AT&T Exclusivity Expires in 2010, AT&T Asking for Extension?

[ProwlingTiger]

No they didn't. Apple and Verizon negotiated off and on for a year. During that time, Verizon never saw an iPhone.



No, again. Verizon usually adds the option of a VZ theme to their smartphones, but you can use whatever theme you want.

If you're going to argue about anything, at least use facts, not myths.

Show me one phone Verizon offers without the crappy branding theme that isn't a smart phone and doesn't have crippled bluetooth.

...

Seriously. People call AT&T greedy and I really don't see how the hell they reach that conclusion. They've given Apple so much reign on control of the iPhone. Verizon would NEVER do that. I could never see them doing iTunes activation. Or anything cool for that matter I guess (oh how the iPhone has made AT&T hip )

While I have no doubt Apple has a CDMA iPhone already cooked up, I imagine it will continue to be lost in development limbo.

 

[jctevere]

With all this talk about GSM and Verizon not supporting it... the new Verizon Blackberry Storm has a sim card. Couldn't this mean that when exclusivity runs out in 2010 for AT&T Verizon could just provide a simcard for the iPhone and the iPhone and blackberry Storm would be the only two phones with sim cards, and both phones require data plans... So that is not a problem.

I think that the new iPhone COULD go to verizon... BUT, I don't really think Verizon really wants to iPhone, if they did it would be on their terms. They already have the verizon store which the appstore would replace, and I am sure they wouldn't want Apple to take all of their revenue from that for purchases that they could offer via verizon's store. Also, I don't think apple would want to let Verizon have exclusive control and prohibit appstore. Lastly, stop complaining about the exclusivity of the iPhone on AT&T's network. Yes, it sucks, but AT&T was willing to give in to Apple's demands and thus, should be rewarded. I could get heavy discounts on my monthly bill if the iPhone went Verizon through work, but I have to use AT&T and pay full price. Don't hate Apple and AT&T, hate "The nation's largest 3G network" or whatever Verizon says.

Edit: I read up a little bit more on the sim card that in inside of the Blackberry Storm. It appears that it is not for use with Verizon's network and is merely for support for people in the UK to use the phone on Vodafone (Verizon's parent company, which is GSM). However, after finding this disappointing news that demolished and chance of having on iPhone on Verizon's network comes some hope:
http://tech.blorge.com/Structure: /...itch-cdma-for-better-4g-gsm-standard-by-2013/

At the above website it states that by 2013, Verizon will have ditched CDMA for GSM for a 4G network. This could also explain why Verizon went through the trouble of including a SIM card on all blackberry storms and not just the ones sold in the UK. This is because Verizon may be adding future support for these phones on their 4G GSM network in 2013, which to be honest folks, isn't all that far away, since it will be fully completed within the next 3 to 4 years, we may start to see it sprout up in major areas within the next 1-2 years.

And the website put it best, "Even if Apple never releases the phone on Verizon’s network, a little unlocking action here and there should net you the ability to use a future version of the iPhone on an LTE carrier like Verizon."

 

[optophobia]

While I have no doubt Apple has a CDMA iPhone already cooked up, I imagine it will continue to be lost in development limbo.

Lets hope so.

 

[ProwlingTiger]

With all this talk about GSM and Verizon not supporting it... the new Verizon Blackberry Storm has a sim card. Couldn't this mean that when exclusivity runs out in 2010 for AT&T Verizon could just provide a simcard for the iPhone and the iPhone and blackberry Storm would be the only two phones with sim cards, and both phones require data plans... So that is not a problem. I think that the new iPhone will also go to verizon...

If I understand you right, you're saying Apple could make a CDMA iPhone and blend GSM technology with it like RIM did with the Storm? That'd be interesting...I'd wager bulk would be added.

I personally have not used my Storm on GSM so I can't comment on how dual band works. But I would say that is an interesting concept, if Apple were to throw out a dual system version and let everyone sell them.

I can see AT&T paying them off before that happens though.

And do you ever think all these rumours of a CDMA iPhones are mere ploys by Apple to scare AT&T into complying? I'd like to think Apple wouldn't stoop so low...but...we know there has to be a CDMA iPhone. Why would they not experiment with it?

