Forbes says that Telefonica will pony up 178 million stg for the right to launch the iPhone in the United Kingdom - which is slated for launch sometime “soon.” But, Apple is keeping their European iPhones close to the vest - with France, Germany, and the UK being the only countries fortunate enough to have Apple grace then with an iPhone this Autumn.

The rest of Europe and Asian will get their chance at the iPhone in 2008.

We can’t say we’re all that surprised that O2 is getting the iPhone hat-tip from Apple - what, with Vodafone reportedly unwilling to bend to Apple’s demands. We’re starting to think O2 was indeed playing coy when they officially denied the initial iPhone-contract rumors. Oh, O2.Via forbes.com