iPhone UK launch date announced

The iPhone will go on sale in the UK on 9 November and will cost £269 including VAT.

The announcement of the iPhone's availability was made this morning at the Apple Store in London's Regent Street, where mobile operator O2 was revealed as the exclusive launch partner.

A touchscreen device that can be used as a telephone, internet browser, MP3 and video player, the iPhone launched in the US less than three months ago and has already sold one million units.

"We're thrilled to be partering with O2 to offer our revolutionary iPhone to UK customers," said Apple chief executive Steve Jobs. "Not only are O2 the biggest and most popular UK operator, it really feels like home," he added.

O2's chief executive, Matthew Key, was equally enthusiastic.

"The first time I used an iPhone, within two minutes I knew it was a breakthrough product," he said.

The iPhone will be available in the UK in one version only, with 8GB of storage, after sales patterns in the US showed that there was little interest in the 4GB version.

O2 will offer three tariffs costing £35, £45 and £55, all of which will allow unlimited internet access via Wi-Fi networks or EDGE technology. The contracts are 18 months long.

The iPhone will be available to buy from the Apple Store, O2's retail outlets and the Carphone Warehouse.

www.apple.com/uk/iphone

More news via RSS Post item to Del.icio.us Post item to Digg.com