Apple and Orange together at last in France
By Nilay Patel 
posted Oct 16th 2007 12:47PM
posted Oct 16th 2007 12:47PM
Update: Apple.com/fr/iPhone has been updated to show a launch date of November 29, as shown above.
Please note: If you're a current Engadget commenter, you do not need to re-register. Simply login and you will be prompted to select a username.
So many different carriers around the globe with the iPhone, you figure they would just sell the thing unlocked sooner or later.
It's more than a phone; so-called unlocking only affects part of its features. Using it on another carrier amounts to a lobotomized device.
It is too bad that engadget is over-run by spoiled brats who think the whole universe should be their way. The iPhone is sold with a back end provided by a specific carrier. That's the way it is; that's the way it will be. Deal with it, kiddies.
@conscience: You are really living in a US cell phone providers PR dream aren't you?
The iPhone is a GSM phone like any other GSM phone. The whole point is that you are able to switch the SIM and have everything working the same as before. In Europe that crap about a phone tied to a provider doesn't fly. People know that they can be unlocked or that they can switch the SIM.
@conscience
The only feature that's carrier specific is the Visual Voicemail. If you ca live without that, then you can run it on any network.
The only reason for Apple to lock these things to a carrier is their business model (nothing to do with making things simpler for the customer, as they'd have it). Apple are taking between 10 and 40% (if you believe the rumours about O2 in the UK) of customer revenue for each iPhone user. Obviously, if Apple have no agreement with the other carriers, Apple will get ongoing revenue from the iPhones. Hence their desire to 'break' the unlocking each time they update the firmware.
Hmmm, and this after the yesterday Greenpacereport? How will Apple get the iphone so fast ROHS compatible?
The iPhone IS RoHS compliant...
Hello....McFly!
"While they conceded that Apple is compliant with Europe's RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) standard...."
That's super, but why oh why does the picture show it's a T-Mobile service provider?
Because it's already hacked. :o)
Im pretty sure that says "Orange"
I hope that photo isn't a proof of something, since it's not nearly blurred enough to appear trustworthy, although I admit focusing on the background is a nice touch. If he shook the camera a bit to add motion blur it'd help.
As for the unlocked iPhone, rest assured, if the French deal went through, then they found a loophole.
Like... they WILL offer unlocked iPhones, one unit per store and each one costs $100k.
Does anyone in this world know how to use the MACRO focus on their camera? its the little floweer icon... use it next time. thank you for your time.
bye.
Global adoption of the Macro button will commence immediately after the global adoption of proof reading your posts.
thanks. richard.
This source is wrong because it's an article from a month ago (17/09) and it says that apple announce the french release during the apple expo in Paris on the 24/09 and it's the 17th of October and still no official announcement. I think the french iPhone will probably be delayd to december because of the phone unlock laws in France.
Do they really use the word "off" in France? (Look to the right of "Wi-Fi", which is something else I'm not sure they say there.)
Mode Avion: airplane mode. Off Yes they DO use this term as well as on. These 2 terms are used so widespread on the world. In Belgium (neighbour of France red.) we speak french and dutch and On & Off is used in both languages.
How's this for confirmation? November 29th release on Orange.
http://www.apple.com/fr/iphone/
holy crap... is it me, or has everything been crossed-out?
everything below this post, that is
Someone needs to close a tag!!!
agreed... and now it's fixed
$Ka-ching$. A a pallet of iPhones taller than the Eiffel Tower. Three million Frenchies waving their iPhones. Viva la iPhone. Yes folks, the iPhone has landed. The French claim the iPhone is sexier than Audrey Tatou. Heck, the iPhone is more important than the Da Vinci Code. iPhone mon amour.
...What?
I was really expecting an 'Apples and Oranges' joke by now...
Color me disappointed.
oh my word that sounded 'juicy'...
i just hope that when the iphones come out in france it will still be 'fresh'. i think u can get them in 'fruit' stores as well. otherwise i'll go to an istore and 'pick' them myself. or else 'lemon-T(ea)-mobile' is also another option in germany.
BOOOOO-urns!
You know, the root of the word Miller is a Greek word. Miller come from the Greek word "milo," which is mean "apple," so there you go. As many of you know, our name, Portokalos, is come from the Greek word "portokali," which mean "orange." So, okay? Here tonight, we have, ah, apple and orange. We all different, but in the end, we all fruit.
-Gus Portokalos
i wonder if it works on Orange Australia...
Now, Jobso, what part of "The French don't give a rats ass about mobiles" you didn't understand?
I can see thousands of Italians flooding Orange shops in a month or so.
merde
did you read that.. mlife thinks that apple will change the registration process in europe, you have to sign a new data contract before you will get your iphone, which is 100% different to the at&t registration process...
read here (it´s german language but an interesting theory):
http://www.mlife.at/content/view/2738/1/
That is *exactly* what Apple should have done in the first place if they didn't wanted the whole unlocking thing. They could have then sold the phone unlocked directly for a huge premium and still keep a contract sbusidized price for a carrier exclusive deal... like every other cell phone...
So did they get along hte unlocking LAWS or will the be complying with them now?
well, it is just forbidden to force bundled sales.
in theoory and if you have time to waste, you can enter a shop, open the pack of 6 soft drinks, get one can only and go to pay for it.
the manager might argue, YET! he cannot force you to buy the pack of 6: it is up to him to charge you a price for it, and up to you not to buy if the price is too high.
that is for bundles.
and that will be for Iphone Bundled to both a PLAN and ITUNES for registration.
just waiting for the first compplaints.
and then: phase 2: the "60 million consumers" association to sue apple after they sold a lot of iphones. including a backward refund, for everybody, as they alreaddy did for other things (like the minute charging: a minute started is a minute charged)
thanks apple: will enrich France, I can see 1000's of turists going there, spending money to get their legal IPHONE :)
The French use the term wifi (pronounced wee-fee). It still makes me chuckle whenever I hear a frenchman saying it. But not as much as I chuckled when they lost the rugby!