Apple and Orange announce iPhone deal for France

Apple and Orange have finally made their partnership over the distribution of the iPhone in France official on Friday.

Orange will be the exclusive carrier for the iPhone in France. The device will sell for 399€ ($564) with dedicated Orange voice+data plans. No details have been provided regarding the plans that will be offered for the phone.

We are excited to partner with Orange and bring iPhone to France in time for the holidays," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "iPhone is an amazing product and we hope mobile users in France will love it as much as we do."

"The iPhone is a marvelous product and will change how people think about mobile. I'm delighted that it is launching in France through Orange, and I'm sure that our customers share my excitement. Our partnership with Apple is a natural fit because we are two global brands who share the same values of simplicity and innovation. It's going to be a very merry Christmas for Orange customers all over the country!" said Didier Lombard, CEO, France Telecom in Apple's official press release.

The phone will be available at Orange retail stores as well as on Orange's web site starting on November 29.

The French version of the iPhone will have access to features such as the iTunes Wifi store. The press release confirms the device's activation will work on PC and Mac operating systems through the latest version of iTunes.

According to a report from the French Magazine, Challenge, Orange will share 30% of its subscriptions' revenue with Apple. It is also suggested in the report that Apple will offer a more expensive unlocked version of the iPhone which will sell without a voice and data plan because France's law does not allow the sale of phones with a subscription if the price isn't subsidized.

The announcement confirms an August 13 MacScoop report which indicated the iPhone was coming in France on November with Orange as carrier in a deal that includes subscriptions' revenue sharing.