O2′s stranglehold on designers and media types across the UK will soon come to an end, thanks to the expiration of it’s exclusive deal to provide Apple’s iPhone. Rival Orange is muscling in on the action, and in a brief statement released this morning announced that it would be offering app-hungry consumers a chance to get a piece of Britain’s coolest brand later this year.

“Orange UK and Apple have reached an agreement to bring iPhone 3G and 3GS to Orange UK customers later this year,” it said. “Orange, which has the largest 3G network covering more people in the UK than any other operator, will sell iPhone in all Orange direct channels including Orange shops, the Orange webshop and Orange telesales channels, as well as selected high street partners.”

Details are scarce, with no exact dates or pricing plans confirmed. It’ll be interesting to see if 02′s arguably inflated tarriffs are undercut though, and the stage could be set for a juicy pre-Christmas price war. If Orange’s proposed merger with the UK arm of T-Mobile goes through, the iPhone will be available to a rather hefty customer base of more than 49 million across the UK.