Laws in France Keeping iPhone Away

This past friday, Orange is now seeing the possibility of not having an iPhone on store shelves for the holidays.

“The risk we’re evaluating this week is that Apple crosses France off,” says Les Echos, quoting an employee of Orange. Apparently the problem is that there’s a French law requiring iPhones to be sold both with and without contracts (Or unlocked as well as locked.), putting a hindrance in both exclusivity for Orange, and revenues for Apple.

Besides that law, there’s another also putting the strain on the device since 1998. This law requires any phone to be unlocked at the user’s request, for a fee during the first six months, and free afterwards. All 3 French carriers who have tried to argue with this law, including Orange, have failed.

Will these laws keep Apple from debuting the phone in France? All we can do is wait and see if Apple bends to adapt.

Thanks: Engadget , Marketwatch

Tags: app, Apple, iPhone, News, OS, unlock

Related posts:

1. Update: “locked” unlocked French Apple iPhones are really unlocked, Orange says
2. Orange: iPhone still coming to France in November 2007
3. Orange reports 70,000 iPhones sold in one month in France

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