Gawker: valleywag, vodafone

BlackBerry Storm specs claim it runs iPhone software

Owen Thomas — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 02:40:00 EDT

Research In Motion's iPhone substitute, the touchscreen-equipped BlackBerry Storm, has debuted. Perhaps a bit hastily. In the U.K., it's sold by Vodafone, which has displayed a page of specifications. The screenshots show the Storm displaying the iPhone's characteristic icons and Apple's Safari Web browser. Has Apple licensed the iPhone's operating system to RIM? No, what this looks like is a rushed-out product launch, and an overeager Web designer. Another shot:

Apple adds iPhone partners in Asia

Nicholas Carlson — Mon, 12 May 2008 12:40:00 EDT

Apple will sell iPhones in Singapore, India and Australia through Singapore Telecommunications, Bharti Airtel, Globe Telecom, and SingTel subsidiary Optus, respectively. With the Optus deal, Apple will abandon its prior strategy to sign only exclusive deals with service providers; Vodafone, which operates a rival carrier in Australia, also agreed to a deal with Apple last week. [WSJ]

Vodafone to Steve Jobs: No hard feelings, right?

Nicholas Carlson — Tue, 06 May 2008 13:00:00 EDT

Late last fall, Vodafone successfully persuaded a German court to bar T-Mobile from selling locked iPhones in Germany, arguing that purchasers of Apple's smartphone should be able to choose any carrier. Don't expect the company to hold to those open-access beliefs now. Vodafone today announced it has signed an agreement to become the new service provider for Apple iPhones in Australia, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Greece, Italy, India, Portugal, New Zealand, South Africa and Turkey. No details on pricing or whether Vodafone will sell a long-rumored new version of the iPhone that will run on Vodafone's higher-speed 3G networks.

Ex-Microsoft mobile exec ends world's shortest retirement

Owen Thomas — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 17:00:59 EST

This morning, according to Microsoft, Pieter Knook, the company's wireless chief, "retired" after 17 years with the company. "Retiring" sounds so much better than "leaving for a better gig," doesn't it? Knook is actually joining Vodafone to head a new Internet division. He starts March 10. Pieter, next time, why not tell people you're taking a vacation? That would be easier.

Vodafone Deutschland had won a temporary...

Jordan Golson — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 18:35:48 EST

Vodafone Deutschland had won a temporary injunction forcing T-Mobile Deutschland, Apple's German iPhone partner, to sell an unlocked iPhone — which it did, charging customers $1,500. T-Mobile appealed and the injunction has now been lifted. Nicht mehr unlocked iPhones for you, Fritz! [BBC]

Vodafone Deutschland has won a temporary...

Jordan Golson — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 14:16:07 EST

Vodafone Deutschland has won a temporary injunction against T-Mobile Deutschland, Apple's German iPhone partner. The injunction orders T-Mobile to stop requiring iPhone purchasers to sign a two-year contract. A further hearing on the matter is scheduled for two weeks from now. [WSJ]