Apple kills carrier exclusivity in the UK, opens up iPhone to Tmobile and Orange

In a move that can only be described as "for the love of everything decent and holy, why not in the US?!?!"…Apple is opening up the iPhone to be used on Orange and Tmobile in the UK according to MobileToday.co.uk.  The liberation is set for September  BUT will not include the iPhone 3GS (ok, that is a big BUT). 

Orange and Tmobile obviously carry the iPhone in other countries.  O2 is apparently furious with the news but what do you expect when you announce that you’ll be carrying the Palm Pre in countries throughout Europe?

Apple is poised to open the iPhone 3G to Orange and T-Mobile in a bid to boost sales.  The move is set for as early as September and will end Apple’s two year exclusive deal with O2.  Crucially, the manufacturer will continue to give O2 exclusivity for the new, faster 3GS version, but will grant distribution of the older 3G handset to another network.  Orange and T-Mobile are known to have already begun pitching for the handset. T-Mobile’s call centres have also started telling customers it may stock the iPhone.  Both networks sell the iPhone in several other countries.  The addition of a new network selling the iPhone will break O2’s UK exclusivity on the coveted handset, and will offer a challenge to O2’s prices and tariffs.  Sources said O2 has been furious with the news and is concerned potential rivals will undercut its prices on the older model.

We wonder if Tmobile in the US would like to carry the iPhone 3G or if US consumers would appreciate a choice?