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