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With Apple's major media event scheduled for tomorrow, the company's plans for wireless carrier arrangements in the U.S. for the iPhone and tablet device remain unclear, with reports coming down on all sides of the issue.

Regarding the iPhone, AT&T has long been thought to hold exclusivity in the U.S. through mid-2010, although a recent report has claimed that it will be losing its exclusivity at Apple's media event tomorrow. Claims of a Verizon-compatible iPhone have also fed the hype over new carrier arrangements coming in the very near future for the iPhone, although reports have differed over when such a launch could occur. In fact, just yesterday, an analyst claimed that T-Mobile will be the first to break AT&T's exclusivity this summer, with Verizon and Sprint having to wait until the fall.

The question of what carrier or carriers would offer wireless data access for Apple's tablet device, should it offer the connectivity as many expect, similarly remains shrouded in uncertainty. Reports dating back many months have claimed that Apple has been working with Verizon on the tablet project, with more recent reports continuing to hint at such a possibility. Boy Genius Report even reported yesterday that Verizon is holding a quarterly update meeting with its store managers tomorrow, with staff expected to view a "live webcast" scheduled for 1:00 PM Eastern time, coinciding with Apple's media event.

The tablet may not be a Verizon-exclusive, however, if other reports are correct. An analyst report earlier this month pointed to support for multiple carriers, with another article just last week claiming that Apple is in last-minute negotiations with both AT&T and Verizon over wireless access for the tablet. Daring Fireball's John Gruber, who has offered accurate information on Apple's plans in the past, has said that he believes the tablet may even be an AT&T exclusive, although a multi-carrier arrangement involving both AT&T and Verizon may be an option.

Despite all the months of rumor and speculation regarding the assumed impending end of AT&T exclusivity for the iPhone and Apple's carrier plans for its highly-anticipated tablet device, the picture remains unclear. Tomorrow's media event should certainly offer clarity to the situation with respect to the tablet, with many hoping that the company has news to share on the iPhone front as well.

Article Link: Apple's U.S. Carrier Arrangements for iPhone and Tablet Remain Muddled
 
Just curious... if iPhone goes to say Verizon or T-Mobile .. will I be able to put my call on speaker phone and do other activities like browse safari or send a Tweet?

I was told AT&T is the only network that allows this.
 
I see Verizon in Apple's future. Why be tied in to only one carrier when you can have them all. Think about it. RIM is on all carriers.

Apple wants to be on all of the carriers. It's in their best interest.
 
I seriously doubt ANY announcements will be made regarding the iPhone or any other product for that matter--I suspect quiet refreshes to the laptops, but not any mention on the keynote.

Apple wants the event and media coverage to focus on it's new "creation" and any announcements for any other products, including any news regarding the iPhone and its expansion to other carriers in the US would be a distraction from the main event.

If Apple has any announcements to make having to do with the iPhone there will be another separate event so people hoping for any iPhone news will be sorely disappointed tomorrow.
 
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 3_0 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/528.18 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile/7A341 Safari/528.16)

Where can I watch this live webcast they speak of? How unfair Verizon can see it and I can't.
 
Just curious... if iPhone goes to say Verizon or T-Mobile .. will I be able to put my call on speaker phone and do other activities like browse safari or send a Tweet?

I was told AT&T is the only network that allows this.

Yes for T-Mobile, no for Verizon when on cellular data. Yes to both when on wifi.
 
I wonder if the full version of the iPhone would be on Verizon or just only a "lite" version.

As much as I dislike AT&T's 3G coverage, from what I have read is that it's much faster than Verizon and will only get more faster with the potential of iPhone users switching to Verizon.

So if I get an iPad, I have no clue if I should get Verizon or AT&T...
 
I seriously doubt ANY announcements will be made regarding the iPhone or any other product for that matter--I suspect quiet refreshes to the laptops, but not any mention on the keynote.

Apple wants the event and media coverage to focus on it's new "creation" and any announcements for any other products, including any news regarding the iPhone and its expansion to other carriers in the US would be a distraction from the main event.

If Apple has any announcements to make having to do with the iPhone there will be another separate event so people hoping for any iPhone news will be sorely disappointed tomorrow.

That's a good point I hadn't thought of, I bet you're right and it's all tablet focused! :apple:
 
I still don't think it's gonna matter. I think we'll see two tablets ala iPhone/iPod Touch. One with 3G and WiFi and one with only WiFi. Most people will probably use the tablet with WiFi and not want to pay for another contract. I'd expect to see tethering with the iPhone finally available which would make 3G on the tablet not really required. Then it won't matter which carrier you have as long as you have an iPhone.
 
Unlock from AT&T

With exclusivity with AT&T ending, does that mean AT&T will allow unlocking for current owners provided they have spent their 2 year time in captivity.
 
