It's O2 Yes and 3G No for UK iPhone due out November 9

Apple announced that the UK subsidiary of Telefonica, O2, will provide service for Apple's iPhone in the UK and the iPhone will be available November 9. O2 claims to be the leading provider of mobile services to consumers and businesses in the UK.

The first European iPhone will be identical to the current U.S. 8GB version, ending speculation that it would be a "more advanced model" and work with faster, broadband cell phone networks labeled 3G. The UK iPhone will work with 2G EDGE technology supplied by O2 and Wi-Fi just like the U.S. model. It will sell for about $536 at yesterday's exchange rate, with most of the difference from the U.S. model ($137) being due to Britain's VAT (value added tax).

Activating the iPhone will be very similar, if not identical, to the U.S. process.

O2's service will differ significantly from AT&T's in that it will include unlimited Wi-Fi at 7,500 Cloud hotspots but otherwise it's very similar covering 200-1200 minutes, 200-500 text messages and unlimited data with visual voicemail. O2's monthly rates of $70 (200 min), $90 (600 min) and $110 (1200 min), are similar to the U.S. rates that do not include Wi-Fi but include more calling minutes.

We'd gladly give up 250 minutes for free Wi-Fi at, say, Starbucks. [Bill Fox]