 

[cjm3113]

And do you ever think all these rumours of a CDMA iPhones are mere ploys by Apple to scare AT&T into complying? I'd like to think Apple wouldn't stoop so low...but...we know there has to be a CDMA iPhone. Why would they not experiment with it?

They would not experiment if they thought it was wasting research and development money. They are not experimenting with technology that they believe to be dead with their computers, why would they with their phone?

 

[DaReal_Dionysus]

I hope they give up the exclusivity thing. It would mean better pricing across the board on plans. At&t is quite expensive for the business side of things.

 

[Digital Skunk]

I hope they give up the exclusivity thing. It would mean better pricing across the board on plans. At&t is quite expensive for the business side of things.

For the consumer side as well.

It may be worth paying that much for unlimited data and unlimited texts to get the iPhone on the only network available in the US, but it is a steep price to pay for it.

 

[3282868]

No they didn't. Apple and Verizon negotiated off and on for a year. During that time, Verizon never saw an iPhone.

How do you know first hand that Verizon did not reject Apple's proposition for the iPhone? From an article online? I've heard/read stories that state just the opposite, that Verizon did reject Apple's business plan for the iPhone specifically based on Apple's desire to have control over the UI and marketing. More pointed, a friend of mine works for Apple, and while his information is hearsay, your statement that the iPhone was initially a "click wheel" is FUD. The click wheel iPhone was a proposed concept, but that was years ago and by the time Apple began shopping the device around the multi-touch interface was already well into development. Verizon rejected the iPhone because it ran contrary to their business model. In fact, Steve Jobs even mocked the idea of a click wheel iPhone before the original iPhone was released. As is obvious today, Apple handles the UI, software, updates, marketing, etc. for the iPhone, Verizon does not and will not allow Apple this control. For that matter, Verizon lost.

Secondly, I doubt Apple will release a CDMA iPhone in the US as some people have suggested. Especially as Verizon is developing a 4G/LTE network for an anticipated launch by the end of 2009 (this year). As no rumors of an 4G/LTE iPhone are currently active, I suspect the rumored CDMA model may be for China. Otherwise, AT&T Wireless has exclusive rights until the end of the 2010 contract next June. I assume by that time if Apple rejects an exclusivity renewal, a 4G/LTE version may be available for other carriers. Until then, AT&T will have to suffice.

 

[3282868]

Show me one phone Verizon offers without the crappy branding theme that isn't a smart phone and doesn't have crippled bluetooth.

...

Seriously. People call AT&T greedy and I really don't see how the hell they reach that conclusion. They've given Apple so much reign on control of the iPhone. Verizon would NEVER do that. I could never see them doing iTunes activation. Or anything cool for that matter I guess (oh how the iPhone has made AT&T hip )

While I have no doubt Apple has a CDMA iPhone already cooked up, I imagine it will continue to be lost in development limbo.

Tell me about it. After Verizon's fiasco with the Motorola v710, I bought a RAZR phone. Some of the RAZR's shipped with a firmware version that did not cripple ObEx on the phone. Verizon then started telling customers that their RAZR's needed to be flashed for newer firmware to fix reception. Total BS, the new firmware simply crippled the ObEx on the RAZR so customers who didn't know any better were forced to use their crappy "Get it Now" service with exorbitant usage fees. Eventually the online community supplied individuals with the original non-crippled firmware to flash themselves. This is SHADY and speaks volumes about Verizons business model and the way they treat their customer base.

Again, Verizon as crippled many of their handsets in order to force its customers to pay for their services that other mobile service providers provide for free or simply do not cripple (Apple allows exchanging data via USB and iTunes, so crippling Bluetooth ObEx was a decision by Apple in order to provide a better end user experience for the iPhone, not to force owners to pay for such services).

 

[ineedamac]

I hope the marriage continues

I hope Apple and AT&T stay together. I agree with another post that AT&T should bend on things like tethering and to some degree VoIP to keep the iPhone exclusive to their network. Other carriers promote their exclusive phones.

