The most hyped phone in the world – the iPhone, is in the news again. In most of the countries, the price of the revolutionary handset has slashed down. We had reported about O2 reducing the iPhone’s price soon after T-Mobile announced the iPhone price cut in Germany. Last year, within 3 months of the iPhone’s debut in the US, Apple dropped the price of the device.
After a long journey, Apple is now facing yet another problem of price cut, but this time it’s in France. Orange, the mobile phone and Internet access division of France Télécom, is discussing with Apple to lower the price of the iPhone.
Currently, the iPod-cum-iPhone device’s sells for EUR 399 (8GB version), which is quite expensive as compared to other smartphones in the market. The 16GB model carries a price tag of EUR 499. Till date, the French network operator has noticed a sales figure of approximately 100,000 units.
However, the telecom company, who has exclusive rights to distribute the iPhone for three years, is not planning to change the iPhone pricing policy at present. They want the next-generation models to be affordable to the masses. On the other hand, Apple is forcing Orange to adopt the European policy moving to a subsidized model.
The iPhone uses EDGE (Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution) networks and does not employ the higher speeds of 3G (third-generation) mobile networks or the more advanced HSPA (High Speed Packet Access) networks that are available in some markets.
Next month is the rumored release of the Apple 3G iPhone. After the official launch, we can comment on France’s scenario.
