T-Mobile to open up iPhone sales

iPhone users are still tied to just one network in the US and UK

T-Mobile is to start allowing German customers to buy Apple's iPhone without a contract to its network, as it moves to comply with a court injunction.

Its announcement comes after rival Vodafone went to a German court to challenge T-Mobile's exclusive tie-up with the iPhone in Germany.

T-Mobile will now sell people just the handset for 999 euros ($1,477; £719).

This is a significant premium over the 399-euro price for those who also take out a two-year T-Mobile contract.

Similar tie-ups

Apple has similar exclusive iPhone arrangements with O2 in the UK and AT&T in the US.

T-Mobile added that customers could also now have the SIM lock on their iPhone removed, including those who have already purchased a handset.

This would allow them to switch to another phone network.

T-Mobile said in its statement that it would abide by the conditions "until the legal situation is resolved".