The exclusive rights to Apple's iPhone was obtained by Deutsche Telekom AG's T-Mobile unit for Germany, much like AT&T for the United States.

However, the company is currently facing legal issues due to a restraining order issued by a regional court in Hamburg. Accordingly, the case was started by T-Mobile's rival Vodafone Group PLC.

The latter is questioning T-Mobile's sales practices for the iPhone, citing limited use to T-Mobile's network and the mobile phone being available only  for the higher range of subscription fees.

"We're not taking any plans to replicate these actions anywhere else, or in the U.K,"  said a spokesperson from Vodafone. "It's a different regulatory environment. We want the iPhone to be available to everyone without being tied to a contract.".

T-Mobile, on the other hand, admitted that it has received the restraining order from the court. However, representatives from the company are saying that they are still looking into the matter and will oppose the preliminary injunction filed against them.