The iPhone has sold millions of handsets all the world over. However, Apple has failed to leverage its popular iPhone into the 10 million sold goal in part because of Europe. Apple plans to change this as is evident of recent events: T-mobile is now the exclusive vendor of the iPhone is Germany; Orange recently announced its exclusive deal in France (and rumored in Romania and Belgium). Failure is bliss only for the wireless carriers and not for Apple: T-mobile in Germany has sold 70,000 and British O2 just fewer than 200,000. If Apple wants to sell 10 million iPhone handsets the golden rule in America - “Thou Shall Not Discount the iPhone” - must be thrown away, or at least re-written.

Already proof is arising that Apple realizes this with T-mobile and O2 announcing they will be subsidizing as low down to 99 euros in some cases. Moreover, back in America AT&T has agreed, along with Apple's permission, to subsidize the iPhone making it cheaper with a two-year contract. Will Apple reach its goal? So far the report for 1st Quarter of 07' by Apple was approximately 4 million, and as the reports (and this blog) suggest the overseas hype of iPhones is about half with 1.7 million headsets being bought in Europe. Of course, with all the unlocked iPhones out there we perhaps will never know how close Apple is to their goal...

*iPhone is scheduled to go on sale on November 29 and will be sold in France through Orange’s on line and direct retail stores. iPhone will be available in an 8GB model for €399 including V.A.T. for any subscription to one of the dedicated rate plans and will work with either a PC or Mac.