Vodafone clinches deal with Apple to sell the iPhone

Vodafone has announced it will sell the market-leading iPhone and iPhone 3GS in the UK and Ireland from the beginning of 2010.

The move follows Orange’s news yesterday that it will make the hugely popular iPhone available to its customers before the end of the year.

The announcements signify the end of 02’s two-year exclusive deal with Apple and will open the iPhone up to millions more mobile users. 02 has done well from the iPhone. It announced in February that it had sold one million of the handsets and with the launch of the hugely anticipated iPhone 3GS in June many of 02’s stores ran out of stock.

The deal is a great opportunity for Vodafone as Vittorio Colao, Vodafone’s Chief Executive, admitted that not being able to offer the iPhone was a key factor as to why the company had lost 159,000 customers in its latest quarter.

Vodafone has not revealed any details on pricing but the fact that at least three operators will be competing in this space suggests that there may be opportunities for users to seal a better deal on contract. Analysts expect the added competition could lead to small variations in tariffs, however cautions against any great discounts on the actual iPhone because the operators subsidise the device.

Users can register their interest in the iPhone on the Vodafone website.