Apple iPhone To Be Sold Through Two Carriers in Italy

Global cell powerhouse Vodafone, world's largest cellular carrier by revenue, announced on Tuesday that it has entered into a deal with Apple to sell iPhones in ten countries.

"Later this year, Vodafone customers in Australia, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Greece, Italy, India, Portugal, New Zealand, South Africa and Turkey will be able to purchase the iPhone for use on the Vodafone network," Vodafone said in a statement.

Also on Tuesday, Italian carrier Telecom Italia said it would also be selling the iPhone.

The deals mark the end of Apple's exclusive carrier arrangements, which is speculated on the blogosphere to come from lackluster European sales as customers waited for the 3G version's release this summer and were put off by the iPhones steep price tag.

"We have long held the view that iPhone deals have been over-hyped and are not a reason to rush to change one's earnings estimates," said Mark James, analyst at Collins Stewart, told Reuters. "If the product begins to be sold by multiple operators, the main winners are likely to be the vendor, distributors and consumers."

Apple has contracted with British carrier O2 and Deutsche Telekom in Germany so Vodafone will not sell the iPhone in Britain and Germany. In the U.S., only AT&T is authorized to sell the iPhone.