While the excitement over the iPhone builds here in the US with the upcoming June launch, Europe’s telecom companies are fighting over distribution rights. Right now, T-Mobile seems to be the biggest player due to its foray into the mobile music market. Vodafone and Orange UK are still interested, but might lose out to T-Mobile if they don’t play their cards right.

But T-Mobile might not even have exclusive European-rights to the phone says Gartner research director Martin Gutberlet. Europe has a fragmented cellphone market and each country could end up having a different provider selling the iPhone. He goes on to suggest that Apple go with multiple companies rather than just sticking with one. Sounds like the best bet.

T-Mobile ahead on iPhone deal [Macworld]