Friday, April 25,2008 @ 11:05am
Apple promises to do better with European iPhone
Apple's general manager of operations in Europe, Pascal Cagni, has vowed that the company will improve sales of the iPhone on the continent. "We can incontestably do better in Europe," Cagni tells French newspaper Les Echos. While not completely disastrous, sales of the iPhone have been lower than expected in Europe, with France having only recently passed the 100,000 unit mark. Both Germany and the UK have slashed prices in order to boost sales, although this is likely to clear stock in advance of a 3G iPhone.
Apple will improve its situation in Europe, according to Cagni, in part by expanding to a greater number of countries, though he would not name any new candidates. The iPhone is currently being sold in the UK, Ireland, Germany and France; some destinations rumored for 2008 include Belgium, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands.
Cagni also mentions that people will soon have access to TV shows through the French iTunes Store, beginning sometime in the next few months. The move is essential if Apple intends to sell the Apple TV in the country, as there is otherwise little else to watch on the set-top without converting other media. Presently, only Americans have access to movie rentals and purchases.