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

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Apr 12, 2001
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The Wall Street Journal reports that AT&T's exclusive offering of the iPhone will expire next year but that AT&T is working with Apple to extend it to 2011.
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.
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The exact length of exclusivity has been a bit murky with initial reports claiming as far out as 2012 but the most recent reports corroborating the 2010 date.

AT&T has benefited from the exclusive iPhone offering attracting 4.3 million iPhone subscribers in the second half of 2008 with about 40% of them being new to AT&T. If the agreement does expire, this could open up the iPhone to become available with other U.S. carriers. This may, however, require some variations in hardware in order to accommodate other networks.

Article Link: AT&T Exclusivity Expires in 2010, AT&T Asking for Extension?
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2009/04/14/atandt-exclusivity-expires-in-2010-atandt-asking-for-extension/
i really hope it stays Apple stays with AT&T for a long time. exclusives make the competition really high up. i mean T-Mobile literally has everything people want (like those sidekicks or custom phones) . so why not keep the iphone to ATT.
 
Need More Flexibility For Consumer

I hope Apple realizes that there are a lot of us who would like to have an iPhone but find the monthly data plan prohibitive. I really hope they negotiate some plan flexibility so that I can finally carry one item instead of an iPod Touch and a crappy AT&T phone.

I know I am dreaming, so please no responses to that effect... :)
 
Not sure how to rate this...up or down. I go UP for the possibility of the iPhone for other carriers and DOWN for a possible extension. I agree that if AT&T do get the extension, they will have to make some sacrifices for it to be granted.

thomahawk said:
i really hope it stays Apple stays with AT&T for a long time. exclusives make the competition really high up. i mean T-Mobile literally has everything people want (like those sidekicks or custom phones) . so why not keep the iphone to ATT.
Click to expand...

All the iPhone being exclusive to AT&T is doing is making other companies pay out to get hi-end exclusive phones. It is not forcing manufacturers to produce a better phone. That will happen even if the iPhone is offered by every single wireless company.
 
It'll most likely remain exclusive with some give and take from both sides. There is no way that Apple will make a CDMA phone for just the US in order to go with Verizon. Sprint has the Pre. T-Mobile has Android...and their network sucks.

at&t wins.
 
I can't for the life of me understand why some here would HOPE that Apple stays with AT&T exclusive. Uh, what? Why? Just because you're on AT&T and you're cool with it? Everyone's situation is different. Expanding to other carriers would benefit the iPhone greatly, and would dramatically increase its market share, while giving people options.

Some people legitimately cannot use AT&T for one reason or another, however much they want the iPhone. I don't see how the iPhone being lmited to 1 carrier is a GOOD thing for you, or for Apple.
 
The initial exclusivity help Apple and AT&T, but keeping the exclusivity now that the phone is world wide and there are potential customers who don't want to switch providers is going to hurt Apple.

If AT&T wants to keep the Exclusive Deal, they are the ones who are going to have to pony up (and of course, pass those costs on to their customers)...
 
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.
 
Warbrain said:
It'll most likely remain exclusive with some give and take from both sides. There is no way that Apple will make a CDMA phone for just the US in order to go with Verizon. Sprint has the Pre. T-Mobile has Android...and their network sucks.

at&t wins.
Click to expand...

I hope you're wrong. I'll use an iPhone no matter who the carrier is but since I live in NY, I would prefer Verizon. They have the best reception out there period. They're building LTE where AT&T is still building out 3g. It would also hurt the viable options for an unlocked iPhone considering T-Mobile is just not good enough. There will also be no competition with iPhone data pricing.
 
freeny said:
I have no problems with AT&T. They all suck equally for what its worth.
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I completely agree. I had Verizon for three years and the network was okay, but I've never been more disappointed in a company's customer service. My last straw was the third time a store's manager called me during peak hours to tell me I "needed" to take advantage of upgrade offers. AT&T's network seems to be exactly the same in the area I live (Chicago), without the annoying calls from salesmen. I'll likely be staying with AT&T regardless of exclusivity.