Besides as long as AT&T has the iPhone it will force the companies like Verizon and T-Mobile to push their suppliers to develop better phones. Which in the end may move Apple to continue to refine and improve the iPhone.

 

[michaelsviews]

AT&T & Verizon

AT&T is GSM, yea I know everyone knows this and verizon is cdma, however verizon is going LTE which to my understanding is GSM, I maybe wrong and am not going to get long winded about this , but personally AT&T will more than likely get the extension, BUT if it were me at Apple I'd still be looking at Verizon.

One other thought is that I think originally Verizon's greedy corporate types wanted to brand it with there own firmware mod's and lock things out or something along the lines that they were not happy with Apples criteria.

The only reason I have AT&T is because of the iPhone, if the iPhone were to go away I'd go back to Verizon and deal with there stupid cheesy interfaces and locked down crippled devices. Gee thats why I left them

Oh well , its a no brainer AT&T is going to keep the contract or what ever they call it.

 

[JAT]

But an understandable one.

Only understandable if you agree that cell phone providers should be greedy bastard companies who won't even play ball with their own suppliers. Then sure, very understandable.

 

[terryzx]

Show me one phone Verizon offers without the crappy branding theme that isn't a smart phone and doesn't have crippled bluetooth.

I am somewhat sure that they don’t modify their smart phones like the Blackberry

But really....the ONLY real solution is to UNLOCK the iPhone and allow ALL carriers to support it, in it’s original unaltered software form

 

[andreab35]

Simply stated: NO EXTENDED CONTRACT!

I have had horrible service experience with AT&T. The places I need it most, I get no service. Whenever I don't need to use the phone/data, of course I fly 5 bars.
Truthfully if Verizon ever comes to the iPhone, it will be a blessing. Even if Verizon stuck itself all over the iPhone, I rather sacrifice their over-branding than having sucky service. I rather have quality service please.

Hopefully Verizon takes a turn... keeping my fingers crossed!

 

[rhpenguin]

Something...

 

[bbplayer5]

Verizon will allow the phone to sell without a branding, case closed. iPhone is the best phone on the market and they dropped the ball by not signing it.

They will have the iPhone in 2010 because the agreement probably ends in june of that year... Same month the original went on sale. Id expect a July release date for Verizon AND AT&T.

Finally...

 

[butterfly0fdoom]

I had T-Mobile before and I loved them. I hope Apple allows a choice. Comnpetition is best for everybody!

Even if Apple sold the iPhones as SIM unlocked in the US (which I wish they did), T-Mobile uses a 3G band that only they use. So it's not like T-Mobile users would get 3G access.

AT&T is GSM, yea I know everyone knows this and verizon is cdma, however verizon is going LTE which to my understanding is GSM, I maybe wrong and am not going to get long winded about this , but personally AT&T will more than likely get the extension, BUT if it were me at Apple I'd still be looking at Verizon.

Verizon's LTE network won't be feasible as a primary network for another 10 years from now, I'd say. I don't think Apple would go backwards and add EV-DO support to the iPhone just so that Verizon users could use it.

With all this talk about GSM and Verizon not supporting it... the new Verizon Blackberry Storm has a sim card.

Edit: I read up a little bit more on the sim card that in inside of the Blackberry Storm. It appears that it is not for use with Verizon's network and is merely for support for people in the UK to use the phone on Vodafone (Verizon's parent company, which is GSM).

The SIM card in the Storm (and all of Verizon's past global phones) were for international roaming, not for domestic US use. Verizon has no GSM network in the US, they can't provide SIM cards.

 

[3282868]

Verizon will allow the phone to sell without a branding, case closed.

You know this first hand, case closed knowledge how? I'm asking cause I'm interested in buying some stock while the market is low. Do you have any information on Intel or ImClone (IMCL)?

 

[davidbrummy]

Stick to what you're good at

Now that Apple has become an established player in the mobile field, they no longer need AT&T. They could become their own cell provider in the US by buying bandwidth from other cell companies (and eventually building out their own cell tower infrastructure).

