Vodafone exec “could have” halted iPhone sales, didn’t

Today’s development in the T-Mobile/Vodafone/iPhone in Germany case thickens the plot. Apparently, the reason for Vodafone filing suit because they feel that customers should not have to sign two-year contracts in order to purchase the iPhone. Once again, file this under things that would never happen in America. This seems a bit too altruistic. We’re thinking that Vodafone has ulterior motives. Do you?

German Vodafone cheif exec Freidrich Joussen issues his statement:

“We want it to be available to buyers without a mandatory calling plan”, he said. “If I had wanted to halt sales, I could have, but I didn’t.”

Does this mean that Vodafone would like T-Mobile to offer the iPhone on a prepay basis, so that the phone can be unlocked and used on their network? We’re thinking that’s one possibility. Who knows? Maybe they’re really acting in the name of the greater good. Our American biases doubt that, though.

T-Mobile issued a brief response. It’s in German, so we can’t read it. So we’ll rely in a gist-of-it translation:

The release issued by T-Mobile outlines the fact that iPhone customers get preferential tariffs and services and access to T-Mobile HotSpots.

The company is continuing to offer the iPhone now, and plans to appeal against the court’s ruling.

And then, for some reason, T-Mobile will offer an unlocked iPhone for 999 euros, compared to the 399 euros for the locked, two-year contract version. Beats us.

[Pocket Lint]

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