Telecoms

Vodafone Sues T-Mobile Over iPhone Monopoly in Germany

Why should T-Mobile have it all?

By Elena Balan, Communications News Editor

20th of November 2007, 16:17 GMT

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The iPhone's support in Germany is a problematic one too

Vodafone just won't give up on that iPhone. The operator just won an interim injunction that will prevent T-Mobile from selling Apple's phone in Germany during these holiday seasons.

Vodafone seems to be against T-Mobile's decision of forcing iPhone buyers to go with their contracts if interested to buy one of these handsets. What's most interesting on this issue seems to be the fact that Apple managed to sell a huge number of iPhones in the US using

this strategy.

Problems started to appear on the handset's European release, as French legislation prevents operators from locking mobile phones. Germany also poses a problem, which might be good news to those who don't agree with Apple's strategy on selling its iPhone. Some countries regulate such behavior and allow customers to pay the full price for unlocked phones that will work with any network.

T-Mobile officials seem to be pretty confident on the carrier's rights over the iPhone's distribution. They say the company has it as an exclusive device in its portfolio, but when compared to the market's offer, it proves to be a pretty normal situation. The company promises that iPhone sales will restart in the near future and that Vodafone can't put a stop to it.

Vodafone claims that the sale of an unsubsidized, locked mobile phone conflicts with the German competition law. As a result, a court in Hamburg agreed with a temporary injunction against T-Mobile, although this won't prevent the carrier from selling the iPhone in Germany. Another court hearing on this matter will be held in about two weeks, although a date has not been set for this.

T-Mobile reported sales of about 15,000 iPhones on November 9th, the day it launched in Germany, but has revealed no further sales figures since then. The handset comes at this carrier at the price of 400 euros (about USD 590).

TAGS:

Vodafone | iPhone | Monopoly | Germany | sues

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