Apple Said to Consider Becoming a Mobile Carrier by Leasing Network Capacity in U.S. and Europe

[macnewbie91]

Because MobileMe, Apple maps, and Apple Music are just so successful...stick with Hardware and operating systems, Apple.

Everyone knew Apple Maps was going to be a work in progress. The program/application was essentially built from the ground up and did need time to mature. I don't see nearly as many complaints about Apple Maps anymore. Apple Music is a perfectly fine service, which I use, and how can you turn down a 3 month free trial where you can download every song in the app store? MobileMe was a failure though, I do agree with you there.

I'll give Apple the benefit of the doubt and say the company will be successful at launching a phone service. Apple could just buy Sprint from Softbank and dump loads of money into the towers, which would then improve coverage.

 

[31 Flavas]

Bring back unlimited data and I'll switch

Both T-Mobile and Sprint still offer unthrottled unlimited data.

Except coverage is terrible

OK, so unlimited data on T-Mob or Sprint is straight out unacceptable. In your words, "Coverage is terrible". But, if Apple becomes an MVNO and offers unlimited data -- you'll sign right up, sight unseen. Even though, as mentioned, to keep pricing competitive service would likely have to come from one or the other.

So what is it, you'll by anything Apple branded?

Besides, my understanding is MVNOs and their customers are second in line for phone and data service when demand is high and cell towers are congested.

 

[itguy06]

Beat me to it. I like what john Legere is trying to do, but there is a reason why most people stay with AT&T and Verizon and pay their prices.

Most people? You do realize T-Mobile is beating them all in net adds for over a year now, right? Sure, AT&T and Verizon have the lions share of the market but T-Mobile is getting better and getting all the positive press.

That being said, Apple could whip out the checkbook and purchase T-Mobile and still have Billions left over to improve that network. T-Mobile already has nationwide AWS licenses and someone with long term vision and bankroll like Apple would be an awesome fit.

 

[cmChimera]

Seems it already has become a mob when you look at some of its newer employees...

What is that supposed to mean?

 

[Denmac1]

No thanks.
While software is correct and hardware is excellent, service definitely is the weak part of Apple.

Agree. They are beginning to spread themselves too thin. I believe their focus is being lost. Tim is letting the inmates run the asylum. Many people don't like ATT, but I've had excellent service and coverage since I bought iPhone back in 2007. Why would I change? I don't believe that there will be a huge difference in pricing.

 

[iConnected]

THIS is the killer app - Apple gear, Apple network.

 

[flaw600]

I don't think many people are actually reading the article... or the headline

Apple would be leasing network capacity from the established players. Tons of smaller carriers do that same thing. Don't panic.

Smaller carriers typically lease capacity from one big player, not all of them. The problem is that not all carriers are created equal. T-Mobile's coverage sucks but speed is good. AT&T's coverage is decent, but speed excels. Verizon's coverage is excellent but speed is slightly slower than AT&T's. Sprint just sucks all around. If Apple were to lease space from all of them, then there might not be a reason to stick with carriers, but on the other hand, we don't know how financing will work, what carrier advantages there may be (every carrier has perks) that we'd be giving up, etc. Smaller carriers are small lol

 

[flaw600]

Agree. They are beginning to spread themselves too thin. I believe their focus is being lost. Tim is letting the inmates run the asylum. Many people don't like ATT, but I've had excellent service and coverage since I bought iPhone back in 2007. Why would I change? I don't believe that there will be a huge difference in pricing.

This is just a rumor and not everything they test make it to market.

 

[Denmac1]

Most people? You do realize T-Mobile is beating them all in net adds for over a year now, right? Sure, AT&T and Verizon have the lions share of the market but T-Mobile is getting better and getting all the positive press.

That being said, Apple could whip out the checkbook and purchase T-Mobile and still have Billions left over to improve that network. T-Mobile already has nationwide AWS licenses and someone with long term vision and bankroll like Apple would be an awesome fit.

True, they do have the money, but it doesn't seem like they are willing to spend it. As far as long term vision.......beginning to lose faith. How many times has Tim said in the last two years that they have some amazing products coming down the pipeline. Nothing exciting, IMHO, that I can see.

 

[iConnected]

Seems it already has become a mob when you look at some of its newer employees...

Another day, another anti-Apple slur from Mr Frost.

You might almost imagine he was getting paid for it...

 

[flaw600]

You think? Big boys where making phones before the iPhone. Where are they now?

I think he was referring to the carriers, and the carriers never made phones. Branded them, sure, but didn't make them. And the carriers are doing fine

 

[Alumeenium]

terrible idea, MVNO's Mobile Virtual Network Operators are huge money pits

I would dump all my APPL stock if they go through with this idiotic idea

 

[Denmac1]

This is just a rumor and not everything they test make it to market.

True, however services have been very weak and IF they were to do this, it may not be the best.

 

[swarmster]

This would be the absolute best thing Apple could do for the iPhone. Better customer service, better rates, and features like wifi calling wouldn't be left to languish unsupported for years by the big carriers.

(Coincidentally, wifi calling would likely save an MVNO a ton of money.)

 

[k1121j]

OMG sign me up.. I'm sure there business practices will be better then the big two

 

[c.d.embrey]

Is this "Shooting Yourself in the Foot V3.0?" The Apple lawyers and the FTC lawyers, must be on a first name basis by now.

At one time the motion picture studios owned everything from top-to-bottom. They owned the means of production (studios). They owned theater chains that showed the movies. They owned distributors who distributed movies to few theaters that the studios didn't own. The Feds came in and told them NO, NO, NO—you can't do that anymore.

 

[tennisproha]

Except coverage is terrible

yeah I'm mean T-Mobile is ****ing awesome. if only they'd provide better coverage.

 

[Sloppy.Joe]

Apple Mobile: you're first 5 Gb will be free.

 

[31 Flavas]

Apple is known for charging high premiums, so I'm not sure how competitive they would be BUT, more options: more competition. Bring it on.

If they could swing a deal where they lease service from all 4 major providers, VZW, ATT, T-mob, and Sprint and the SIM chooses service based on which signal is present / strongest (Similar to Google Fi) then they might be able to charge a premium. But, what would be an acceptable "premium" price? $100/mo, per line?

 

[Mactendo]

Lame. I'll be waiting for Apple cereals.

 

[Saucesome2000]

I don't know. Just leave it up to the big boys to do it.

There is no bigger boy than Apple and competition is a good thing. Everyone complains about how much they hate Verizon and AT&T. If Google and Apple both jump in the game, they will have to dramatically improve in every way.

 

[Heltik]

If they became an international carrier and allowed roaming and data usage internationally (within reason) as part of their domestic package, I know of no business person who would not sign-up to their ecosystem immediately.

 

[^^BIGMac]

I don't need unlimited data. I just need my phone to connect calls at my home and a couple of GB of data.

AT&T came up with the Micro Cell to take care of phone call problem. I'm happy...who knows what kind of coverage Apple might end up with?

 

[lazyrighteye]

Details pending, this is what I had hoped for since the original '07 launch.
As an unlimited AT&T customer, that hope has only strengthened every day since.
And if this somehow, magically opened the door to also kicking Comcast to the curb... I struggle to find adequate words to capture what that might feel like.
I welcome the mere thought, let alone the reality.

 

[LordBeelzebub]

Me too!

I said Apple would become a carrier years ago when I learned that it originally wanted to have its own wireless network powered by wifi. Death to AT&T and Verizon!

LOL Be careful what you wish for. You remember how overpriced apples products and services are?