Update February 2009: An appellate court in Paris has upheld the decision that Orange SA may not be the exclusive service provider for Apple’s I-Phone in France. The decision conflicts with those in other countries, and Orange SA plans to seek review before the French high court.
As it has throughout the world, Apple reached an exclusive deal to sell phone service for the I-Phone for use in France. The French deal involved a 5 year exclusive with Orange SA. The French Competition counsel held that 5 years was too long and ordered that other carriers be permitted to offer service with an I-Phone. The investigation is on-going, but French authorities have stated that exclusive deals for future versions of the I-Phone should be limited to 3 months.