Rumour has it Apple’s exclusive offer with the iPhone may end within the next few months. November could see the iPhone being opened up to other networks for the first time within the UK. And it comes as no surprise… the exclusive has served its purpose and for Apple, getting out of the exclusive now would pay off immediately. For 02 it might not work out so well, reports show that the keyword iPhone drove 5% – 10% of traffic to it’s website, and that’s just one little word. If the iPhone does open the door to other networks, it will provide fierce competition within the market, great for consumers, not so for the struggling companies.

A November get-away seems the most likely outcome, Apple have been moving away from exclusive deals in other countries, in France, for example, figures show since they ended the exclusive with Orange, the apple market share has increased by 40%. In America, there’s a lot of speculation surrounding the AT&T exclusive.

02 could still continue to sell the iPhone, but not as an exclusive. 02 is apparently in discussion with Apple about what arrangements will be put into place come November.