Well, Apple’s “special” event in London, “Mum’s no longer the word” has revealed a long awaited but no crippled product: The iPhone. Unfortunately the price is a lot more than the US version, have limited (30 % Data coverage on EDGE and GPRS) coverage but will be on O2’s network. 

Press Release Below

Apple(R) and O2 announced today
that O2, the leading wireless carrier in the UK, will be the exclusive UK
carrier for Apple’s revolutionary iPhone(TM) when it makes its debut in the UK
on November 9. iPhone combines three devices into one-a mobile phone, a
widescreen iPod(R), and the best mobile Internet device ever-all based on
Apple’s revolutionary multi-touch interface and pioneering software that
allows users to control iPhone with just a tap, flick or pinch of their
fingers. Apple sold its one millionth iPhone just 74 days after it went on
sale in the US on June 29.
  “We’re thrilled to be partnering with O2 to offer our revolutionary iPhone
to UK customers,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “US iPhone customer
satisfaction is off the charts, and we can’t wait to let UK customers get
their hands on it and learn what they think of it.”
  “Our strategy at O2 is to bring our customers the best products and
experiences,” said Matthew Key, CEO, O2 UK.  “The iPhone is a breakthrough
that is changing the way people use their mobiles forever, and we’re thrilled
to have it exclusively for O2 customers in the UK.”
  iPhone users in the UK will be able to activate their new iPhones using
Apple’s popular iTunes software running on a PC or Mac computer in the comfort
and privacy of their own home or office, without having to wait in a store
while their phone is activated.  Activating iPhone takes only minutes as
iTunes(R) guides the user through simple steps to choose their tariff,
undertake a credit check and activate their iPhone. Once iPhone is activated,
users can then easily sync all of their phone numbers and other contact
information, calendars, email accounts, web browser bookmarks, music, photos,
podcasts and TV shows just like they do when they sync their iPods with
iTunes.
  In addition to all the revolutionary features that made iPhone so popular
in the US, iPhone users in the UK will have access to Apple’s latest music
offerings on iPhone including the recently launched iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store.
The iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store offers customers the ability to browse, search,
preview, purchase and download songs and albums from iTunes over the built-in
Wi-Fi on their iPhone. No computer is required and when the customer connects
their iPhone back with their PC or Mac, their music automatically syncs back
into their iTunes library.

  Pricing & Availability
  iPhone is scheduled to go on sale on November 9 and will be sold
exclusively in the UK through Apple’s retail and online stores, O2 and The
Carphone Warehouse’s retail and online stores. iPhone will be available in an
8GB model for 269 pounds sterling (inc VAT) and will work with either a PC or
Mac. Three new great value iPhone tariffs will be available from O2 starting
at 35 pounds, which all include unlimited anytime, anywhere mobile data usage
and, in a market first, free unlimited use of the UK’s largest single public
Wi-Fi network, covering over 7,500 cafes, restaurants, airport lounges, pubs
and other locations across the UK.
  iPhone activation will require an Internet connection; an iTunes Store
account or a major credit card; the latest version of iTunes available at
http://www.itunes.com and a PC or Mac with a USB 2.0 port and one of the following
operating systems: Mac OS X v10.4.10 or later; Windows XP Home or Professional
with Service Pack 2 or later; or Windows Vista Home Premium, Business,
Enterprise or Ultimate Edition. iPhone requires a new 18-month contract with
O2. Existing O2 customers will have the option of keeping their existing phone
number and upgrading their account to work with iPhone while new customers can
also simply and easily transfer their current mobile number to O2.
  O2 is a leading provider of mobile services to consumers and businesses in
the UK.  These services include voice, text, media messaging, games, music and
video, as well as always on data connections via GPRS, EDGE, 3G and WLAN.
Every month, O2’s 17.8 million customers send well over a billion text
messages. O2 UK is part of Telefonica O2 Europe which comprises mobile network
operators in the UK, Ireland and Slovakia along with integrated fixed / mobile
businesses in Germany and the Czech Republic. Telefonica O2 Europe also owns
50 percent of the Tesco Mobile and Tchibo Mobilfunk joint venture businesses
in the UK and Germany respectively as well as having 100 percent ownership of
Be, a leading UK fixed broadband provider.