Mobile communications provider O2 has been trying to step up the competition after Orange signed a deal with Apple ending O2’s exclusivity with the Apple iPhone.

Mobile communications giant O2 has enjoyed exclusivity when it comes to Apple iPhones for some time, but recently two rival mobile networks also signed deals with Apple, stripping O2 of its exclusivity. One of these rivals, Orange, has already started selling iPhones whereas the second one, Vodafone, will start dealing with iPhones in the New Year. Already Orange has reported great success on its first day of selling the iPhones, managing to shift thirty thousand units in the first day.

According to reports O2 is now looking at ways to try and step up the competition in order to try and stop consumers from leaving and going to the rival provider, as well as to try and stop new customers from choosing the rival provider over O2. This includes the offer of free home broadband for consumers that decide to take advantage of the tethering capabilities of the iPhone. This means that for less than ten pounds consumers get 3GB mobile data and home broadband.

It has now been announced that both O2 and Orange have access to a Sky Sports application that will cost six pounds per month, and this programme will allow iPhone uses to enjoy Sky Sports as well as other Sky Channels. However, in order to remain competitive, O2 is enabling it O2 customers to enjoy a free trial of the Sky package for the first ninety days, which will give it an edge over Orange when it comes to this application.

Competition amongst the two providers is stiff, and whereas O2 is trying to tempt consumers by offering free home broadband and the free trial of the Sky package, Orange has its own tactics, and has been claiming that it offers far better coverage in the hope of attracting consumers that want increased reliability.

Source – T3