Apple Sets U.K. iPhone Launch

Updated from 6:43 a.m. EDT

Apple (AAPL Quote) laid out plans Tuesday to launch the iPhone in the United Kingdom, marking the first step in its broader plans to mine Europe for sales as the continent becomes increasingly vital to the company's growth.

At a press conference in London, Chief Executive Steve Jobs said Apple will begin selling the iPhone on Nov. 9 through an exclusive relationship with the carrier O2, a subsidiary of Spain's Telefonica (TEF Quote).

"We're thrilled to be partnering with O2 to offer our revolutionary iPhone to U.K. customers," Jobs said at the conference. "U.S. iPhone customer satisfaction is off the charts, and we can't wait to let U.K. customers get their hands on it and learn what they think of it." ...