After the end of O2’s exclusive deal to sell the Apple iPhone, several players have entered the market, and supermarket brand Tesco is one of the operators hoping to cash in on the device’s popularity.
The BBC reports that Tesco will now be one of the retailers for the iPhone handsets along with Vodafone and Orange.
While Orange has already started selling the iPhone, Vodafone expects to start doing so early next year. In the meantime, a spokesperson for Tesco has said that they hope to be able to start selling the iPhone in time for Christmas. They have also said that their prices will be “competitive”, although no figure has been disclosed as yet.
O2 had an exclusive deal with Apple since the launch of the iPhone in 2007. The deal expired in September this year. During this time they were able to lure subscribers from other service providers and reported having sold more than 1 million iPhones.
Tesco Mobile’s iPhone offer will be a joint venture with O2 and they will sell the iPhone with contracts as well as on pay as you go tariffs. The handsets will be sold through their retail outlets and through their website, Tesco Direct.
All the new operators selling the iPhone are offering the 3G as well as 3GS handsets.
Competition between various operators might prove beneficial for consumers, in the long run, as it could trigger off a price war once the hype surrounding the devices wears down a bit.
