IPhone Enters Its European Phase
By ERIC PFANNER The New York Times September 18, 2007
LONDON, Sept. 18 - Apple brought the iPhone to Europe today, hoping to entice consumers with a sleek design and the iconic power of the Apple brand even as it flouts some of the technological and marketing conventions of the European mobile phone business.
Steve Jobs, the Apple chief executive, said the iPhone would become available to British consumers in November in an exclusive arrangement with O2, a mobile network operator owned by Telef=F3nica of Spain. Similar deals are expected to be announced with Deutsche Telekom's T-Mobile subsidiary in Germany and with the Orange unit of =46rance T=E9l=E9com in France.
The iPhone, which allows users to make calls, browse the Internet, check e-mail and play songs and videos, all by running their fingers over a touch-sensitive screen, has been a hit in the United States, with more than one million sold in the first three months.
But analysts said Apple might have a tougher time in Europe. They expressed disappointment that the iPhone to be sold in Europe is identical to the one in the United States, meaning that it would be unable to take advantage of faster European wireless networks for Web browsing and media downloads.
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