Just days after Apple announced that O2 and T-Mobile would be official carriers for the iPhone in the UK and Germany respectively, Orange have confirmed that they have won the contract to supply the handset in France.  The network, part of the France Telecom group, was predicted to clinch the deal months ago, and an iPhone apparently using the network was spotted earlier this week.  France Telecom CEO Didier Lombard delivered the news at a press briefing in Hanoi today:

"We have signed the agreement ... It's an important product for us because a lot of French consumers love technology and want this product in their pockets"

While no release date was specified, Lombard did say that they intend to begin selling the iPhone before Christmas, most likely in November.  This would tie in well with the November 9th release in both the UK and Germany.

Similarly mysterious is the expected price of the handset, which Lombard confirmed would not be subsidised by Orange.  The iPhone - which will only be available in 8GB form - has been priced at £269 in the UK and €399 in Germany, compared to the recently discounted $399 (equivalent to £199 or €284) you'd pay in the US. 

France Telecom currently has 23 million subscribers to its Orange network, although there has been no real prediction as to how many of those would consider a change to the iPhone nor how many customers of rival networks plan to make the jump.

[via Apple Are]