Exclusive: The iPhone in Europe

We have obtained information from reliable sources concerning the future of the iPhone in Europe. Those information are reliable enough to publish them.
For Europe, Apple is still negotiating with Orange and Vodafone for being the european carrier(s). It seems that discussion with Orange are going well and only 2 points remain to be clarified before leading to a final agreement. The first one is related to the price of the iPhone in Europe: Apple wants 700€/unit(around US$1,000) which is quite expensive for a smart phone, even a revolutionary model. Based on this price, Orange could offer it for 500€ with a 2-years subscription package. For sure, it will probably be the most expensive smartphones in Orange's catalog.
For the second point, and the most critical one, Apple wants the selected carrier to purchase a huge number of iPhones prior its launch. If Vodafone seems to be potentially able to agree, Orange does not want to sign a 9-digits check without further insurance. Indeed, the European iPhone is not ready yet, as it will support 3G, but Apple is currently facing problem with its 3G chip as it compromises the battery lifetime of the 3G iPhone. If Quanta seems to have already been selected for manufacturing the 3G iPhone, all steps required before the launch of the long-rumored Apple-branded phone in Europe are still not completed yet.