du hopes to offer iPhone soon

Dubai: du, the UAE's second entrant into the telecom scene, hopes to offer the iPhone to its customers very soon, Osman Sultan, chief executive of the operator told Gulf News on Sunday.

"We are in discussion with Apple. We cannot reveal much at this time," he said.

Osman stressed that du would like to see neutrality in the market. "If for any reason we are prevented from offering the phone, due to some exclusivity rule, then we will consider that this is not fair," he said.

The possibility of the iPhone being launched in the UAE seemed unlikely a few months ago as the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) said it would not allow an exclusive deal between Apple and a telecom operator to take place.

etisalat earlier launched the iPhone in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, and is now considering reducing its data package rates, according to reports.

Currently, etisalat is in discussions with TRA to reduce its charges and will do so once approval by the authority is given. Meanwhile, its BlackBerry users are increasing at significant rates.

It would be a good competition.
Umair
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 13, 2009, 15:14