I see Verizon in Apple's future. Why be tied in to only one carrier when you can have them all. Think about it. RIM is on all carriers.

Apple wants to be on all of the carriers. It's in their best interest.

My Sprint Blackberry also came pre-loaded with all kinds of Srpint crap and other crap software i don't want. Verizon blackberries are the same way. do you want your iphone to come preloaded with crap apps you don't want and can't delete?

Verizon is also forcing all BB owners to use Bing. do you want the same on a VZ iphone?
 
Just curious... if iPhone goes to say Verizon or T-Mobile .. will I be able to put my call on speaker phone and do other activities like browse safari or send a Tweet?

I was told AT&T is the only network that allows this.


OGM UR SO FUNEH BECUASE U TOOK TEH SAYING OF TEH COMERCIAL!11!!!!!!1

No seriosuly why do you need to bag on AT&T's commercial? :(
 
According to Local AT&T store

Nothings going to happen, and that they have the exclusive rights till 2011 or beyond.

Keep in mind now this what "THEY" said, and there a corporate store :D

Like what has been said before, it would be very very interesting to see the i Phone goto Verizon, and than see all the former vzw people jump ship and go back to vzw.
 
Just curious... if iPhone goes to say Verizon or T-Mobile .. will I be able to put my call on speaker phone and do other activities like browse safari or send a Tweet?

I was told AT&T is the only network that allows this.

Only T-Mobile and AT&T will allow simultaneous talk and surf on the iPhone. Sprint and Verizon won't have that kind of capacity.

However, interesting though, I am starting to think AT&T will relinquish their iPhone exclusivity if Apple gave them something else... say the Tablet's exclusivity. It could well be possible that AT&T is simply shifting their priorities now.
 
Wasnt it just mentioned a few days ago by Walt Mossberg that the tablet wont need a 3G chip because it will be tethering with your iPhone via bluetooth.

Makes sense. Why have 2 contracts when the first has unlimited data?
Plus it means they can then sell more iPhones this way.

Got to love the halo effect.
 
This is the one thing I think no one has a clue about.

Hardware rumors match up, software rumors are somewhat in agreement..but the carrier situation is a complete mystery.

Most likely because negotiations are still going on as we speak...

Wasnt it just mentioned a few days ago by Walt Mossberg that the tablet wont need a 3G chip because it will be tethering with your iPhone via bluetooth.

I completely agree with this
 
I think we'll see the tablet debut on multiple carriers. Any sort of iPhone announcement will be held in June/July (as is Apple's traditional product cycle).

Don't take what "analysts" predict as gospel. They don't have a great track record.

Oh - and I'm also willing to bet we'll get an announcement about AT&T data tethering on the iPHone.
 
The best thing about tomorrow is all the tablet rumors can stop.

The problem is that a whole new round of questions will arise of course.

And no matter how great it is, there will still be mad amounts of bitching.
 
I love all things Apple, I just don't see the market for a tablet. Maybe I am missing something. $500-600 + a data plan? I just don't see a mad rush. Anybody planning on buying one and why?
 
Just curious... if iPhone goes to say Verizon or T-Mobile .. will I be able to put my call on speaker phone and do other activities like browse safari or send a Tweet?
If T-mobile has 3G, then yes. Verizon has to wait for a few more years when their next gen service comes out.

I seriously doubt ANY announcements will be made regarding the iPhone or any other product for that matter--I suspect quiet refreshes to the laptops, but not any mention on the keynote.

Apple wants the event and media coverage to focus on it's new "creation" and any announcements for any other products, including any news regarding the iPhone and its expansion to other carriers in the US would be a distraction from the main event.

If Apple has any announcements to make having to do with the iPhone there will be another separate event so people hoping for any iPhone news will be sorely disappointed tomorrow.
That makes sense.

I think we'll see two tablets ala iPhone/iPod Touch. One with 3G and WiFi and one with only WiFi.
Personally, I hope it has both. This way, if I decide to get 3G service in the future, I won't have to buy a new tablet. It'd make more sense to have it this way.
 
Only T-Mobile and AT&T will allow simultaneous talk and surf on the iPhone. Sprint and Verizon won't have that kind of capacity.

However, interesting though, I am starting to think AT&T will relinquish their iPhone exclusivity if Apple gave them something else... say the Tablet's exclusivity. It could well be possible that AT&T is simply shifting their priorities now.

I had this conversation with someone last night. Apple may be giving up exclusivity on the iPhone to possibly get it for the tablet. This way, users can still use the iPhone but can tether it with the tablet if they're under AT&T for no charge or pay for data with a different carrier (Verizon). I wouldn't be surprised if that's the case. Bloomberg news did report that it's possible all the carriers getting the iPhone by the end of the year, so I can see T-Mobile breaking the AT&T exclusivity, while Apple continues to develop a CDMA version for Verizon and Sprint later this year.
 
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