Alors, Apple and Orange: ensemble enfin!

It’s a day to be remembered for fruit fans across the entire world—or, at least, France. Apple has announced the third of its triumvirate of European mobile phone providers and, to nobody’s surprise, it’s Orange. Previously, there had been rumblings that Apple and Orange were having disputes about profit-sharing, but they appear to have resolved whatever problems they were having. Apple CEO Steve Jobs and France Telecome CEO Didier Lombard make nice:

“We are excited to partner with Orange and bring iPhone to France in time for the holidays,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “iPhone is an amazing product and we hope mobile users in France will love it as much as we do.”

“The iPhone is a marvelous product and will change how people think about mobile. I’m delighted that it is launching in France through Orange, and I’m sure that our customers share my excitement. Our partnership with Apple is a natural fit because we are two global brands who share the same values of simplicity and innovation. It’s going to be a very merry Christmas for Orange customers all over the country!” said Didier Lombard, CEO, France Telecom.

The iPhone (8GB, bien sûr) will go on sale in France on November 29th for €399, the same price it’s fetching in Germany. French users will get all the functionality of the phone, including the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store.

And grasping for straws, all I can up with is paraphrasing the classic knock-knock joke: orange you glad they worked it out? Please, hold your groans until the end.

Category: News

Posted by Dan Moren on Oct 16 2007, 12:46 PM ET

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iPhone illustration by Joe Zeff Design Inc. // Design by Jason Brightman