By Kate Holton
In the United States AT&T Inc has already warned these
subsidies would hit earnings in 2008 and 2009, but European
carriers were making no comment on any earnings impact.
Deutsche Telekom AG said its mobile communication business
T-Mobile will sell the new version of the phone in Germany,
Austria and the Netherlands from July 11.
T-Mobile will also bring the phone to Croatia, the Czech
Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia in the course of this
year, though it said nothing on pricing.
A spokesman said T-Mobile had the exclusive rights to the
new phone in Germany and the Netherlands, confirming what two
sources familiar with the matter earlier told Reuters.
Telefonica, which also said nothing specific on its pricing
plans, will sell the phone in Spain, while its O2 unit will
also sell it in Ireland and (with mobile retailer Carphone
Warehouse) in Britain.
In Britain, consumers subscribing to big monthly plans will
get the phone free.
MORE EXPENSIVE
Anyone in the UK wanting the iPhone with 8 gigabytes of
storage capacity can pay 99 pounds ($194) with a monthly tariff
of 30 or 35 pounds, or can sign up for the more expensive 45
and 75 pound tariff and will be given the phone without charge.
The first edition of the 8GB iPhone had cost 269 pounds
when it initially went on sale in Britain.
"The demand for the first iPhone was huge and we're
preparing for another milestone with the 3G version," Carphone
Chief Executive Charles Dunstone said in a statement.
The new iPhone will be accompanied by support for corporate
e-mail and a slate of new programs that could help boost sales
of the devices, which sport a touch-sensitive screen, wireless
Internet access and iPod-style media functions.
Spain's Telefonica said the device would go on sale on July
11 in more than 1,000 outlets as it tries to boost its number
of 3G customers.
The former Spanish state monopoly is expected soon to
unveil price details and media reports say the company will
include deals starting at below 100 euros ($156).
Telefonica will be the only operator to offer the iPhone in
Spain as competitors Vodafone Group Plc and Orange have decided
not to market the device.
(Additional reporting from Nicola Leske in Frankfurt and
Robert Hetz in Madrid; Editing by David Holmes)
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