News
Vodafone and Telecom Italia to sell iPhone
Stuart O'Brien May 6 2008, 10:01am
Vodafone and TIM have confirmed they will sell Apple's iPhone. Analysts happy.
In an unusually short ten line statement issued this morning, Voda confirmed it will be offering Apple's device in Australia, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Greece, Italy, India, Portugal, New Zealand, South Africa and Turkey.
No date for a launch was given other than 'later this year'.
It wasn't long ago that Vodafone CEO Arun Sarin famously chided the iPhone for offering a "pretty poor experience".
Telecom Italia, meanwhile, will also begin offering iPhone 'later this year', according to CNN/Dow Jones. The news was first hinted at back in April.
The TIM and Voda Italy deals mean the device will be available from two operators in the same market for the first time (assuming there aren't anymore further launch announcements, which there probably will be).
In Europe, iPhone is currently available in the UK & Ireland (O2), France (Orange), Germany and Austria (both T-Mobile).
Meanwhile, Macworld reports financial research and analyst firms have boosted their confidence of Apple stock, largely based on iPhone expectations.
American Technology Research yesterday changed Apple from ‘neutral’ status to ‘buy’ – and upgraded the target stock price to $210.
RBC Capital Markets also raised its price target on Apple from $200 to $220.
“We see upside potential to iPhone estimates following changes, in our opinion, Apple may make to its iPhone business model, expected to accelerate momentum and expand its global addressable market," said RBC.
