Orange's iPhone exclusive ruled illegal in France

After 13 months into a five-year exclusivity deal in France, the French competition agency has ruled the Apple and Orange (the mobile subsidiary of France Telecom) cartel illegal. Something that could have a knock-on effect throughout Europe. The agency criticized the Orange/Apple pact for having "grave and immediate" effect on the overall French mobile marketplace and thus, the French consumer, by introducing "a new flavor of rigidity in a sector that already lacks competition." The injunction, while temporary, is enough to allow other French carriers to distribute the iPhone 3G in time for the holidays. Shrug.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 17th 2008 9:22AM]

Wow - for the first time I love the French. Wish they would rule that in the US

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 17th 2008 11:46AM]

Are you really that desperate to use the iPhone on T-Mobile's network? If you want the iPhone so bad, just switch to AT&T. Otherwise, get another phone. There are so many unlocked phones out in the market. In the mean time, I will continue enjoying my $400 subsidy from AT&T to buy an iPhone.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 17th 2008 5:06PM]

Hisham: A lot of people like the iPhone but hate AT&T. More choice is always better.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 17th 2008 10:44PM]

This is encouraging news. I hope similar rulings are passed down in other countries as well. Nothing is better than competition. If carriers aside from AT&T were allowed to offer the iPhone we could see plan prices drop.