14 DAY TRIAL // One down, a few more other carrier unveilings to go. Apple has just announced that it will bring its iPhone in the UK starting November 9th, this year. As previously thought, O2 will be the operator to support the release of the handset in this country.
The announcement was made during a special event at Regent Street Apple Store in London. O2 spokesperson Matthew Keys and Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO were present and confirmed the previous rumors that set the UK operator as the one with the highest chances for carrying the handset in this country.
The two companies mentioned nothing on the revenue split between them. Recent rumors stated that Apple has pushed O2's hand into accepting to pass them over 40 percent of the money received from the iPhone buyers. Some other leaked information concerning this handset have proved to be true until now, which gives good reasons for this one to be given high chances of being confirmed as well.
The European iPhone that Apple has promised today for the UK market is the same as that offered in the US. This means that no 3G capabilities and no astounding 16GB of internal memory have been added.
The iPhone will hit Apple's retail and online stores, as well as O2 and The Carphone Warehouse's ones on November 9th. Apple will offer their 8GB iPhone for 269 pounds (about USD 540), compared to the US retail price of USD 400 for the same model.
Monthly service plans on O2 will cost 35 pounds (USD70), 45 pounds (USD 90) and 55 pounds (USD110) and include unlimited data. The advantage over the plans that AT&T offered in the US is that users will also have access to a network of 7,500 Wi-Fi hotspots when they sign up for their iPhone plans.