14 DAY TRIAL // Most rumors regarding the launch of the iPhone in Europe are no more than that. However, every once in a while a new one pops up, that instead of regurgitating the same thing as all rumors before actually brings a great deal of information that had not been previously mentioned to the table. Of course, rumors are rumors, but this latest one about Orange and the iPhone is worth taking a closer look at.
According to MacScoop sources: "The word among employees inside Orange is that the company has been doing everything it could to close a deal for the iPhone in the French market. Sales teams who are in charge of the consumer market are even said to have already started preparing for the launch since last month, just in case, while the marketing division already has a advertising plan in the works. Orange made its first offer to Apple during late May or early June according to our sources. It included the purchase of at least 50,000 units for stock so as to ensure availability for a November launch and sharing an undisclosed part of its customers' subscriptions revenue with Apple. The initial purchase quantity was subject to re-adjustment, depending on how successful would be the U.S. launch of the iPhone. Though Orange has a strong retail presence in France, the French retailer, Fnac, could compensate for Apple's lack of retail presence in the country. The store within-a-store model has already started being put in place under the "Apple Shop" brand in some Paris-based Fnac store locations."
While most rumors speculate that the deals in Europe are still not struck, that seems unlikely at this time. Apple can now provide a clear image of how the iPhone is doing, its sales, as well as the number of customers that switched carriers because of the device. As such, there is little reason for negotiations to still be taking place. In fact, it makes a lot more sense for the deals to have been struck already leaving the companies to prepare for the launch and make all the changes that are necessary to ensure that the iPhone can be fully enjoyed by customers. The lack of a strong retail presence for Apple in Europe is yet another reason why the company can't afford delays in striking deals.