Thoughts on Apple-Orange Agreement

As announced yesterday, Orange will distribute the iPhone in France from November 29th. However, several information are still missing:
- First one is the offer: what will be the subscription plans bundled with the iPhone and their prices?
- It seems that subscription could include an almost unlimited data option, but also free access to Orange hotspot.
- Subscription price will most likely be high to compensate financial return paid by Orange to Apple on each subscription.
- Unlike in other countries where the iPhone will be available, consumer will only be able to purchase it from Orange physical and online Shops, and NOT from the French online Apple Store. This is most likely to avoid having too many consumers buying it from the Apple Store and using it with another carrier after SIM unlocking it. Things might change when the first physical Apple Store will open in Paris (underneath Le Louvre pyramid).
- If by the law the iPhone will have to be available as a SIM unlocked device 6 months after its introduction, its price of 399€ as in Germany will be most likely bundled to a 24 months subscription. However, it remains unclear if it will also be available on November 29th for consumers having already a subscription plan with Orange, as it is already the case for all other models recently introduced (of course with a premium price, as it will not be new consumers for the carrier). With the TGV, London regent Street Apple Store is not so far, and frustrated consumers could easily get the iPhone from UK, then SIM unlock it afterwards to make it working with any French carrier (without all features activated of course).
PS: Congratulation to all employees of Apple France, as they will finally receive their personal iPhone.