Apple and AT&T signed five-year iPhone exclusivity deal

[Gathomblipoob]

Wasn't this all known back in 2007?

 

[Geckotek]

Wasn't this all known back in 2007?

It was speculation then. Apple has seemingly owned up to it in court. But still in a very vague fashion.

 

[SAD*FACED*CLOWN]

So you have a copy of the contract?

don't need a copy....2012 will be here before you know it....it helps if you don't stare at the calandar though

 

[Geckotek]

don't need a copy....2012 will be here before you know it....it helps if you don't stare at the calandar though

You need a copy to know what you are stating is fact.

Edit: I don't disagree that it is probably 2012. But stop making statements as facts unless you have the contract in front of you or your name is Steve Jobs.

 

[Plutonius]

I understand where your coming from, but why would want your iPhone on an even crappier network. Verizon may not have all the dropped calls that AT&T does, but the data is a helluva lot better than verizon. If apple dropped AT&T and went with verizon with it's inferior cdma network, the data would be total ****. Everyone would come back to AT&T anyway. But that's just my opinion, i have service where i need it, I don't use voice as much as data so i really don't give a damn.

Nobody has the best network everywhere.

 

[Hmac]

Could this be the end of VZW posts about getting the iPhone?

Doubt it

Crunchgear claims that a company called Landor Associates is already working on an ad campaign for Verizon's upcoming iPhone launch.

Ladnor has been working on Verizon branding since 2007 and is, according to a tipster, now hard at work preparing for the iPhone HD launch.
The rumor seems to be consistent with persistent rumors that Verizon will finally get the iPhone this year. We have to assume the original 2012 exclusivity contract with AT&T has since been renegotiated.

Historically, Crunchgear has been an unreliable source of Apple-related rumors, though leaked information through Verizon's ad agency seems plausible, especially given the number of Verizon rumors that have been circulating.

And additionally:

Engadget digs up some 2008 court documents that confirm that Apple and AT&T's original exclusivity agreement did, in fact, extend into 2012. From a court order (PDF):

The Agreement, which lasts until 2012, provides that iPhone purchasers who want voice and data services must sign a two-year service contract with ATTM. (Complaint P30.) Although the Agreement itself is not public, some of its provisions have been revealed in the press.
The 5 year timeframe was originally revealed by USA Today back in 2007. A 5 year contract would have maintained AT&T iPhone exclusivity into 2012.

However, at this point, it's not entirely clear if the original contract still stands. The Wall Street Journal reported in 2009 that AT&T's iPhone exclusivity is due to expire this year (2010). Apple and AT&T may have undergone contract revisions and negotiations since that time. Most industry experts seem to believe that AT&T exclusivity comes to an end this year with several whispers that Apple will bring the iPhone to Verizon's network in 2010.

 

[Geckotek]

Wow, June 7th can't come soon enough. Then all the hubub will die down for a bit.

I've decided this, unless an announcement is made on June 7th of a very near launch of a Verizon iPhone, I'll upgrade on AT&T. If a Verizon iPhone is released within the 2 years, I port my # back to Verizon and sell my AT&T iPhone to pay for it all.

But the back and forth rumors are starting to give me a headache!

 

[Hmac]

Here's another one to add to the mounting pile:

https://www.macrumors.com/2010/05/12/confirmation-of-the-verizon-cdma-iphone-manufacturer/

A new report (Taiwanese) seems to identify Pegatron as the manufacturer for a CDMA-compatible iPhone. Translation via Electronista:

Pegatron has been contracted to make a CDMA iPhone, insiders claimed today. The scoop is short but would have the ASUS manufacturing arm building phones that would likely go to Verizon and possibly other carriers as well. A deal would help Pegatron take off as a major supplier, DigiTimes said.
But this is not the first time Pegatron has been singled out as the manufacturer for a Verizon-compatible iPhone. The Wall Street Journal first revealed that possibility back in March.

The CDMA iPhone model is being made by Pegatron Technology Corp., the contract manufacturing subsidiary of Taiwan's ASUSTeK Computer Inc., said these people.
While there have been a lot of conflicting rumors over the past few months about the possibility of a Verizon iPhone, we consider The Wall Street Journal a reliable source for rumors, so place their predictions head of all the other conflicting reports. What's also telling of their accuracy is that the March 30th article also described the new iPhone as "thinner" with a faster processor. This report was well before the leaked images of the next generation iPhone which did reveal the thinner form factor.

The WSJ believes that the next iPhone will launch this summer, but the CDMA (Verizon) iPhone won't begin manufacturing until September.

I believe that the reason for WSJ's reputed accuracy for Apple rumors is because Apple is leaking the stuff to them.

At any rate, looking more and more like the original time frame, fall of this year, is indeed the release date. I'll be curious to see what, if anything, gets announced at WWDC, whether the CDMA iPhone becomes part of the general iPhone G4 announcement, or if that happens farther down the road.

 

[JoJoCal19]

I'll be curious to see what, if anything, gets announced at WWDC, whether the CDMA iPhone becomes part of the general iPhone G4 announcement, or if that happens farther down the road.

I will bet that the Verizon iPhone will be announced at WWDC if its coming this year. The reason is two-fold. Verizon would not want to have more customers flock to AT&T to get the new 4th gen iPhone and it also knows it stands to gain a bunch of customers from AT&T if it was made known that they were getting it soon. Also Apple would not want to have a bunch of people on Verizon end up disappointed only to turn to the Droid Incredible or other competing phones and be locked into a two year contract. I for one am just waiting until June 7th to know whether Ill be picking up a iPhone later in the fall on Verizon or getting the Droid Incredible.

 

[IgnatiusTheKing]

What people are forgetting is that the existence of a CDMA iPhone does not necessarily indicate that it is coming to Verizon.

 

[Hmac]

What people are forgetting is that the existence of a CDMA iPhone does not necessarily indicate that it is coming to Verizon.

True. Although it would certainly make the most sense relative to market size and as a move to slow down Droid penetration, I have to believe that negotiations between two hard-headed companies like Apple and Verizon would be difficult at best. It's certainly conceivable that they could fall apart again.

 

[kdarling]

What people are forgetting is that the existence of a CDMA iPhone does not necessarily indicate that it is coming to Verizon.

Yep, true.

Conversely, the lack of announcement of a Verizon phone or iPad at say, WWDC, does not necessarily indicate anything other than that a gag clause might be still in effect at that time.

 

[Fireproof!]

Wow, June 7th can't come soon enough. Then all the hubub will die down for a bit.

People will still speculate on whatever is not said.