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iPhone Business Model Hits a Snag in France

Posted by Zonk on from the open-is-as-open-does dept.

Serhei writes "It seems like the iPhone might not be released in France by this holiday season, since French requires by law that all cell phones sold there must be obtainable in an unlocked version. Apple will not be able to do so, since it has launched with a 5-year exclusivity agreement with AT&T. That deal will probably require exclusivity worldwide to avoid grey-market imports. (In return for this agreement Apple receives a large share of AT&T's monthly revenues from iPhone subscribers.) If the iPhone falls through in France, the country can join Belgium and a potentially long list of other countries with unlocking laws, whose Apple fans will have to make do with other, less Apple-y phones. Note that there is currently no mention of the iPhone on the Apple France page."

2 of 332 comments (clear)

  1. Good news! by OdinOdin_ · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This is excellent, it means those EU countries which won't accept iPhone will have to churn out something thats a whole lot better, this is good news for consumers!

  2. Re:The iPhone will be known as Steve's Folly by jcr · · Score: 5, Insightful

    In the end, the iPhone has turned out to be a real disaster.

    It sold a million units in 75 days. How can I make my next product a "disaster" like that?

    -jcr

    --
    The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."