Verizon in Talks to End AT&T's iPhone Monopoly
Verizon in Talks to End AT&T's iPhone Monopoly
Posted 04/27/2009 at 7:14am
| by Paul Lilly
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Citing people familiar with the situation, USA Today claims Verizon and Apple are at least talking about developing an iPhone for Verizon. If that were to happen, it would be the first time Apple has produced an iPhone for a CDMA wireless network, and come as a blow to AT&T, who has exclusive U.S. distribution rights until sometime in 2010.
"Breaking the iPhone exclusivity with AT*T is a huge thing," says Roger Entner, head of telecom research for Nielsen. "That would send shivers into AT&T's stock and senior leadership."
AT&T's iPhone deal has proved to be a lucrative one, as evidenced last week when the telco posted impressive wireless numbers. According to AT&T, it has signed up 1.6 million iPhone customers during the quarter, with 40 percent of them beng new to AT&T. It's mobile revenue was also up 40 percent.
AT&T would still boast the faster network if Verizon started selling iPhones, but Verizon's aggressive ad campaign, combined with the iPhone's immense popularity, would likely be a recipe for success, even if a bitter one for AT&T.
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ghot
April 27, 2009 at 10:51pm
Just like AT&T did, many years ago.....(cover the U.S. with copper lines) Verizon is now doing with fiber. I know this topic is about wireless, but here's the rub: When Verizon finishes covering the U.S. with fiber.....they will have the market share in ALL the various communication industries, because they will have the money! Once they have the landline comms locked down.....they will be able to out bid anyone for wireless licenses/contracts whatever.
Welcome to the new world.....you can just call it Verizon :)
P.S. for $69.99 / month (cheaper with package deals) I can DL Open Office in 34 seconds :D
Take an OS, and edit out all the efficiency, and what you have left is a post-XP Microsoft operating system :)
dracoman08
April 27, 2009 at 6:34pm
I have a verison plan now, and where i live, at*t doesnt get service. I'm usually not a fan of apple, but i bought a ipod touch and i've never had anything better. If i could have iphone instead, that would be so sweet
DrBeat
April 27, 2009 at 1:20pm
I hope this is true! Heck, I'd dump my CrackBerry Storm in one min to grab this thing! Even though I'm not a fan of Apple products (I've had bad itunes/ipod experiences) you can't beat the iPhone on Verison. Though I'd rather have the Andriod.
jook
April 27, 2009 at 1:09pm
hopefully verizon doesn't reduce the RAM and processor speed like they did to the HTC touch diamond and touch pro. if they do, i'm not buying a verizon iphone.
colinjm0517
April 27, 2009 at 12:09pm
Finally, AT&T sucks worse than a than the original Phenom in terms of coverage area. Verizon is Number ONE (1) when it comes to coverage area. Now I just might buy an iPhone.
jcollins
April 27, 2009 at 11:49am
What are speeds like on CDMA in comparison to Edge and 3G? I don't know how viable the iPhone would be on a slower network than what is on AT&T.
John56
April 27, 2009 at 10:50am
There is more information here too: http://www.nashville247.tv/News/Business/2009/04/27/iPhone-and-Verizon-talk-deal/1240850570.html
FrancesTheMute
April 27, 2009 at 9:05am
wow, habuza....don't be afraid to tell us how you really feel.
I'm not a Mac fanboy by any stretch of the imagination (and I'm defintiely NOT a hipster), but the iPhone is seriously the best smartphone I've ever used. I really hope this rumor is true, because I'll jump right back over to verizon, since my whole family is on VZW
habuza
April 27, 2009 at 7:58am
Are overpriced pieces of shit that hipsters use. MAC products = overpriced proprietary CRAP.
arkweld
April 27, 2009 at 10:50am
Thanks for that insightful comment on the telecommunications industry.
One of the reasons I stopped subscribing to MPC is because the level of commentary and readership seems to be about K12 level now. Even basic tech geeks know that Mac is not upper case. It's not an acronym.
MPC should change their slogan to "Maximum PC, Minimum IQ."
QUINTIX256
April 27, 2009 at 7:30am
http://verizonmath.blogspot.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCJ3Oz5JVKs
Need I say more? My dad had to deal with their retarded billing department, on a different issue entirely.
I have little interest in the iPhone, but I am sticking with at&t.
You can have your recession. I'm not participating.
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