Mobile Entertainment has claimed to have seen documentation providing proof of a deadline for O2's exclusive hold on the UK iPhone for October 9th. This would mean that carriers like Orange or T-Mobile could begin selling the iPhone by the end of the year. O2 has been the official carrier for the UK iPhone since 2007, and while some have believed that they would continue their reign until 2012, there looks like general exclusivity will end before 2010.
Mobile Entertainment's sources continued to reveal that O2 could continue to hold exclusive rights to the iPhone 3GS, while the other carriers begin to sell the iPhone 3G. These reports are consistent with reports announced last month that T-Mobile has been in negotiations to begin carrying the 3G, and that they have already begun to hand out unlocked iPhone 3G's to some customers... but mainly high paying, high profile clients who are threatening to throw massive synchronized hissy fits at Liverpool Station.
O2 has neither confirmed nor denied these reports and has had a spokesperson state that "All I can say is that O2 has a multi-year exclusive on the iPhone... and this remains in place."
Via MACNN
