While all eyes are turned on Nokia’s N81 launch it seems Italy is now gearing up for the introduction of Apple’s iPhone. Rumours abound that TIM is in talks with Apple for Italian distribution. Details have not been issued, but the mobile arm of Telecom Italia Group – which now counts almost 54 million mobile phone lines worldwide, 26 million in Italy alone – looks to join ranks with O2 in the UK, Orange in France and T-Mobile in Germany.
The reported agreement with these first three EU countries is that Apple will receive 10% of revenue from use of voice and data services, so no surprises if the Italian deal echoes these terms.
Here’s hoping that some affordable mobile web tariffs are also on the cards for Italian users. Offering flat rate options for customers would minimize enormously the confusion many consumers in Italy have over the cost of mobile web use. Along with Conad’s recent mobile offering announcement, the arrival of the iPhone could provide TIM with a similar opportunity to introduce user friendly billing options that increase customer trust.
Adding Italian distribution to the deals already signed in the UK, France and Germany will further bolster the iPhone’s current success. Analyst reports tracking US sales have recently revealed that the company is well ahead of the stated 1 million sales target by this quarter end.
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