European carriers ink iPhone deals

After months of speculation, the Financial Times in London is reporting that three carriers have signed deals to carry the iPhone in Europe. Several rumors of T-Mobile selling Apple's revolutionary phone in Germany and Orange carrying it in France both turned out to be on the money. O2 reportedly signed the deal for the UK. All three companies have reportedly signed exclusivity deals (as AT&T did in the US). All three agreements are expected to be announced in the IFA trade fair in Berlin at the end of this month. All three companies are refusing to comment on the report. The reports come after months of effort on the parts of European carriers to be the first companies to offer the iPhone. Also noted in the story is that all three companies have agreed to turn over 10% of revenue from phone and data services used by iPhone customers. So far, no solid news about iPhone availability in Canada, though previous information indicates Rogers Wireless as the most likely candidate for a Canadian iPhone provider. US iPhone owners traveling in Canada and the UK report no issues in using the product outside the US (though international data roaming charges can add up significantly if customers do not request suspension of data service before travel).