Today sees the launch of Apple's iPhone in Ireland.

The smartphone finally goes on sale in the Emerald Isle with mobile phone operator O2 - 5 months after it's been available in Britain.

Apple are offering the 8GB iPhone for 399 euros or the 16GB iPhone for 499 euros.

The compulsory 18-month tariffs have been criticised for being particularly uncompetitive.

The 45 euro monthly contract gives 175 minutes, 100 texts and 1GB data, for 65 euros you get 350 minutes, 150 texts and 1GB data and a whopping 100 euros gets you 700 minutes, 250 texts and the same data.

Irish users do not get free The Cloud Wi-Fi access, nor do they get Apple's "Visual Voicemail".

The iPhone will be available via Apple, O2 and Carphone Warehouse, the same as in the UK, but reports suggest that the Carphone Warehouse will only be offering the 8GB model until mid-April.

Today also sees the availability of the iPhone in Austria through T-Mobile.

>> Link - O2