Vodafone to miss festive rush for iPhones

29th Sep 2009 11:35

Vodafone will begin selling Apple's iPhone in the UK, but not until the new year, leaving Orange and O2 to fight over sales during the lucrative Christmas period.France Telecom-owned Orange yesterday won the right to sell the iconic mobile alongside Telefonica's O2, which has had an exclusive contract to sell the iPhone here since 2007.Increased competition could mean lower prices for consumers currently unable to afford the fashionable handset. But only O2 and Orange, Britain's third largest operator, will have the phones in the run up to the festive season.Vodafone, like Orange on Monday, gave no details on pricing of either the iPhone 3G or 3GS, due in the stores 'in early 2010'.Further deals are expected in the coming days and weeks as Apple wages war with rival Palm.The iPhone was recently voted Britain's coolest brand, ousting Aston Martin from the top spot and into second place.