AT&T Chief Presses to Keep iPhone, Deepen Wireless Push

[aznkid25]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123973238611017715.html

http://i.gizmodo.com/5212413/att-trying-to-keep-iphone-exclusive-until-2011http://i.gizmodo.com/5212413/att-trying-to-keep-iphone-exclusive-until-2011

When Randall Stephenson became AT&T Inc.'s chief executive, the company had just started offering the iPhone. The blockbuster device has since reeled in millions of new customers and helped revitalize the telecom giant's brand.

But AT&T's exclusive deal to carry the iPhone in the U.S. expires next year, according to people familiar with the matter, and Mr. Stephenson is now in discussions with Apple Inc. to get an extension until 2011.

An Apple spokeswoman declined to comment, saying only, "We have a great relationship with AT&T."

 

[Michael CM1]

There's a news story about the exclusive deal on the front page.

I definitely know AT&T wants to push deeper into wireless. The landline phone service is probably at negative growth, and DSL is slowed by central offices reaching capacity way faster than demand pushes for (looking at this from AT&T's perspective). With wireless, you aren't crippled as much by the CO requirement and you also drag in new customers who need mobile connectivity.

The problem is the price. $60/month? At that rate, you'd better be getting 5+Mbps, but it's probably more like 1.5. It's also not as reliable as a line-based service, which can cause mucho problems if you use that as your sole connection.