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iPhone's future uncertain in Germany after court ruling

By Ed Oswald, BetaNews

November 20, 2007, 11:29 AM

Apple may find itself with one less distributor in Europe after a German court issued a restraining order against its partner T-Mobile.

The action was filed after Vodafone took exception to the Cupertino company's exclusive contract with the carrier. The restraining order prevents T-Mobile from selling the phone within the country.

In addition, smaller German carrier Debitel had also complained to the German telecommunications regulators about the deal. The company claims that it is not legal to tie the phone to a single carrier.

Many had suspected Apple's insistence on exclusivity for the iPhone would run into problems here, as the EU's laws surrounding such deals are quite different from the US. Apparently T-Mobile's competitors are planning to exploit these laws.

It appears as though T-Mobile has not stopped selling the phone, though it had said it was reviewing the ruling. Vodafone in statements to the German press said that its aim was not to have sales of the phone stopped, but rather have regulators review the legality of the contracts.

The British-based carrier lost out to both Telefonica's O2 in the UK and France Telecom in France. Exact numbers on iPhone sales are not yet available, but analysts say that its high price at 399 euros has kept many would-be buyers away.

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By fudgetunnel

posted Nov 21, 2007 - 7:54 AM

Apple really showed its cards as the power-crazed Microsoft wannabe most of us already know it was, when it went out of its way to block Iphone owners from uploading their own ringtones.

This is one greedy ugly sonofab**** company.

Score: 0

By GoodThings2Life

posted Nov 21, 2007 - 7:18 AM

As much as I really hate Apple, this makes me sick to my stomach to know that all it takes is for a company to whine to some bureaucrat and it can destroy capitalism and free trade.

If you can't or aren't willing to compete fairly that you have to resort to whining to the friggen government, you shouldn't be doing business. Instead, you should go back to pre-school.

There, I did it, I just defended Apple and T-Mobile.

Score: 0

By GS5

posted Nov 20, 2007 - 3:32 PM

As I said before, Apple's insistence on exclusivity will ultimately cost them a $h!t load of money here in the U.S.A but especially in Europe.

Apple is making the same mistake with the iPhone that they made back in the 80's. They tried to control the software and hardware while M$ took over by selling their Windows OS with all hardware manufactures. That's kinda the same thing they're doing now. You would think Apple would learn from their past mistakes.

Score: 0

By GoodThings2Life

posted Nov 21, 2007 - 7:21 AM

A very good analogy to be sure, but their decision isn't what is costing them this time. I just wish that Vodaphone and Debitel would grow some balls and step up to the plate to become the next Microsoft vendors rather than go crying to the government.

Despite AT&T's success with iPhone, other phone carriers in the US are still very successful (and often more-so than AT&T). These European companies still have a lot to learn about how capitalism can save their souls if they'd just stop whining long enough to give it a fair try.

Score: 0

By Aires

edited Nov 21, 2007 - 3:54 AM

I agree that the exclusivity deal has been a mistake. While making the phone exclusive to one netowrk gives it some sort of sub-concious wow factor, in that it makes the iPhone seem as though it's something that needs to be obtained; just think how many many iPhones would've been sold without exclusivity. I know that it will sell well but I've not seen any evidence of it flying off the shelves where I live in the UK. The UK handset market is dominated by pay as you go phones and I can't help but feel if the iPhone was available on all networks as well as contract or pay as you go, it would be selling sh!t loads of phones by now. As it is, as much as I like the look of the iPhone I will be waiting at least 12 months before I think about buying one (and I am NOT attracted by the price of the phone and THEN I still have to pay £35p/m on an 18 month contract!).

Score: 0

By romanski@pdx.edu

posted Nov 20, 2007 - 2:16 PM

iPhone a Trojan Horse For Government Surveillance?
http://www.prisonplanet....7iphonesurveillance.htm
-----
I think the courts should have a case on this

Score: 0

By sacaripasa

edited Nov 20, 2007 - 3:20 PM

Is this guy for real, or is it just some stoned out person living in a make shift 50's era bunker in his mothers backyard!

Score: 0

By pitdingo

posted Nov 20, 2007 - 2:59 PM

All from their lab in the Hollywood studio where they filmed the Apollo moon landings...

Score: 0

By skimore

edited Nov 21, 2007 - 12:41 PM

It's that where Al Gore film his movie inconvenient truth?

Get used to this.. Non-EU companies will face this type of issues as along as the EU stands.. Also the Euro might soon replace the US dollar as the world currency soon. (when the US economy falls everyone else follows soon after.. )

Score: 0

By Jordanr05

posted Nov 20, 2007 - 2:54 PM

and the tin-foil crowd draws in...

Score: 0

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