PARIS (Thomson Financial) - France Telecom chief executive Didier Lombard said he expects the situation regarding its Orange unit's exclusive deal to market Apple Inc's new iPhone mobile phone to be resolved by the end of November.
In an interview with French regional daily the Republicain Lorrain, he gave no indication however of the likely outcome of what has been reported to have developed into a dispute between the two groups.
Lombard announced on Sept 20 that Orange had been selected as the operator to distribute the iPhone in France, but Apple has not yet confirmed this and press reports have suggested he may have irritated the US group by announcing a deal too early.
The two groups are also reported to have clashed over the size of the commission Apple is claiming for each new iPhone contract. tfn.paris@thomson.com ses/slj COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Financial News Limited 2007. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Thomson Financial News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Financial News.