Vodafone has failed in its bid to have T-Mobile's deal with Apple in relation to the iPhone in Germany declared dodgy and illegal. As previously reported, Vodafone argued that the commitment German customers have to make to T-Mobile in order to get an iPhone was unprecedented and breached German rules on tying customers into contracts. The German courts issued a temporary injunction forcing T-Mobile to allow customers to take their iPhones to other networks, but yesterday judges ruled the exclusivity elements of the original contract were within the law, so the phone firm can go back to its original plan. Apple has a vested interest in its mobile partners having exclusivity clauses because they reportedly earn a percentage of ongoing network charges paid by iPhone owners as well as their cut of the original handset purchase.
Dec 6, 2007
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1 min read
Vodafone fail in bid to stop T-Mobile iPhone deal
A German court has ruled that T-Mobile's exclusive iPhone contract is within the law, rejecting Vodafone's bid to have it declared illegal.