Anecdotal evidence at least that the iPhone 3G has widened interest in the whole smartphone sector, as the chief executive of Orange makes such claims.
Orange chief executive, Tom Alexander, this week said that the weekend in which Apple introduced the iPhone actually became the "best trading weekend of the year so far," for his company.
As he put it, people were excited to see the iPhone, came out to have a look at what the fuss was about, and then upgraded their existing handsets.
"People were excited by the product, came out to shop and found other great deals on the high street. Everyone has benefited from the iPhone," he said.
Speaking on July 11, Dominic Hulewicz, O2’s Head of Converged Services, expressed his surprise at the interest shown in the iPhone, which launched that day. “We’re seeing phenomenal demand," he said, "I was staggered," he added, noting that his experience using the iPhone along with a MacBook provided for debugging the device had actually inspired him to switch to Mac at home. As industry observers note, it's possible Alexander is being diplomatic, as recent weeks have seen some speculation (now denied) claiming Apple will allow Orange to sell iPhone in the UK, along with current carrier, O2.
O2 has moved to dismiss such claims.
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