T-Mobile wins German iPhone contract

T-Mobile formally unveiled the iPhone with Apple on 19 September

Apple has confirmed that T-Mobile will be the network provider for the iPhone in Germany.

T-Mobile formally unveiled a deal with Apple on 19 September that will make it the exclusive German carrier for the iPhone when it launches on 9 November.

The operator had been rumoured to be among the European carriers in contention for the iPhone since it was released in the US in June.

O2 became the first European operator to announce a deal with Apple, becoming the exclusive UK carrier for the iPhone.

The third rumoured carrier, Orange, has yet to release any word on whether it will carry the iPhone in France.

German consumers will have to pay €399 for the 8GB iPhone, and sign a two-year contract with T-Mobile. No subscription rates were revealed.

T-Mobile was also quiet on any plans to carry the iPhone outside Germany. Reports earlier this week suggested that T-Mobile would expand its iPhone coverage to include The Netherlands, Austria, Hungary and Croatia.

Spokespersons for T-Mobile did not immediately return a request for comment.

As with O2, T-Mobile's iPhone service will use the Edge network rather than 3G. Apple chief executive Steve Jobs has justified his choice for the slower network as a way to boost battery life.

The company hopes to roll out a 3G-equipped iPhone some time in 2008.