OPTUS has become the second mobile carrier to announce it will release the iPhone locally, confirming Apple does not have an exclusive deal in Australia.

"Optus, SingTel, Bharti Airtel and Globe today announced that they have signed an agreement with Apple to bring the iPhone to Singapore, India, the Philippines and Australia later this year," the company said in a statement.

The announcement comes exactly one week after Vodafone announced it will release the iPhone locally.

Optus' revelation confirms that Apple does not have an exclusive deal with an Australian carrier.

It is not known if the handset will be completely unlocked, and thus available on all mobile networks, or locked to Optus and Vodafone.

Apple's new non-exclusive approach in Australia was predicted last year by legal experts who claimed that an exclusive contract would breach local competition laws.

Optus's announcement signals a dramatic change from the original iPhone launch in the US and UK, where the handset was locked to one carrier in each country.

No launch date for Australia is known despite the iPhone being released in the US almost one year ago.

The announcements by Optus and Vodafone are the first official confirmation that the device will be on local shores soon.

Two weeks ago, Optus refused to comment on rumours it would releasing the iPhone in Australia by the end of June.

Apple is holding its Worldwide Developer's Conference (WWDC) in June, where the company is expected to make an announcement regarding the 3G iPhone.