Cyber-squatters have been quick to pounce on the much-anticipated announcement of the UK launch date and chosen operator for Apple's iPhone.

Several key domain names were snapped up ahead of the UK launch on 9 November as cyber-squatters sought to exploit the expected frenzy.

Valuable domains relating to the iPhone and the major UK mobile operators have been linked to lucrative Google-style pay-per-click advertising.

"The iPhone launch is one of the biggest product launches of 2007 and has been just as eagerly anticipated by cyber-squatters as it has by consumers," said Jonathan Robinson, chief operating officer at domain name provider NetNames.

"Cyber-squatters have spent a great deal of time over the past few months securing as many iPhone and operator domain name combinations as possible based on speculation about the launch."

One cyber-squatter in particular has already registered 'www.o2iphone.co.uk', 'www.o2iphone.net' and 'www.orangeiphone.co.uk'.

All the domain names point to websites that feature pay-per-click advertising to make money from misdirected consumers, and some sites are even claiming to offer international unlocked iPhones.

Numerous other domain names have been snapped up by cyber-squatters in anticipation of the launch, including 'www.ukiphone.co.uk', 'www.02iphone.co.uk', 'www.tmobileiphone.com' and 'www.iphonevodafone.co.uk'.

NetNames stressed that it is paramount for organisations and brands to look at as many variables as possible when it comes to protecting their domain name portfolios.

"Online reputation is of the utmost importance to major international technology brands, yet many still overlook the threat from cyber-squatters, leaving their online reputations open to an untold amount of damage," said Robinson.

Charlie Abrahams, vice president of online brand protection company MarkMonitor, told vnunet.com that the cyber-squatters are infringing on Apple's and the operators' trademarks and that the companies could send cease-and-desist letters to the site owners to shut them down.

MarkMonitor said that it had seen an increase in trademark-infringing cyber-squatting from 286,000 cases in the second quarter of 2007 to 311,000 in the third quarter.