Back in September, UK mobile operator Orange announced that it would bring an end to O2's exclusivity over Apple's hugely-popular iPhone handset by offering the device later this year.
Details were thin on the ground, but The Guardian has today revealed that Orange will start selling the iPhone on November 10th - a day after O2's exclusive deal with Apple expires.
Information regarding pricing and tariffs remains unknown, but with O2 and Orange locking horns in the run up to Christmas, a price war could be in the offing. Although Orange is yet to confirm the launch date itself, it currently offers customers the opportunity to register their interest at interest.orange.co.uk.
Following the expiry of O2's exclusive deal, Orange will become the first UK operator to offer Apple-branded mobile phones. Meanwhile, rival operator Vodafone is expected to offer Apple's iPhone early in 2010 and will hope to cash in over the Christmas period will an exclusive of its own; the BlackBerry Storm 2.