Reports are coming in from Les Echos, a French newspaper, which states Apple is currently pushing Orange to subsidize iPhone prices in order to move more units. So far the sales of French iPhones have been very low coming in at just 825 units each day. Of course since Europeans are typically not accustomed to paying such steep prices (€400 for the phone with a contract requirement) it comes as no surprise that sales are extremely low. If the plan is implemented then French iPhones will be as inexpensive as those in Britain and Germany (€100 with a €90 per month plan).
Rumors about the new 3G iPhone have been widespread since the first hint of the new technology being released. In the first week of April rumors revolved around a new company that will specialize in unlocking the current iPhone models that many assumed was part of a widespread April Fool’s joke. Other falsehoods included plans for Apple to license the iPhone OS to third-party manufacturers. It is becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish between fact and fiction where the new 3G is concerned. Newsworthy reports however, did make their way to the crowds including the pictures that developers were showing off at the end of the week claiming them to be the much anticipated 3G makeover pictures that consumers have been waiting anxiously to see.
This week a German telecommunications company reported that it plans to cut the prices of the Apple iPhones that they carry. The proposed price slash will bring prices down from $629 to just $156. The offer is planned to be implemented on April 7 and run until June 30 according to Deutsche Telekom AG. The offer will be available to T Mobile customers who subscribe to an XL service contract that runs about $140 per month. They also plan to offer a starter service of just $45 per month which will come with an iPhone at $393. Deutsche Telekom AG is one of few operators that are authorized by Apple to distribute the iPhone, and the only carrier in Germany.