14 DAY TRIAL // With the announcements for the iPhone's release in Germany and in the UK already made, France is the only one left to go, from the original threesome that was supposed to break the handset's European release.
It looks like the French have for some while now a consumer protection law that requires all wireless carriers to offer mobile phone unlocking services upon request. The term "phone unlocking" is something that makes Apple twitch, especially after they went to such great effort to stop the work of hackers.
It was quite difficult to explain the reasons why the iPhone has not received a release date for France just as it happened with Germany and the UK. Orange France was the carrier expected to support the handset's release on this market, although an official announcement on its date has never been revealed.
The French operator stated at a certain time that it is negotiating with Apple on the terms that they will support the iPhone's release in this country. Time has passed and no result has been revealed, which makes it clear that there is one serious issue in the way of the handset's entry on the market in this country as well.
This regulation might just be it, as there is no reason for Apple accepting that, after six months since the handset's release, a large number of unlocked iPhones will be available for everyone to enjoy. Moreover, the company has managed to get a share from the revenues that the carriers will get out of their subscribers.
The bad news for Apple is that there are no solutions for going past this regulation and that it will make less profit than expected, either way. Because of this, there might be chances for the iPhone to have to wait until next year for a release in France as well.