Apple Inc and France Telecom have finally reached a deal about the iPhone release in the country. The iPhone 3G will be sold in France just to the customers that use Orange mobile operator. The decision will become fact on Thursday, according to the Competition Council.

Yet, the watchdog competition wanted to allow customers to buy this phone from Apple with a contract from SFR and Bouygues Telecom, the rival operator. However, the promotion would last only for the Christmas holidays. SFR, owned by France's Vivendi SA and Britain's Vodafone Group Plc, stated that they would start selling the iPhone in only a few hours.

The spokesman for SFR added that they would contact Apple for a distribution contract as soon as possible.

Still, France Telecom said in Wednesday’s statement that they don’t agree to such a decision because it would put France in a different position toward Britain, Germany and Spain. In these countries, Apple has offered exclusivity deals too. But the council believes that the five-year exclusive deal with Apple is very dangerous because it could damage the competition market too much.

 An official from the council appealed for an immediate measure, but the examination of the matter would last for 12 to 15 months to be taken to an end. France Telecom, on the other hand, said that the council’s decision was risky and would “put the market economy into question.”

Orange’s sales of the iPhone 3G reached to about $308 million between its release on July 18 and November 5. France Telecom has sold 450,000 iPhones 3G until now.