Being a 3G or 4G Internet & Phone service provider could be a very powerful tool for Apple. It would allow all their mobile Mac's to access the internet anywhere without worrying about WiFi, and would allow Apple to finally grab a share of the TV pie with AppleTV providing live television (news/sports) to compliment iTunes purchased TV shows and Movies.

MobileMe could be extended to function as a control panel for all your Internet, Phone and TV needs. Apple also already has the brick and mortar infrastructure nationwide to begin offering this type of service.

I'm sure this has come up as an option and if I were Apple, I would be considering it seriously.

I have worked at several MVNO's and it was well rumored that Apple did look into this approachand rejected it. At the moment you would be probably also be limited to Sprint as they did at least a few years ago seemed to be the MVNO carrier of choice.

I have also worked for a Mobile radio planning company. Building your own network from scratch in a country as massive and geographically diverse as the US would probably kill Apple.

I think Apple should stick to what they are good and put pressure on the Network companies to up their game.

I also would like to see the iPhone on other carriers. I switched from Sprint to AT&T for it and AT&T data network in San Francisco sucks.

 

[mrcc]

The iphone will never go to Verizon. If verizon doesnt switch to sim card soon. Rumors have it is that Verizon the company will be gone, because the cdma technology is going extinct soon. Currently i have a contract with both verizon and atnt. Let me tell u. Both are the same quality. Neither is better or worse. maybe cuz im in southern california. i personally think that the iphone will stick with atnt. People complain about the $$$$. Well when u have any apple products. Ur paying top of the line products. Apple last longer than Windows PC.

 

[BTW]

want iPhone, don't want AT&T. hopefully there is some truth to this.

Yeah, I'm not an AT&T fan either. I'll be sticking with RIM or maybe move to an Andriod phone because of this.

Verizon, Sprint, or T-Mobile would be nice to have as choices. Apple would be crazy to limit themselves to one carrier in the U.S. beyond their current obligations.

 

[tuckerja]

I am with verizon and would love an iPhone, but not with verizon. I don't think they will be able to choke out the phone with their own applications, blackberry is slowly pulling away from that. The problem is that the iPhone is a smartphone. ANY smartphone through verizon requires a $45/month data plan or nothing at all. While many of the current smartphone customer through verizon and other carriers would probably switch, new customers would be extremely unlikely. I have a POS lg dare, but at least I only pay $15/month for unlimited, fast, and semi-html evdo internet.

I know it will never happen, and I really don't want to start up the whole nanoPhone debate again, but that would be the only way I would get an iPhone through verizon. I doubt that Apple would be able to work out a $20/month data plan with verizon.

 

[cwwilson]

I never knew so many people hated AT&T. I've always found them to be pretty good, both in cellular and TV/Internet (U-verse). Ive had Alltell and T-Mobile cell phones before and I've experienced dropped calls and bad coverage with ALL of them. Nobody is perfect. But from what I've been reading, Verizon is the be-all-end-all of service providers. They are the gods of the cell phone and telephony world and Apple should absolutely terminate their deal with AT&T and cling to Verizon's balls immediately.

All I know is, I have 5 full bars of 3G on my iPhone as I sit, and my coverage only drops down if I go out into the country.

Is AT&T really THAT bad? Really?

 

[Derekuda]

I hope the iPhone switches to other cariers! I hate ATT and that is why I unlocked my iphone for t-mobile. ATT can go F themselves.

 

[reckless2k2]

Has anyone looked at those Verizon phone prices, voice, and data plans? Just the data plan alone is higher than AT&T. I was an OG way-back AT&T wireless user that switch to Verizon a few years ago. After about a year, it was more economical to switch back to AT&T. Now with the economy in even greater peril, I'm looking at saving funds.

To be clear, I was on a family plan without data on Verizon. I jumped over to AT&T pre-iPhone with a family plan for less. Then I had a PDA then BB with data on AT&T. Still looking at less bottom line and the AT&T phone prices are much cheaper.

T-mobile data is too expensive too. Ugh. A hot mess.

If they do start selling across all carriers, I wouldn't switch.

I admit that when I traveled a lot all across the country, Verizon phone service worked EVERYWHERE and AT&T did not. I don't travel anymore.