As was widely expected, Apple finally got round to launching the iPhone in the UK this morning at an event from the London Apple Store. Mr Steve Jobs himself made the trip over to make the announcement alongside the head of O2. The iPhone will be released on November 9th exclusively through O2. You’ll be able to get one from Apple, O2 or from the Carphone Warehouse.

I’ve been waiting for the iPhone for years now, I mean YEARS, and I’ve read so much about it all that I guess I was only going to be disappointed. No 3G for Europe, no 16Gb model, no MMS or unlock options. I knew there wouldn’t be but I couldn’t help hoping. It will be a standard 18 month contract, but we’ll get ‘unlimited’ data plans. (These are bizarrely actually limited)

I’m stuck with Orange until April, so rather than buy out early I think I’ll end up waiting for the iPhone v2 with 3G and maybe video calling & iChat. Let’s hope I don’t crack before then – it IS very lovely and it’s calling my name…