The iPhone will be available through Vodafone early next year
Mobile operator Vodafone is to start selling the iPhone in the UK and Ireland from early next year.
The announcement follows yesterday's news that rival Orange is set to break O2's exclusive hold over Apple's mobile phone.
However, Orange has some leverage over Vodafone in that it will be able to sell the device later this year, crucially in time for Christmas.
Although O2 has lost its two-year exclusive grip on the iPhone, the firm has managed to mitigate this by teaming up with Palm to be the sole operator for the upcoming Palm Pre.
Vodafone already sells the iPhone through 13 of its operating companies.
Like Orange, the company has yet to announce an exact date, pricing or tariffs, but these are expected to be extremely competitive in an effort to entice potential customers to hold out rather than opting for a competitor.
Vodafone has set up a pre-registration iPhone site for those wanting to sign up to automatically receive more information from the operator when it becomes available.
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