French Courts Force Apple to Share iPhone

The French Competition Regulator today ruled that Apple must allow other mobile phone operators besides Orange — their current network partner — to sell the iPhone in France. The Regulator announced that the current exclusive deal — which has been in place since the phone’s November 2007 debut — poses a “serious and immediate threat”. However, the move is only the first stage in an action brought by Orange’s rival Bouygues Telecom, and was described by the Regulator as a “protective move” while it continues to investigate the complaint. If Orange is successful in convincing the Regulator of the deal’s legitimacy then the decision will likely be reversed. French competition laws have previously lead Orange to offer unlocked iPhones, albeit as a premium. In December of last year, a German court ruled in favour of an identical arrangement between Apple and their chosen partner T-Mobile, in a similar case brought by rival operator Vodafone.

• Yahoo! News
• via Pocket Lint