Orange, France Telecom’s mobile operator and iPhone official distributor, announced that 30,000 units had been sold in just five days from the launch, which occurred on November 29. From these 30,000, 12,000 iPhones found their owners during the first day.

By comparison, according to a TMobile official, only 10,000 units were sold in Germany in the first day of availability.

Orange also unveiled that close to half of the iPhones were sold to new subscribers.

"This is a very good score, especially as one in two iPhone purchases is accompanied by a new Orange line subscription," Louis-Pierre Wenes, Orange's executive director for France operations, said in a statement Wednesday.

Orange sells the iPhone with 399 euros with a two-year subscription plan, but in order to comply with the French law, the company offers the unlocked iPhone for 649 euros or with other subscription plans for 549 euros.

Orange hopes to sell between 50,000 and 100,000 iPhones by the end of the year and 400,000 to 500,000 units during 2008.

Last month Didier Lombard, France Telecom CEO, said he hopes that the introduction of the iPhone, with its exceptional design and ergonomics, will also encourage French users to use the mobile Internet.