Mobile Phones in France

[GoldenIP]

Hi guys,

Apologies for not writing this in French. As you may or may not be aware, the iPhone has just been released in the UK. I'm interested in buying one but at the same time, I'm also moving to Dubai within the next couple of months.

With O2 in the UK, if you get the iPhone, you have to lock yourself into an 18 month contract which makes it pointless for me.

However, in conversation with my dad, he believes he read an article saying how France forbids any locking of mobile phones.

I have three main questions:

a) Is this true?
b) If it is, is there any problem with me buying an iPhone in France and using it in the UK and subsequently in the UAE when I move there?
c) If I was to buy the iPhone in France, would the phone be set up in French i.e. all the text and functions in French.

I much appreciate your assistance.