At last, the iPhone hype is starting to down, and other news is starting to emerge! Having sold a rumoured 700,000 iPhones in the past 5 days, Apple are clearly pleased with themselves over the iPhone’s launch. Not only was it the fastest selling mobile phone ever, it was also the fastest selling consumer electronics device ever. Now that’s some going!

Looks like the hype machine really worked for Apple.

Before we leave the iPhone (at last!), though, a final word on which network operator will get it in the UK. After reports a few days ago suggesting it was going to be Vodafone, it now transpires that O2 has beaten the other UK mobile operators to it.

Whereas the other rumours were based on speculation from various files that were found hidden deep within the iPhone, this new report comes from none other than The Times, which is arguably a little more authoritative!

O2 are going to ridiculous lengths to become known as the premier mobile music operator, even buying the Millenium Dome and turning it into a music venue (and rebranding it the O2 along the way). As such, it makes sense for them to secure the iPhone, as whatever its faults, you can’t deny its impressive music playing abilities (let alone the automatic association with music that most will make with the device, given the success of the iPod).

Whether or not basing their future strategy on mobile music is a sensible idea is anyone’s guess, but one sure winner from all of this is Apple. Not only have Apple secured excellent commercial terms on the deal (which are so much in Apple’s favour that Vodafone walked away), selling the handset for around £300, they’ve also secured a continuing share of the revenue generated by every customer.

This must be the mother of all cash cows for Apple! Not only have they released a phone that’s expensive yet selling by the bucket-load, with a profit margin estimated at anywhere from 25 – 50%, they’ve also guaranteed a continuing revenue stream for each and every iPhone sold for years to come!

Apple’s shares (which have already doubled since the initial announcement of the iPhone)….BUY, BUY, BUY! ;)

[Source: The Times Online]