Apple and O2 announced today that the iPhone – aka the “Jesus phone” – will debut in the UK November 9th. O2 will be the exclusive UK carrier for the iPhone.

Unique to the UK, iPhone users will have free access to the UK’s largest single public Wi-Fi network, covering over 7,500 cafes, restaurants, airport lounges, pubs and other locations across the UK.

“We’re thrilled to be partnering with O2 to offer our revolutionary iPhone to UK customers,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “US iPhone customer satisfaction is off the charts, and we can’t wait to let UK customers get their hands on it and learn what they think of it.”

‚ÄúOur strategy at O2 is to bring our customers the best products and experiences,‚Äù said Matthew Key, CEO, O2 UK.¬† ‚ÄúThe iPhone is a breakthrough that is changing the way people use their mobiles forever, and we’re thrilled to have it exclusively for O2 customers in the UK.‚Äù

iPhone users in the UK will be able to activate their iPhones using iTunes software running on a PC or Mac computer. iTunes guides the user through steps to choose their tariff, undertake a credit check and activate their iPhone.

iPhone users in the UK will have access to Apple’s latest music offerings on iPhone including the recently launched iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store. The iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store offers customers the ability to browse, search, preview, purchase and download songs and albums from iTunes over the built-in Wi-Fi on their iPhone. No computer is required and when the customer connects their iPhone back with their PC or Mac, their music automatically syncs back into their iTunes library.¬†¬†

Pricing & Availability

The iPhone is scheduled to go on sale on November 9 and will be sold exclusively in the UK through Apple‚Äôs retail and online stores, O2 and The Carphone Warehouse’s retail and online stores. iPhone will be available in an 8GB model for ¬£269 (inc VAT) and will work with either a PC or Mac. iPhone tariffs will be available from O2 starting at ¬£35, which all include unlimited anytime, anywhere mobile data usage and, in a market first, free unlimited use of the UK‚Äôs largest single public Wi-Fi network, covering over 7,500 cafes, restaurants, airport lounges, pubs and other locations across the UK.

iPhone requires a new 18-month contract with O2. Existing O2 customers will have the option of keeping their existing phone number and upgrading their account to work with iPhone while new customers can also transfer their current mobile number to O2.