The end of O2's 2-year deal with Apple to exclusively market the iPhone in the UK, opened opportunity doors for other mobile networks. Orange was first to grab the chance. And now Vodafone has also managed to bag a deal. Vodafone will be selling the Apple iPhone starting next year. The mobile network operator have already started accepting pre-orders for the mobile handset.

Vodafone has already been selling the iPhone in countries like Australia, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Greece, Italy, India, Portugal, New Zealand, South Africa, Turkey. Now, with the inclusion of the UK and Ireland, the number of countries in which Vodafone stocks the iPhone has increased to 13.

Earlier, there were reports that T-Mobile would be buying Apple iPhones from foreign markets and selling them in the UK. However, this plan does not seem to have materialised.

The iPhone being available with three mobile networks in the UK, is actually good news for the consumer crowd. The tough competition might result in better mobile phone deals and mobile phone offers. Prices or monthly tariffs might also get lowered. Lets hope for the best.