3: ‘Apple was wrong to pick O2 for 3G iPhone’

3 claimed that O2 was the wrong network for the iPhone at its annual summer ball last week.

3 also promised distributor, dealer and retailer guests at the event that it was deadly serious about doubling the size of its business with new initiatives.

Indirect sales director Bernie O’Beirne said: ‘We are hell bent on doubling the size of the business.’

He claimed that the operator is poised for rapid growth, having built the biggest 3G network and grabbed a 40% share of Skype’s business. It is also set to benefit from any reduction in termination rates, and hinted that 3 would use any cuts to offer ‘all you can eat’ voice bundles.

O’Beirne claimed that Apple had picked the wrong partner. He said: ‘The iPhone is not on the right network, a handset is only as good as its operator.’

A spokesman later told Mobile that ‘O2 has the least developed 3G network’, and questioned its pricing policy.

3 gathered its indirect partners and some members of its retail sales force at a north London venue for its annual shindig.

However, there were few details were revealed of 3’s battle plan to double sales.