Vodafone is seeking a Qatar-specific agreement with Apple to sell the American consumer electronics and software company’s iPhone in the country. Vodafone has a global agreement with Apple to sell iPhone through the mobile service provider’s retail stores and other marketing channels. That agreement, however, does not cover Qatar. Confirming this to Gulf Times, Vodafone Qatar chief executive officer, Grahame Maher said the country’s second mobile service provider was trying to work out a deal that enabled it to exclusively sell iPhone gadgets in Qatar. “It is true we have a global agreement in place with Apple. But for some reason, Qatar does not figure in it. At the same time, Apple’s website says iPhone is available at Vodafone stores in Qatar. This has caused some confusion,” Maher clarified. Maher said a Qatar-specific agreement was required to sell the Cupertino, California-based Apple’s iPhone and other gadgets in the country. “We will do all that we can to have the iPhone in the Qatari market. We are in constant touch with Apple,” Maher said. Following the global launch of iPhone last year, Apple announced that the ‘revolutionary phone’ would be sold in Qatar through Vodafone’s retail stores. Customers in Qatar will have easy access to Apple’s iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS, if Vodafone succeeds in concluding a Qatar-specific deal with the American consumer electronics and software major. Currently, an 8GB model of iPhone 3G and the 16GB and 32GB models of iPhone 3GS are available in the international market. Maher added that some Vodafone-made ‘unique’ mobile handsets would be sold through its retail shops in Qatar. Vodafone is the fifth largest handset brand in the world. Vodafone’s first retail store was opened at the Landmark Mall yesterday. The company plans to roll out five more retail stores in the city within two weeks. “We are also working closely with all big handset manufacturers in adapting handsets particularly for us. We will bring all their exciting new devices to the country,” Maher added. http://gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=302959&version=1&template_id=36&parent_id=16

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