Vodafone, Telecom Italia iPhone deals have no more exclusivity

Telecoms companies Vodafone and Telecom Italia will both sell Apple Inc’s iPhone in Italy, in an apparent break from previous exclusive carrier deals.So far, Apple has struck exclusive deals with carriers to sell the phone, such as with AT&T in the United States, Telefonica’s O2 in Britain and Deutsche Telekom in Germany.

Neither Vodafone nor Telecom Italia provided many details.

“Telecom Italia announced today it has signed a deal with Apple to bring the iPhone to Italy later this year,” was all that the Italian group had to say on Tuesday.

Vodafone said it would sell the iPhone — a touch-screen device which combines Apple’s popular iPod music player, a video player and Web browser — in 10 countries.

“Later this year, Vodafone customers in Australia, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Greece, Italy, India, Portugal, New Zealand, South Africa and Turkey will be able to purchase the iPhone for use on the Vodafone network,” the British-based firm said in a statement without giving any more details.

Vodafone, the world’s largest mobile phone company by revenue, has been competing with operators and retailers to secure the right to sell the phone.

O2 has described the device as a star performer which draws increased numbers of customers into its stores.

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Tags: deutsche telekom, iphone, telecom italia, Vodafone