Orange says it will have iPhone 5

TELECOMS company Orange is banking on the new Apple iPhone 5 as its main weapon as it bids to recoup the 2.3 million subscribers it has lost since the arrival of Free Mobile on the market.

Chief executive Stéphane Richard told L'Express he had just returned from the US where he met Apple chief executive Tim Cook. He said: "We will have the iPhone 5, but I cannot reveal the date when it will be launched."

However, Foxconn, the firm that manufactures the iPhone, has hinted it will be June..

Orange lost 800,000 subscribers directly to Free Mobile and the rest have switched to other operators who had reduced tariffs to compete with the newcomer.

Some commentators have suggested that operators are not willing to match Free's tariffs but prefer to compete on the price of phones. While both Orange and SFR have the latest iPhone 4S 16Gb at €149, and Bouygues has it at €179 - all tied to contracts - Free is selling the phone outright, priced at €562.
Photo of Stéphane Richard: © Caroline Doutre - abacapress pour Orange