Apple is reported to be demanding that European mobile operators T-Mobile, Orange and O2 pay it a 10% share of their revenues from its iPhone.
The Financial Times Deutschland said the mobile firms had accepted Apple's demand because they believe that the iPhone will bring them new customers and boost their image.
If confirmed, this would ring in a new era in relations between mobile phone makers and operators, who have always refused to give handset manufacturers a cut of their subscription fees.
The iPhone is due to be launched in Europe at the end of the year. The official announcement of the names of the three operators who will hold the European licences for the phone will be made at the Ifa electronics fair taking taking place in Berlin from August 31 to September 5.
