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Czech carrier drops the iPhone from its portfolio, says Apple asks too much

By Daniel Petrov

Published: Nov 03, 2011, 9:42 AM

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Czech carrier drops the iPhone from its portfolio, says Apple asks too much

Now we are used to see carriers doing crazy things like locking themselves in four-year contracts worth billions, just to be able to offer Apple's iPhone in their lineup, hoping to recuperate the costs over the lifetime of the contracts.

What we are not seeing often is the reverse process, but here we go - the Czech subsidiary of Telefonica has decided not to offer Apple's iPhone 4S, and drop any other iPhone from its portfolio, for that matter. A spokesperson has cited Apple's business terms to be the main culprit for that decision.

Now we know that carriers are usually sponsoring Apple north of $400 apiece for the privilege to sell the iPhone 4S, but these have always been the terms, although high-end Android phones often command smaller premiums. Still, the iPhone has always been more expensive in Europe and the Czechs might have decided they can't recuperate such a subsidy. Other carriers in the country, like Vodafone, are still offering the iPhone variants.

via Bloomberg

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Daniel, a devoted tech writer at PhoneArena from 2010 to 2025, has been engrossed in mobile technology since the Windows Mobile era. His expertise spans mobile hardware, software, and carrier networks, and he's keenly interested in the future of digital health, car connectivity, and 5G. Beyond his professional pursuits, Daniel finds balance in travel, reading, and exploring new tech innovations, while contemplating the ethical and privacy implications of our digital future.