Photo: DPA

T-Mobile seen losing iPhone stranglehold in Germany

Published: 26 Jun 09 08:45 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/sci-tech/20090626-20199.html

T-Mobile could soon lose its exclusive rights to Apple’s widely popular iPhone in Germany, Manager Magazin reported on Friday.

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Citing wireless industry sources, the magazine said the deal between Deutsche Telekom’s mobile unit and Apple will run out at the end of 2009. That could mean opening the door to other wireless operators and lower prices for consumers.

Manager Magazin said mobile operator O2 was currently renegotiating its exclusive deal to sell the iPhone in Britain and was keen to expand to the German market.

“O2 has reason to be confident this time when the iPhone becomes available in November,” an official from Telefónica subsidiary told the magazine.

A spokesman for Deutsche Telekom said the firm was counting on its long-term partnership with Apple to continue.

However, many iPhone users in Germany complain that T-Mobile’s packages are not competitive with other operators in Europe. For example, T-Mobile offers customers in Austria far better deals than in the much larger German market for the fancy Apple gadget.

The Local (news@thelocal.de)

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Your comments about this article:

#1
11:48 June 26, 2009 by Darkknight
The Apple/T-Mobile partnership will continue. O2 will be out of luck and the iPhone 3Gs is already available, so you don't have to wait till November.
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#2
12:06 June 26, 2009 by freechoice
i dun really like T-Mobile blocking VOIP traffic from iphone. O2 doesn't block VOIP traffic.
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#3
12:15 June 26, 2009 by Darkknight
Direct from the small print of O2 Germany's Data Tarrif plan.
Datennutzung innerhalb Deutschlands, nicht bei Sprachdiensten, Videotelefonie, VoIP-Nutzung und Peer-to-peer Verkehren. Die Weiterveräußerung, unentgeltliche Überlassung des Dienstes an Dritte und Nutzung zum Betrieb kommerzieller Dienste sind unzulässig.
Translation: No VideoTelephone, No VOIP and no Peer-to-Peer traffic..

And from the O2 UK iPhone Data Plan (All other data plans as well)
# You may not use your SIM Card:

* in, or connected to, any other device including modems;

* to allow the continuous streaming of any audio / video content, enable Voice over Internet (Voip), P2P or file sharing; or

* in such a way that adversely impacts the service to other O2 customers.
- LinkI haven't seen a (Non-Asian) carrier yet that lets its users use VOIP, P2P or any other data heavy service on its data network.
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#4
09:52 September 30, 2009 by Howard M
Confirmation of VOIP on O2... Heres hoping they manage to get the iPhone in Novemeber..!!

http://uk.techcrunch.com/2009/08/18/o2-germany-opens-mobile-network-for-voip-and-skype/
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#5
17:01 October 20, 2009 by Howard M
The guy in the O2 store said if they didn't have the iphone by Dec.. they would for sure in January, "assuming Apple sorted out its exploding battery problems".. Haven't heard to much about that myself.

But promising I can get on a non-T-Mobile plan. Bit painful to wait though i must say.
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#6
08:16 October 21, 2009 by cruiser
Manager Magazin said mobile operator O2 was currently renegotiating its exclusive deal to sell the iPhone in Britain and was keen to expand to the German market. 56 words remaining. Click to read the full article.
...not true that O2 will have exclusive - if any - rights to sell the iPhone in the UK. Vodafone has already secured rights to sell the phone in the UK. Check their website.
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#7
09:23 October 21, 2009 by MunichMag
But the original post was from June, when O2 did still have exclusive rights in the UK. Vodafone and Orange have also now negotiated deals with Apple, and all 3 will sell the iPhone in the UK.
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#8
12:46 October 21, 2009 by Hutcho
Apple could afford to do this when their phone was miles and miles ahead of the competition. Today, Android has closed the gap and is offering something that is arguably better than the iPhone. It's not as easy for Apple to rip off customers when they have an alternative.
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#9
12:50 October 21, 2009 by Johnny English
Has been a great strategy. Made them more money and gave the iPhone some exclusivity. Now the market matures they open it up to everyone. Well played hand by Apple basically.

I don't like their strategy personally - but has been great for them as a company.
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#10
13:33 October 21, 2009 by Hutcho
Very true. It has certainly worked for them.
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#11
16:05 October 21, 2009 by OnurTG
I just called the T-Mobile call center. The person that I talked to told me that T-Mobile is not blocking Skype or any other VoIP/IM application, but they do not provide any 'additional service on usage of them' either (I don't know what she exactly meant by that but I assume they do not do/provide any data traffic regulation to increase the VoIP QoS). She added that I could download Skype or any other app from the appstore and use it right away over the T-Mobile network.
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#12
19:28 October 21, 2009 by Hutcho
As I understand it, Skype will never work over the cell network, only over WiFi. This was no doubt a condition from Apple before they would allow it on the App Store, to protect the cartel they have with the service providers.
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#13
19:42 October 21, 2009 by Darkknight
This was no doubt a condition from Apple before they would allow it on the App Store, to protect the cartel they have with the service providers.
Actually its the carriers that told Apple, No Way.. If the Carriers say, sure.. Go Ahead, then Apple will let it on the iStore.

Almost All restrictions placed on the iPhone are there due to the Carriers request. Same as every other phone on the market.
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#14
20:26 October 21, 2009 by grnflash
Darknight is right. There was rumor, when the Skype app first came out, that it would be enabled on the AT&T (only US carrier) 3G network, but AT&T ferociously blocked it, until a month later, Skype re-coded the program to work off of WiFi only. Skype is registered in Luxembourg, but it is owned by EBay (american), and more importantly, Apple is an American company, so they become the gateway through which all apps are conformed to (mainly AT&T's) bidding. Technically, they could implement some type of carrier verification (for those that use a Skype-friendly network... if there are any), and post a second version of the software in the app store. Unfortunately, because Skype is a free app, this will probably never happen for the most time-tested of reasons... there's no money in it (or at least... not enough).
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#15
09:38 October 22, 2009 by Hutcho
Actually its the carriers that told Apple, No Way.. If the Carriers say, sure.. Go Ahead, then Apple will let it on the iStore.

Almost All restrictions placed on the iPhone are there due to the Carriers request. Same as every other phone on the market.
I'm sure they are, but like I said, it is a form of cartel between the two. Apple really has no reason to do what they say - the App Store has nothing to do with the carriers. For example, you can be sure that Skype on the Android (Google) Market will work any way you want it to. But Apple has chosen to be in collusion with the carriers to fleece it's customers to the max. Something it has done to great success.
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#16
11:20 October 22, 2009 by Mr.Mosh
I heard from a friend at apple that they are desperately trying to get out of the exclusivity contract with t-mobile in germany, and it could happen in december. So lets wait and see, I would welcome it
Report abuse »
#17
00:47 October 27, 2009 by chicagolive
Well this is very hush and under table the birdie left a note at my window but O2 will 100% be getting the Iphone in January 2010, my birdie just came from a meeting in Munich with the minutes and juicy details of a 02 bomb rush on the Germany market with many different phones on the market including the Moto Sholes but this has not been locked in so that is at 75%. So for everybody out there that really want to have the Iphone(me not included)you might want to wait out. Oh and it will be offered under the my handy service that O2 has also so no contract will be needed.
Report abuse »
#18
11:41 October 27, 2009 by Mr.Mosh
ooh, that's good news
Report abuse »
#19
16:10 November 8, 2009 by Howard M
Re: iPhone at O2 in Jan. This just confirms what the guy at O2 store told me.. nice to hear .......*waiting* *waiting*
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