To much excitement and fanfare, Orange have today officially launched the Apple iPhone 3GS making the operator the second UK network to get Apple’s highly coveted device. For those living under a rock for the past three months, the iPhone ending its exclusive deal with O2 has been the most talked about story in the mobile industry. With the phone also coming to Vodafone in early 2010, Orange have got a very minor head start and aim to take full advantage. To find out what Orange iPhone customers have to look forward to, read on…

Well, for starters, unsurprisingly Orange customers will be getting exactly the same iPhone 3GS that O2 users have been enjoying for the past six months. For the uninitiated, this means you’ll be getting a phone in either 16GB or 32GB flavour with that glorious 3.5 inch capacitive touchscreen (with multi-touch/ pinch zooming etc.), enhanced 3.0 Megapixel camera with video capture and editing facilities, HSDPA, Wi-Fi and GPS and access to north of 90,000 apps from the revolutionary app store. But we already knew all this, what’s new about the Orange iPhone?

Well, the tariffs remain largely unchanged. Orange have introduced a new 24 month tariff at £29.36 (and either £122.34 or £220.21 up front for the phone) which entitles users to 150 minutes and 250 texts and unlimited visual voicemail, Wi-Fi and data (with data capped at 750MB per month). The 18 month version of the same tariff also gains a slight advantage offering double the minutes and texts; 150 compared to O2′s meager 75 minute offering and 250 texts versus O2′s 125. Other than that, Orange’s tariffs mirror those of O2; hardly a pricing war. So, why Orange then? Why should you plump for the Orange iPhone over the tried and tested O2 version?

Well firstly, the perks of being an Orange customer are still true for Orange iPhone customers. Orange Wednesday’s, Orange’s 2-for-1 cinema ticket promotion, is available and even makes its way to Apples device in the shape of an app. The Orange Wednesday’s app downloads the promotional code straight to your phone (no more texting), finds film reviews and other information, find local listings and even let you email friends the location and time straight from the app. And the price of this perk? absolutely free. Want more? Well, Orange iPhone 3GS users will also be able to take advantage of Magic Numbers. For those unfamiliar with the service, Orange lets you nominate another Orange number and then make unlimited calls to you Magic Number absolutely free. Better still, after six months you can add another Magic Number; the longer you stay with Orange the more numbers you can add and the more you can save.

There’s also the small matter of coverage. If you’re getting an iPhone, chances are you’re going to be getting through a fair amount of data (trust me on this one). Orange offers the widest 3G coverage of all the UK networks meaning if you’re looking for 3G reception for speedier downloads and web browsing, you’re more likely to get it on Orange. With the iPhone 3GS officially launching on Orange today and in stock now at Mobiles.co.uk, click here to check out our available offers. The Orange iPhone; the iPhone you’ve been waiting for.