Apple has signed up three operators for the iPhone in Europe, according to reports in the Financial Times.

T-Mobile is reported to have received the German contract, O2 the UK contract and Orange the French contract.

Apple has promised to start shipping the iPhone in Europe by the end of this year.

The exclusive right to sell the iPhone comes at a hefty price. The operators will have to pass 10 per cent of the iPhone subscription fees on to Apple.

The deals are expected to be officially unveiled at the IFA trade show in Berlin at the end of this month.

Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The company as a rule does not comment on products that have yet to be released.

The iconic status of the iPhone has enabled Apple to set unusual terms for operators. AT &T, which operates the device in the US, has reportedly signed a revenue sharing agreement as well.

As previously reported, operators in Europe have complained about Apple's " arrogance" and were forced out of the bidding process by the firm's demands.

Operators that sign up to the iPhone, however, can expect a healthy boost in image and market share.

AT&T signed up 146,000 subscribers in the first two days after the iPhone started shipping, although the operator has not disclosed what percentage of those switched providers.