UK: Orange to offer iPhone from November 10

Potential iPhone customers in the UK this morning are learning that Orange will offer Apple’s device on its network from November 10.

The Times informs that’s the day after O2’s exclusive contract with Apple to offer the phone in the UK comes to an end. Over 200,000 UK customers are thought to have signed-up for information on the device when it reaches the network.

Orange has still not revealed prices or tariffs on the device, with analysts split as to whether new competitiveness in the UK market will see a price war on the product emerge.

Vodafone will also offer the iPhone in the UK starting next year, while the UK’s smallest operator, 3, has also said it hopes to begin selling iPhones by mid-2010.

It is interesting to reflect that during the Mac User Awards (a UK Mac publication) which were hosted on October 22 a series of nominations and awards were read out. While most nominations were met with friendly applause by the industry crowd gathered at the event, a nomination for O2 (as an ISP) was met with a very awkward silence. Perhaps the most picquant criticism of industry reaction to O2 iPhone network coverage yet.