T-Mobile Carrying iPhone to Germany November 9
T-Mobile Germany will be the exclusive carrier for Apple’s iPhone in Germany. Going on sale November 9, the German iPhone will cost 399 euros including taxes. Apple sold its one millionth iPhone in the U.S. recently, and has since unveiled UK availability through an exclusive agreement with O2.
With today’s announcement of availability in Germany, it’s likely to believe that other key markets in Europe including Spain, France and Italy will get the iPhone soon. Interestingly, Apple seems to be teaming up with a range of carriers in Europe, despite the fact that the major ones offer their services in most European countries.
Apple’s CEO, Steve Jobs, said in a statement that Apple can’t wait to introduce T-Mobile customers to their iPhone, and are thrilled to be partnering with T-Mobile to introduce it in Germany. T-Mobile International’s CEO, Hamid Akhavan, claimed that the best mobile device currently on the market will soon be operating on their network. Obviously, T-Mobile’s CEO hasn’t spent too much time with the iPhone, but we agree with his statement about the iPhone being an interesting device for browsing the mobile Internet. It’s also unusual to see a carrier bragging about EDGE support; nevertheless, T-Mobile Germany is adding the iPhone to an already impressive portfolio of smartphones.
In addition to the features that made iPhone so popular in the U.S., iPhone users in Germany will have access to Apple’s latest music offerings on iPhone including the recently launched iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store. The iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store offers customers the ability to browse, search, preview, purchase and download iphone ringtones,songs and albums from iTunes over the built-in Wi-Fi on their iPhone. No computer is required and when the customer connects their iPhone back with the PC or Mac, their music automatically syncs back into their iTunes library.
The T-Mobile network will also support iPhone’s Visual Voicemail feature, which enables users to immediately randomly access those messages that interest them most. By the end of 2007, T-Mobile will be the only network operator in Germany to offer EDGE throughout its entire GSM network.
iPhone is scheduled to go on sale on November 9 and will be sold in Germany through Telekom Shops of Deutsche Telekom and the T-Mobile web shop. iPhone requires a new 2-year T-Mobile tariff and will be available in an 8GB model for €399 including V.A.T. and will work with either a PC or Mac.