Apple Inc. has signed its first deals with mobile phone operators to offer its iPhone in three of Europe"s largest markets, ending a period of intense negotiations, according to a report in the Financial Times newspaper. Germany"s T-Mobile Deutschland GmbH, France"s Orange SA and Britain"s O2 (UK) Ltd. are reported to have signed exclusive deals to sell the iPhone in their respective markets.
The operators have agreed to give Apple 10 percent of the revenue they generate from the sale of voice and data services for the device, according to the report, which cited unnamed sources. The operators hope to introduce the phone in time for the important Christmas shopping season.