French newspaper Le Monde is reporting that the Apple iPhone is now on sale in France but not by Orange as widely expected. While discussions between Orange and Apple appear bogged down, a Leclerc store (a department store chain) in Meurthe-et-Moselle has begun to offer an unlocked 8GB iPhone for €999. Contacted by phone by Le Monde, a Leclerc representative confirmed that the iPhone was on sale at that location and that such a move was perfectly legal but he still recommended that buyers not use iTunes to update their iPhone to avoid potentially bricking it.
An Orange representative who visited the store expressed little surprise at seeing the iPhone there and also said that Orange might not carry the iPhone before Christmas.
Note: The ‘More information’ link will take you to an article in French.
Source: Pocket PC Paradise