French Web Site Sells iPhone Before Launch, Undercuts Orange

PARIS -(Dow Jones)- A French Web site has started selling Apple's much-hyped iPhone again, flaunting the exclusive deal between Apple and France Telecom's Orange brand before the iPhone's official launch Wednesday.

The iPhone has been available on phoneandphone.com since Monday, tied to contracts with Orange's rival operators in France, including Bouygues Telecom, a subsidiary of Bouygues, and Virgin Mobile, said a spokesman for phoneandphone.com.

An iPhone with a Bouygues Telecom contract is priced at EUR299, undercutting the EUR399 that Orange has said it will charge for the handset with a contract.

Phoneandphone.com had been selling the iPhone previously, but following legal threats from Apple it agreed at the end of October to hold off selling the phone until it came on to the European market.

France Telecom and Bouygues Telecom declined to comment on the matter.

Earlier Tuesday, France Telecom Chief Executive Didier Lombard said the company expects to sell close to 100,000 iPhones in France before the end of 2007.

-By Jethro Mullen, Dow Jones Newswires; 33 1 4017 1738; jethro.mullen@dowjones.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

Posted to the site on 27th November 2007