The iPhone vs Europe battle royale has gotten a piece in the International Herald Tribune, which links the rumors of a possible change in iPhone business strategy in Italy with a report that Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) was pressuring Orange to lower its €399 (US$630) price for the iPhone to suggest that Europe is influencing Apple more than Apple is influencing Europe. In other words, the gadget company may need to change its strategy for the iPhone to succeed in the EU. Part of it may be bad timing, with softening demand for high-end phones in Europe. Another issue is that individual countries within Europe have different mobile phone habits..."In Germany and France, for example, consumers are conditioned to pay heavily discounted prices for new cellphones in exchange for one- to two-year service commitments...But in Italy, where the iPhone has yet to be sold, many cellphones are not subsidized and more than 90 percent of mobile phone users pay for their service as prepaid clients, refusing to sign binding multiyear contracts.”

It should also be noted that there have been rumors that the iPhone will be offered without a contract in Australia, and available through two carriers and Apple resellers.

• 3G IPhone In Italy Without Exclusivity, Revenue-Sharing: Rumor
• O2 UK Cuts iPhone Price By $200
• iPhone Rumors: 3G Coming In June for $399; Australia Is Next With Multiple Carriers and No Contracts