iPhone to head to the outback

With firm dates for the iPhone’s appearance on the European continent (even if limited only to the UK, France, and Germany), thoughts begin to move farther afield. Apple’s said that they plan to continue their expansion into Asia in 2008, but what of specific news of deals with providers in other countries?

Well, according to the CEO of Telstra, the largest telecommunications company in Australia, they’re in discussions with Apple over bringing the iPhone to the land down under.

[CEO Sol] Trujillo said Telstra would be interested in the device if it delivered an enhanced experience for their customers.

“The answer is simple: yes we’d be interested and we’re exploring that option,” he said.

“We’ve had conversations with Apple and a lot of others and what’s interesting now is that everybody’s now responding to the Apple iPhone.

That’s kind of a turn from back in February, when Telstra’s #2, Greg Winn, said Apple should “stick to its knitting.” Winn has since allegedly been fitted with a lovely crocheted gag.

Of course, it’s not all candy and rainbows: Telstra uses a technology called “Next G” that operates in the 850MHz frequency and supposedly requires specialized handsets (the iPhone’s Quad-band radio does, however, work at 850MHz, so I’m not sure how much alteration is necessary). And, of course, the question remains as to whether Telstra will pony up the same sorts of deals as other providers.

Mr Trujillo said deals struck between Apple and AT&T in the US, O2 in the UK, T Mobile in Germany and Orange in France - all believed to involve revenue sharing - would have no bearing on a possible deal between Apple and Telstra.

Yeah, good luck with that one, Sol.

Category: News

Posted by Dan Moren on Oct 31 2007, 1:43 PM ET

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