Telenor iPhone deal

Norway's Telenor has signed a deal with Apple that will allow the carrier to distribute the iPhone in Sweden, Denmark and Norway. The agreement will bring new competition with TeliaSonera, the only company that offered the handsets in Scandinavia until now. Apple was expected to offer the iPhone solely through TeliaSonera in the area, although both carriers initially expressed interest in the phone and the agreement with Telenor was under consideration last year.

Telenor last year considered acquiring TeliaSonera, after the latter carrier rejected a big by France Telecom. Norwegian committee chair Ola Borten Moe backed the idea, suggesting a merger would prove beneficial. A takeover could create an entity with a strong hold on the Scandinavian markets.

The status of the merger talks remains unknown, although the Telenor launch could be moot if the acquisition is successful.

by MacNN Staff