So we can't tell you quite yet who'll be official carrier for the iPhone in Germany, but we can say where you'll be able to buy it from.  A major department store chain, Karstadt, has announced that they're hoping to get the handset in by Christmas, in a report that as yet we've neither had confirmation of from Apple nor word that the disclosure was officially sanctioned.

Keeping the air of mystery, Karstadt said it was "too early to say" whether the iPhone would be sold in Germany with or without a contract, leaving open the possibility for a pay-as-you-go model either for those with poor credit records or those unwilling to sign a contract.

Apple Europe declined to comment.