Hamburg (Germany) - A district court in Hamburg, Germany has removed an injunction against T-Mobile, which forced the company to sell an unlocked iPhone. According to the ruling, T-Mobile once again becomes the exclusive seller and provider for Apple’s iPhone.

On November 21, carrier Vodafone was successful to place an injunction against T-Mobile, which brought an unlocked 999 Euro (about $1464) iPhone to German customers, in addition to the SIM-locked 399 Euro (about $589) iPhone that was launched on November 9 in Germany.

In its conclusion, the court said that the iPhone “is not just a new cellphone” but rather a package consisting of cellphone, features, services and networks. As a result, the exclusive availability through T-Mobile and a SIM lock are not considered a violation of German antitrust law.    

According to voices quoted in German media reports, the ruling could provide enough reason for more manufacturers and carriers to limit the availability of certain cellphones to certain networks – which has not been possible in Germany so far. In contrast to a subsidized distribution model, in which cellphones are practically given away for free in exchange of a 2-year service contract, locked up cellphones could be sold at much higher prices, creating a new revenue source for carriers.

A sad day

Dec 04, 2007 14:09     

Just a matter of time until you can only buy a NBC TV or CBS TV (even if both use the same channel). Need permission to unlock your own car door? I'm surprised PCs can still have Linux installed. These are all old topics. I'm starting to really hate Apple for spreading so many business models that further restrict what users can buy and how devices can be used. Just my 2 cents.
enewmen report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Wouldn't buy it anyway

Dec 04, 2007 14:20     

I think Apple has always been too proprietary. I never understood all the hoopla. Now mix Apple with the greedy cell phone industry and it gets a hundred times worse.
J Doe report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

How much?

Dec 04, 2007 14:48     

What kind of idiots would pay 999 Euros for a cell phone?
Azzr34l report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

That will fail

Dec 04, 2007 17:22     

999 real money? Eu is not america, this is bound to fail..... 499 mickey mouse currency is more than enough
Bob Kavanagh report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

You under estimate them

Dec 04, 2007 19:28     

Bob Kavanagh: Despite popular belief Europeans are much bigger suckers than their American cousins why else would the tolerate the over taxing currupt governments.
RX-7 Guy report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

There is no other PDA phones except the iPhone?

Dec 04, 2007 19:33     

From all the comments I saw thus far, seems there is no other PDA phone except the iPhone is selling in the US and EU. aybe Microsoft and Symbian is not taking care enough of you? Or just because they think US and EU customers are dump enough not to know there is options other than Apple? This may be the reason why so many people blaming for "exclusive" iPhone and carrier deals.
PoorPoorGuy report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

As far as I know, German law doesn't take precedent...

Dec 05, 2007 02:29     

As far as I know, German law doesn't take precedents as a source of law (as opposed to USA). No ruling may be based solely on another ruling. Perhaps, another time a different judge may come to a different conclusion. Anyway, people usually (unless they're some Apple fanatics or U.S. residents in general LOL) don't like to be manipulated and will not surrender their freedom of choice to some ridiculous company or product. Apple may hardly change European culture to American one... People are not buying this, I hope.

The Preacher report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

the unlocked ones

Dec 05, 2007 03:09     

will sell for a lot more than €999 on e-bay now. This is madness. I'm with the people who believe that it's not worth that much, but still there's a hype about it and history has proved that people are stupid
chewbie report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

re: you underestimate them

Dec 05, 2007 04:46     

as opposed to the un-corrupt, non-election fixing republican government currently in power in the US? the UK and italian government is corrupt, but the rest are OK. the i-phone will get killed off, as soon as someone takes apple to the European court about this. they are already in their cos of itunes, and the ipod (inability to put the songs you buy on the media you want)
themanfromeurope report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

@RX-7 Guy

Dec 05, 2007 05:22     

Because for all their failings, European governments have ensured us less poverty, reasonable public healthcare, public higher education, welfare, high environmental standards, fewer homicides (the list could go on...) than the US Government.
Daemonios report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

@RX-7 Guy

Dec 05, 2007 16:25     

Seriously buddy, your arrogance makes the rest of us in the USA look like idiots. I would much rather live in Europe (probably England). I cannot believe you would make a comment about corrupt governments when you live in the USA... seriously, open your eyes.
JackCrackerMan report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0