Vodafone still in running for iPhone deal

Vodafone today said it will get another chance to win a contract to distribute Apple's iPhone in Europe. Company CEO Arun Sarin said Vodafone will "absolutely" be able to negotiate with Apple in the next six to 12 months, after the company failed to sign contracts in Germany as well as France and the UK. Those have instead gone to T-Mobile, Orange and O2, respectively. Sarin made his announcement in speaking with reporters in Mumbai, India.

Vodafone was initially considered a strong contender for a European iPhone contract, since it is one of the largest cellular providers in the world and has pan-European coverage. CEO Arun Sarin has since gone on record as rejecting a near-term deal, noting that the current iPhone does not support 3G Internet and could thus be considered backwards in areas used to broadband, such as Scandinavia.

Filed under: Apple