It's not just customers and us geeks who are concerned about the lack of 3G in the first-gen iPhone; the latest rumblings from Vodafone UK seem to indicate real concern at the potential for the EDGE device in a market saturated with 3G options.  Vodafone Chief Executive Arun Sarin clearly tried to sweeten the criticism when he spoke on the subject to reporters today, but the statement still comes out sounding tentatively reluctant:

"It's clearly a good, software-driven device, but we're concerned about wideband area coverage so that 3G or HSDPA connectivity with the iPhone is something that we look forward to"

The concerns come at a time when rumour over which European operators will clinch exclusive iPhone deals with Apple is rife.  Vodafone was long predicted the likely candidate, until a surprise push by analysts suggesting rival carrier O2 had crept ahead.  With the UK market in particular being so cutthroat, Apple's negotiators may find themselves with a harder task than persuading concessions from AT&T in return for the cellphone:

"Every product, every alternative, every choice here has a price and we just have to be conscious of what it is that we're doing for our customers and our shareholders" Arun Sarin

[via Reuters]