Valleywag: Orange

Actors paid to wait in line for iPhones in Poland

Nicholas Carlson — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 09:00:00 PDT

The iPhone launched in Poland today and like in the U.S., there were plenty of long lines. Unlike in the U.S., those in line were there because they were actors hired paid to look enthusiastic. "We have these fake queues at front of 20 stores around the country to drum up interest in the iPhone," a spokesman from mobile operator Orange told Reuters, which describes the move as "as part of a marketing campaign." What's odd: Unlike in the U.S., where shoppers could only buy an iPhone from AT&T outlets or Apple Stores, Polish shoppers — all abuzz about the iPhone because Orange's marketing campaign — can just buy their iPhones from line-free T-Mobile outlets. (Photo by AP/Sokolowski)

Orange, Apple's French iPhone partner, announced ...

Jordan Golson — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 12:14:45 PST

Orange, Apple's French iPhone partner, announced that it sold 70,000 iPhones during its first month of sales. This is "right in line" with the public target of 50,000-100,000 units sold. [Thomson Financial] (Photo by mukluk)

Last week we noted that the unlocked iPhones ...

Jordan Golson — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 13:59:21 PST

Last week we noted that the unlocked iPhones being sold in France might not actually be usable outside that country. Orange, the iPhone reseller in France, says non, it is selling fully unlocked iPhones which will work with any SIM card, in any country. Liberté, égalité, we overpay! [The Register]

"Unlocked" iPhones sold in France may not be unlocked

Jordan Golson — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 12:12:39 PST

When the iPhone went on sale in France in November, French law required Orange, the local iPhone retailer, to sell a "carrier-independent" phone. This "unlocked" phone is priced at €749 instead of the standard €399. iPhone Atlas is reporting that the unlocked phones aren't fully unlocked, but are instead country-locked to French carriers only. I'm not a French lawyer, but this would seem to comply with the "carrier-independent" requirement in a wonderfully perverse and legalistic way, souring the plans of many resellers who wanted to bring back loads of unlocked phones from France. Can any of our French readers confirm this? Oh wait, I know a guy who's in France. I'll give him a call. (Photo by chefranden)

iPhones on sale in France, unlocked version cheaper than Germany

Jordan Golson — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 16:24:28 PST

German iPhone reseller T-Mobile began selling unlocked iPhones — phones that can be used on almost any network — for €999 ($1,477) because of a court order. Orange, the iPhone reseller in France, was required to sell a "carrier independent" phone from the beginning because of French law. The iPhone went on sale in France today with the unlocked version selling for €749 vs €399 for the standard contract-limited phone. (Photo by mukluk)

Steve Jobs and his girlfriend have made up

Jordan Golson — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 10:09:53 PDT

Steve Jobs has kissed and made up with his French girlfriend. Orange is the official iPhone cell provider in France. Why the delay in signing up Orange? The socialist French have an unlocking requirement for cell phones. Six months after you buy a phone, your provider must unlock it for you. A number of observers opined that this may a sticking point for Apple, but we don't see that there's anything they can do about it if they want to operate in France. Likely, the delay was in negotiating Apple's percentage of subscription revenues. No word on what the final price was.(Photo by mukluk)

Steve Jobs still negotiating with his French girlfriends

Jordan Golson — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 21:37:29 PDT

Apple may have bent British cell company O2 over a barrel, having reportedly extorted a 40 percent cut of subscription revenue from iPhone customers, but it seems they aren't having as much success with their other European deals as previously thought. France Telecom's Orange was named as the French provider for the iPhone last week, but now the deal may be off. The sticking point is the percentage of subscription dough that Apple will get. Let's hope Steve Jobs hasn't pissed off his other "girlfriends" too badly; he might still need to crawl back to them. (Photo by mukluk)

US sales may disappoint, but European carriers eager to carry Apple phone

Tim Faulkner — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 11:29:21 PDT

While American analysts question whether an iPhone price cut means the uberphone is a disappointment, European analysts wonder how Apple secured as much as 40 percent of all revenue from partner O2, the British wireless carrier, on the eve of the iPhone's impending European launch. Orange and T-Mobile have been "confirmed" as the French and German mobile carriers, but things could change as Steve Jobs continues to negotiate for even a larger share of mobile revenue. [The Guardian]