offer the iPhone and have become the first operator to break O2’s exclusivity over the icon handset in the United Kingdom reports The Telegraph.
Other UK mobile operators are also talking with Apple, and there is rumour that at least one other network may offer the iPhone, the frontrunners are presumed to be Vodafone and Virgin Mobile however it could be a while before any deal is announced.
There could be the possibility of an iPhone price war now that the iPhone has been opened up and Ovum analyst, Steven Hartley has remarked that where the iPhone is sold by more than one operator, it is cheaper, it depends on how Orange wants to play it. If Orange get aggressive, O2 will need to respond and the result could be a full on price war.
Orange have thus far refused to announce details of their iPhone contract terms, but have indicated they will offer cheaper iPhone deals than O2.