Rumour hits that Orange is to offer iPhone in the UK

As Singapore operator says device will be "in all markets, with all operators"

25 July 2008 13:53 GMT / By Amy-Mae Elliott

It's being reported, arguably somewhat improbably, that Orange will offer the iPhone 3G in the UK as soon as October this year.

According to mobile phone blog Omio, and its "very, very credible source on the inside", the iPhone 3G "will be available on Orange in the UK, possibly as soon as October".

O2 is understood to have the exclusive deal with Apple to sell the iPhone in the UK for 3 years, but speculation suggests that perhaps this deal was based on certain criteria - such as sales figures - being met, with Apple building in a clause to bring in other operators if terms were not reached.

Orange has secured similar deals to sell the iPhone in France - where it launched the first-gen device last year - as well as Austria, Belgium, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, Jordan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Switzerland and Orange's African markets for launches later this year.

Turning this rumour from almost absurd to at least worthy of reporting, is separate news from Bloomberg, that quotes MobileOne's (Singapore's smallest mobile-phone operator), CEO as saying they will offer the iPhone by the end of this year.

"I think, before the end of the year we will be carrying the phones in our stores", Neil Montefiore said. "It will become available in all markets, with all operators.''

We got in touch with O2's press office in the UK to ask for comment on this rumour. An O2 spokesperson told Pocket-lint: "We have a multi year exclusive partnership with Apple in the UK. We don't comment on rumours or speculation".