Vodafone UK Will Carry the iPhone

Following yesterday's announcement that O2 UK would soon lose exclusivity on Apple's iPhone, wireless carrier Vodafone has announced today that it will also include the iconic device in its offering. According to the operator, Apple and Vodafone have reached and agreement through which both the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS will become available for purchase in the UK and Ireland in early 2010 on Vodafone's airwaves.

As many of you might already know, another carrier in the country announced yesterday that the iPhone would soon become available for its users, namely Orange UK. The same as Orange, Vodafone has put in place a webpage where its subscribers can register to learn more details on the availability of the device and other options. Those living in the UK can access the page here, while those in Ireland will find it here.

The only carrier that hasn't announced the future inclusion of Apple's handset in its offering is T-Mobile, although the carrier stated previously that it would sell the iPhone even if that meant bringing it to the UK market from outside the country and losing money in the process. However, due to the expected merger between Orange and T-Mobile, the availability of the iPhone with one of the carriers implies its presence in the other one's offering as well.

O2 has been rumored to lose its exclusivity deal on the iPhone for quite some time now, yet nothing official emerged until Monday. One other carrier that might soon see its marriage to the iPhone come to an end is US-based AT&T. The same as on the UK market, other large carriers in the country are expecting for that day to arrive, so that they can offer the handset to their subscribers too. Verizon Wireless' CEO already stated that the carrier intended to add the iPhone to its offering, yet nothing has been unveiled officially until now. However, there are great chances that O2 is not the only carrier to lose exclusivity on the iPhone.