Apple forced to end exclusive iPhone deal in France

Competition regulator overrules business agreement


17 December 2008 12:29 GMT / By Amy-Mae Elliott

Apple's exclusive deal with Orange to offer the iPhone in France is to come to an abrupt end.

The French courts have ruled that Apple must let other operators sell the iPhone in addition to France Telecom's Orange.

The ruling from the French competition regulator overturns Apple's exclusive arrangement with Orange.

The decision comes following a complaint from Bouygues Telecom, a rival operator in France, who filed a complaint with the regulator over the arrangement in September.

In a statement, the competition regulator said Apple's Orange deal was a "serious and immediate threat" to competition.
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Full tags
Phones, Apple, iPhone, Orange, France Telecom, Mobile phone industry

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