In sharp contrast to how the North Americans have started off, the Europeans (yup, including the UK) seem to be handling the whole iPhone 3G “second coming” with a lot more grace and — frankly — customer care. Witness Vodafone on the iPhone in Italy:

The 3G iPhone will be available to both contract customers, based on particularly simple price plans, and to pay-as-you-go users, and will include a wide range of data offerings. By choosing a contract price plan, such as iPhone Vodafone Facile, it will be possible, for example, to have an Apple phone at a particularly attractive price. People preferring a pre-pay plan for private users can buy the 8Gb iPhone for €499 or the 16GB model for €569.

Sure, the unsubsidized option sound expensive (around $750 for people on the left side of the pond) — but at least they’re giving it as an option! (AT&T, Rogers, look and learn!)

Meanwhile, Vodafone’s co-exclusive Italian iPhone 3G carrier, Telecom Italia and Apple have thus far announced the following:

Telecom Italia will be selling the 8GB and 16GB models of iPhone 3G to prepaid and contract customers. Telecom Italia will also be selling iPhone 3G with the “Tutto Compreso” [all included] package tailored to meet customers’ needs.

iPhone 3G in Italy: Pre-Order Now, No Contract Needed! is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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Another round of pre-WWDC mayhem:

First up, Ars Technica reported that AT&T followed the Apple Store’s lead in being sold out of the current generation iPhone (2007) model. Did Apple really underestimate demand so uncharacteristically and dramatically, or are they learning to wean consumers earlier this time? And any wonder the old iPhone’s market share has dropped, given that its been getting harder and harder to buy one over the last few months? Moday should fix that…

Next up, Apple Insider spread the unabashedly crazy-sounding rumor that UK’s O2 might subsidize the iPhone 3G to the extent of making them “free upgrades”. This links into other rumors of an ultra-low (~$200) price point for the iPhone 3G, with O2 willing to eat even that cost in an effort to attract tasty service-consuming users.

Lastly, Engadget works the bugs out of Google Translate enough to let us know that Reuters Italy has said that while co(?)-exclusive iPhone carrier Telcom Italia might not be selling the iPhone 3G early next week, they will most definitely probably be potentially announcing it. Wouldn’t be waiting for someone else to do that first, now would they?

Carrier Update: AT&T Sold Out, O2 Giving Them Out, & Telecom Italia Ready to Shout? is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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No sooner did Vodafone announce it would be carrying the iPhone in 10 countries, then previously rumored Telecom Italia chimed in with a hearty “anche io!” (”Me too” for you non-Romantics)

Apple Insider quotes:

“Telecom Italia announces today that it has signed an agreement with Apple to bring the iPhone to Italy within the year.”

Mama mia, Tim Cook wasn’t joking around when he said Apple wasn’t tied to any particular business model, now was he?

Is this something particular to the specific Italian market? A test-case for carrier non-exclusivity? Or a sign of how business for Apple will be done from now on?

What do you think?

iPhone Risk: Italy Redux + No More Exclusivity?! is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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