The French wireless company Orange announced today that it has struck a deal with Apple to sell the popular iPhone in the Middle East, Africa, Central America and several European countries. In a short st
atement the company said it will sell the iPhone in Austria, Belgium, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, Jordan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Switzerland and African markets. Sales will begin later this year.
Orange will have the exclusive right to sell the cell phone in Belgium and Romania. In other countries the company will have co-exclusive or non-exclusive sales rights. The United States, Britain, Germany and France are four other counties that have exclusive sales agreements between carriers and Apple.
Apple has also contracted with Rogers Communications to sell the iPhone in Canada; Telecom Italia to sell the iPhone in Italy; and Vodafone to sell the device in 10 countries, including Australia, India and Turkey.
The reach of the iPhone is becoming truly global. It only needs to sign a deal with a Chinese carrier to create a marketplace that reaches most of the world’s population.