After two years of exclusivity on the O2 network, the iPhone has finally appeared on both Orange and Vodafone, with the rival providers offering both the 3G and new 3GS models to their millions of subscribers.
Neither has been candid regarding release dates, but word has it that Orange will make the device available this side of Christmas, whilst Vodafone are to sell the iPhone from early 2010.
More importantly, the pricing for the iPhone on Orange has not been made public as yet, sparking talk of an imminent price war between themselves and the present sole retailer, O2.
The premium that has been placed on the device has kept the iPhone out of the reaches of many, but the resultant competition on price is sure to drive costs down and benefit the consumer in the long run.
O2 has seen this day coming and has managed to benefit hugely from the iPhone’s exclusivity, with over 1million customers signed up on iPhone 3G deals and 3GS contracts alone over the two years.
However, with alternatives like the Palm Pre already secured in their armoury of O2-only devices, they are certainly ready for a future where the playing field between networks is more level…
Time will tell whether the iPhone is a make-or-break handset for Orange, and if Vodafone’s late arrival will see them miss the boat. What is undeniable is that the iPhone is still at the height of the public conscious, and the freedom to choose a variety of networks will only see Apple sell more of the heavily-hyped handset.