Vodafone Gets Exclusivity on iPhone 3G Launch. Again

You've probably heard this before, but this time the rumor is fresh. Vodafone might get its own chunk of the iPhone next year, when Apple releases a new version of the handset.

The new iPhone should take care of all problems that stood between the operator and the handset producer until now. This concerns lack of 3G, although contract details might end up being just as problematic as before. Apple seems to have had trouble in reaching an agreement with Vodafone on the share of revenues it demanded upon the mobile phone's European release. This should be the only issue left to settle between the two companies in order to reach an agreement.

An Italian site reports that negotiations between Apple and Vodafone are already in final stages, which means that a 3G version of the iPhone will be out next spring. The device should hit all markets where the operator works, which means that a major European release will take place upon the new handset's unveiling.

It's pretty clear that Vodafone is still interested in having a piece of the iPhone's sales. The company is now trying to get a restraining order against T-Mobile on its sales tactics for Apple's phone. The issue might be that of interfering with other carriers that currently support the iPhone's European availability. O2 now supports the device in the UK, while T-Mobile carries it in Germany.

A 3G version of Apple's phone should make a major update and could bring even more innovative features for the device, aside from the high-speed data transfers. Vodafone was said to be the operator to bring the iPhone in Europe, although that eventually failed to happen. It's left to see just how much of the phone's 3G version the carrier will get in the end, on its spring release.