Just What is Wrong With All This European Deal? Times Online's Confirmation is Wrong?

I just blogged about the confirmation that O2 had sealed a deal with Apple to bring iPhone to UK. But just now I read from The Register that everything is just speculation!

The idea that any UK network operator has agreed a launch date, and retail price, for the iPhone is pure fantasy. Such things won't be sorted out until much closer to any launch, and will depend on market conditions at that time, but it's much more fun to speculate and if you can report such details as fact (as some news services have done) then all the better.

How crazy! I don't know anymore. I'll keep you all posted, though. Here is the full scoop at The Register.

Confirmed: O2 to Bring iPhone in United Kingdom

Times Online UK reported that O2 has won against rival (including Vodafone) to seal the deal with Apple to bring iPhone to the UK. The phone is scheduled to be released in Christmas this year. It's good to mention that the phone is expected to be sold at £ 300. Would be interesting to see how it would fare, since I heard that most phones are given away free there, tied with services provided.

I am sure iPhone would sell tons like it would in the US, though.

Here's the confirming news from Times Online.

Prediction: Apple's Future in Europe Might not be Bright

International Herald Tribune releases an article about a Berlin-based mobile phone consultant who flew to the US and acquire an iPhone. He returned and showed the phone to his clients, which then revealed this finding: those interested with iPhones are those into graphics or real Apple freaks. Mostly the same group of people, mostly, I should say.

The difficulty to write SMS, no push email, no Outlook sync, and lack of 3G are some of the top reasons why iPhone might not succeed in Europe as much as in the US.

Read the full story at International Herald Tribune

iPhone UK=O2, iPhone France=Orange?

Just got the news from Independent.co.uk regarding the whole iPhone-in-Europe speculation. Yesterday we heard about the Apple and T-Mobile deal for Germany. Yesterday post also mention that Vodafone will be the one for UK and Deutsche Telekom for France.

However, today's news from Independent.co.uk reveals another speculation that O2 is the one closest to bringing iPhone in UK, while Orange is predictd to sell iPhone in France. The phone is scheduled to be released in December 25.

Here is the complete scoop at news.independent.co.uk.

Apple goes with T-Mobile to bring iPhone in Germany

T-Mobile is expected to sell Apple iPhone for about 450 euros ($612) in Germany. The full-scoop is available from Reuters, which gets its source from Rheinische Post.

There is no news update on other parts of Europe, but it is believed that the potentials would be Vodafone in Briain, Deutsche Telekom in France, and Telefonica in Spain.

How to Make the Non-Phone Feature of iPhone Works Outside USA!

Finally, someone found out a trick to do it. Here's an excerpt:

But here’s the loophole: iTunes then asks if you wish to get a prepaid account. Ka-ching!

He promptly cajoles his US-based sister to let him use her US debit card to get the account and some pre-paid minutes (which cost him all of US$30), upon which the phone is, of course, activated.

Everything worked – internet surfing, email, photos and movies, ipod stuff – except the phone part (duh).

The full article as available here at Macadoodle. This sounds pretty great. I'm not sure how many of you would like to own a $600 WiFi-enabled iPhone, but that's a great hack nevertheless.

Another iPhone Contest from Things You Should Do

Here is another contest with an Apple iPhone as the prize. It's not that hard to join this competition,

You write a post on your website about some great place you think belongs on the Things You Should Do list. You email me the link to your post to enter the contest.

You should be a US resident, as usual.