Vodafone's UK iPhone launch set for 14 Jan

21st Dec 2009 10:35

Mobile phone giant Vodafone has confirmed it will begin selling Apple's iPhone in the UK on 14 January.Tariffs start from £30 a month for a two-year contract, which includes 300 free voice minutes and unlimited texts, but the 3G 8GB handset will cost £59 and a 16GB £149.The 8GB phone is free for users taking out a £35 a month contract with 600 minutes and unlimited texts, but the 16GB phone is only given away on tariffs of £45 a month or more.All contracts, whether business or consumer, are subject to a 1GB monthly limit on internet use, slightly more than Orange's fair use limit of 750MB a month.Guy Laurence, CEO, Vodafone UK, said the company had been preparing its network for over a year and promised customers 'speed and reliability'.Vodafone's failure to get its tariff's up and running before Christmas has left Orange, Britain's third largest operator, O2 and supermarket Tesco to fight over sales during the lucrative festive period. France Telecom-owned Orange recently won the right to sell the iconic mobile alongside Telefonica's O2, which had enjoyed an exclusive contract to sell the iPhone here since 2007.Tesco Mobile joined the slowly growing list of companies selling the smartphone in the UK last month, pledging to 'bring a bit of Tesco value to the iPhone'.A spokeswoman for the supermarket said it was 'a bit of a coup' to win the right to sell the iPhone ahead of some other major players. Increased competition could mean lower prices for consumers currently unable to afford the fashionable handset. The iPhone was recently voted Britain's coolest brand, ousting Aston Martin from the top spot and into second place.Vodafone UK customers can pre order iPhone today