A Paris court has rejected an exclusive iPhone distribution agreement between France Telecom and Apple, reports said Wednesday.
Orange is the wireless subsidiary of France Telecom.
The court said the pact constituted a “restraint on freedom.” France Telecom told reporters it was “shocked” and planned to appeal the ruling.
The court’s action follows a December temporary ruling by a regulatory board opening the way for rival Bouygues and others to sell the iPhone to French customers.
In a statement, Bouyges said it would begin offering iPhones as soon as talks with Apple complete.
The decision could cost France Telecom $130 million, the amount spent on marketing the iPhone since 2007, according to Bloomberg. Orange has sold more than 600,000 of the Apple handsets.
