Sept. 21 (Bloomberg) -- Vodafone Group Plc, after failing to win contracts in three of Europe's largest markets to distribute Apple Inc.'s iPhone, will probably get another chance within the next 12 months, Chief Executive Officer Arun Sarin said.

Vodafone will ``absolutely'' get the opportunity to negotiate with Apple within the next six to 12 months, Sarin told reporters in Mumbai today.

The world's largest mobile-phone operator by revenue didn't clinch any of the iPhone distribution agreements announced in Europe this week. Apple's phones, equipped with a music player and an Internet browser, will be sold through Deutsche Telekom AG's T-Mobile in Germany, O2 Plc in the U.K., France Telecom SA's Orange in France.

Sarin earlier this week told investors and analysts in New York that the Newbury, England-based company was looking forward to a faster mobile phone from Apple.

To contact the reporters on this story: Harichandan Arakali in Mumbai at harakali@bloomberg.net; Chitra Somayaji in Mumbai at csomayaji@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: September 21, 2007 01:03 EDT