My source is adamant this is correct

Seems a strange one. With the new iPhone 99.99% likely to he announced less than a week before that date, it wouldn't make a lot of sense to begin selling nokia's flagship touchscreen phone then.

That is unless this signals more than just the release of the N97 - the iPhone switching networks.

vod never suggested that their n97 agreement was exclusive so it sounds plausible.

O2 are also rumoured to have not met their apple sales target.