I can't wait for the LTE iPhone -- I'd love for it to work in the subway!


nefster said:
I hope Apple realizes that there are a lot of us who would like to have an iPhone but find the monthly data plan prohibitive. I really hope they negotiate some plan flexibility so that I can finally carry one item instead of an iPod Touch and a crappy AT&T phone.

I know I am dreaming, so please no responses to that effect... :)
Click to expand...

I think the data plan is on the high end of fair, but find the voice and texting pricing absolutely ridiculous. Why can't I pay like $15/month for 75 minutes? The phone portion of the iPhone is the least impressive part of the device to me. Most months I can't believe I'm willing to pay $45 for a voice plan that I use about 30% of. I'd imagine your description is more in-line with the typical iPhone user, though. Hopefully we'll both get what we want soon.
 
thomahawk said:
exclusives make the competition really high up. i mean T-Mobile literally has everything people want (like those sidekicks or custom phones) . so why not keep the iphone to ATT.
Click to expand...

How is the competition greater when the iPhone is locked onto a single carrier? If AT&T and Verizon both sold the iPhone, there would be competition between them to offer the most value to customers, and for the least cost. THAT is competition. There may also be other types of plans to compete with the current monthly plans. Perhaps you could get a small voice plan with a massive internet plan. Perhaps someone will offer tethering and VoIP phoning.

Right now, AT&T doesn't need to do dick all, and it knows it has iPhone users sticking with them because they're the only option.

They have you by the balls. Let someone else have a turn!
 
I know someone that works at AT&T and she said that they will do everything in their power to remain the exclusive provider of Apple Cellular Handsets...

Bad for consumers, as AT&T can decide to pay Apple more money per handset sold and ultimately pass the costs along to their customers via their monthly service - whether or not they own an iPhone.... :eek:
 
I have been with Verizon for many years but I want an iPhone. I do not appreciate the exclusivity/monopoly Apple and at&t have together. I hope I will get my iPhone with Verizon. The iPhone should be available for all wireless carriers. I am getting to the point where both Apple and at&t can kiss my *#$% over this. This is a sore spot with me.
 
One thing

Normally I would be over the moon at the thought of being able to choose from any carrier, after all more choices= better deals in terms of monthly plans. BUT lets not forget that each carrier tries to impart its own demands on the hardware of a phone. The last thing Apple needs is Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile all bitching about one thing or another. One can only hope that the Iphone grows into such a big success that all the carriers essentially bow down and kiss Apple's ring. Verizon is known for ****ing up their hardware, I don't want those idiots dictating anything about the 4th gen Iphone, (incidently the first one I will be buying, a 64 GB quad core marvel that I have dreams about).
 
yeah but even if AT&T contract does expire verizon customers still wouldn't be able to utilize because of the sim card situation Verizon Wireless uses CDMA which does not use SIM Cards. GSM like AT&T and T-Mobile are the only ones that use SIM Cards. wouldn't verizon have to go to a GSM setup
 
Slurpy2k8 said:
I can't for the life of me understand why some here would HOPE that Apple stays with AT&T exclusive. Uh, what? Why? Just because you're on AT&T and you're cool with it? Everyone's situation is different. Expanding to other carriers would benefit the iPhone greatly, and would dramatically increase its market share, while giving people options.

Some people legitimately cannot use AT&T for one reason or another, however much they want the iPhone. I don't see how the iPhone being lmited to 1 carrier is a GOOD thing for you, or for Apple.
Click to expand...

Expanding carriers wouldn't necessarily make the iPhone any better. The service might get better, but who knows. Sprint and Verizon run a CDMA network, so would Apple go to the extra cost to support that? Also, T-Mobile probably wouldn't even spend as much as AT&T has on upgrading the network. AT&T is at least doing work on its network to handle iPhone traffic.

I wouldn't mind seeing the iPhone on all carriers, but competitors aren't exactly all about choice. You can only get the Storm on Verizon. You can only get the Pre with T-Mobile. The carriers probably pay a big chunk of money for exclusive phones, and AT&T has probably made a killing on the exclusivity with the iPhone.

As far as market share, Apple could expand that much more easily by developing a phone that doesn't require any Internet stuff (or by AT&T offering that). I have a relative who wants the Samsung Eternity. It looks a lot like an iPhone without the extreme bells and whistles.
 
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