Japan and Spain in iPhone deals

Exclusive in-country deals have been part of Apple's iPhone strategy

The iPhone is to go on sale in Spain and Japan for the first time, after Apple struck deals with mobile firms in the two countries.

Japan's third-largest mobile firm, Softbank, and Spanish telecoms group Telefonica will bring the phones to their respective markets.

Apple has said that it hopes to sell about 10 million iPhones globally by the end of 2008.

But it is unclear whether either of the new deals are exclusive to the firms.

During previous launches Apple has given the contract to sell the iPhone exclusively to one network per country.

Earlier this year Apple and China Mobile called off talks to launch the handset to Chinese consumers amid speculation that the two firms failed to agree on a revenue sharing deal.

Analysts said that this meant iPhones were unlikely to be released in China anytime soon.

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