The move could be interpreted as a clear sign that the 3G iPhone is underway. Last year it was reported that Apple and Vodafone failed to nail a deal regarding the iPhone distribution in Europe due to the lack of 3G capabilities.

At the time, Arun Sarin, Vodafone’s CEO, was quoted saying: "The iPhone is clearly a good, software-driven device, but we're concerned about wideband area coverage. 3G (capability) is something we look forward to and hope Apple moves forward to soon."

Also it seems like Apple could change its iPhone business model. So far, the iPhone is available in three European partners only through exclusive partners such as O2 in UK, Orange in France and T-Mobile in Germany.

But the Italian phone operator Telecom Italia (TIM) announced today that it would be sharing the rights with Vodafone to sell iPhone by the end of the year.

"Telecom Italia announced today it has signed a deal with Apple to bring the iPhone to Italy later this year," said TIM in a statement. 

Apple’s decision to allow multiple operators to sell iPhone in the same market could be also a method to boost the iPhone sales in Europe.