Store Hosts iPhone Intro Event

Steve Jobs used the Regent Street (London) store this morning as the backdrop for his announcement that the iPhone will be available November 9th in the UK, from the cellular carrier O2 for £269 ($535). Also on hand for the event was O2 CEO Matthew Key and Apple senior vice president of worldwide product marketing Phil Schiller. The phones will feature 2.5G technology only, and monthly charges will be £45, £45 and £55 for voice and unlimited data for an 18-month contract, Key said. Jobs said that activation and synching will be via iTunes, just like the U.S version of the iPhone. Unlike the U.S., O2 has arranged with Wi-Fi provider The Cloud to provide free access for iPhone users, apparently to make up for O2’s network, which is only 30 percent EDGE capable. [story and video report here.] [flickr photos]