AT&T iPhone Exclusivity Originally Scheduled Through 2012

[ryanw]

This rumor is so tired.

It does not make sense to manufacture a verizon iPhone. The rest of the world uses GSM. It would need to be a custom design for one carrier. The unit would come at a production premium cost that Apple would not be able to pass off to the consumer. They would make less profit on the verizon model simply to make it available for that one carrier. What is the incentive?

Apple is with AT&T because they want to be. If they wanted to be on another carrier (ANY other carrier), they would be.

What a strange comment. Every phone maker on the planet makes phones with different requirements for lots of different carriers and countries. To be a global // international player it is required to jump through hoops to get the install base.

Honestly, if Apple doesn't venture with other carriers people are going to grow tired of the AT&T issues and go with a android handset. Android is getting better, it still doesn't compete with the Apple design "yet", but it's stepping up and coming closer than any other platform has in the past. With the vast install base and how quickly android is taking over the market, Apple might loose this race.

Apple lost the Desktop market, even though they were the FIRST and best. Apple has been able to hold tight to the handheld mp3 player market for all these years, but I don't know if they can do it with the iPhone unless they embrace all the carriers and be accessible for everyone -- just like they did with the iPod... first introduced on Mac, then later had a windows version. At first go with AT&T, that's fine, but now follow up with several carriers.

 

[Will do good]

I won't be renewing my iPhone. Thanks to ATT

 

[butterfly0fdoom]

Even if AT&T didn't have an exclusivity contract with Apple, it would have de facto exclusivity anyway considering no one makes quad-band UTMS radios (therefore shutting out T-Mobile) and Verizon/Sprint aren't on the GSM roadmap (therefore them getting an iPhone just hinges on Apple's willingness to make a CDMA iPhone).

 

[AbSoluTc]

hahaha! i find it funny that verizon will get the iphone when the world ends. Might as well say pigs will fly when verison gets the iphone

Hehe. Lol. Yeah, big red will get the iPhone just as the world is ending. Oh the irony!

Yeah, Verizon isn't getting anything from Apple anytime soon. I would be VERY surprised if that was the case. Every year and for months after - these "whispers" and threads always appear.

 

[HiRez]

Any sources or is this just a rant?

My sources are just about every single person I know with an iPhone, which is at least three or four dozen. I'm not exaggerating, every single one of them has complaints about their service dropping out, not being able to make calls, having garbled voice, and spotty 3G coverage (the 3G speed is actually not bad, but the coverage is not good, even in major metro areas). It's not just me, AT&T is a national joke, you even have talk show hosts making jokes about it. I'm sure there are places where coverage is better, but New York City and Silicon Valley/SF are probably the two most important markets int he world for a gadget like the iPhone, and unfortunately iPhones just plain don't work there. When I have to call someone back three or four times just about every single time I try to make a call, something is very wrong.

 

[mdriftmeyer]

This rumor is so tired.

It does not make sense to manufacture a verizon iPhone. The rest of the world uses GSM. It would need to be a custom design for one carrier. The unit would come at a production premium cost that Apple would not be able to pass off to the consumer. They would make less profit on the verizon model simply to make it available for that one carrier. What is the incentive?

Apple is with AT&T because they want to be. If they wanted to be on another carrier (ANY other carrier), they would be.

Correct. With the new iPhone 4 coming very soon, a follow-up model will be arriving after LTE has been deployed thus keeping Apple on LTE ready networks.

 

[mj1108]

Who the hell wants a CDMA iPhone anyways, all my calls can go to voicemail while im streaming a podcast sweet!

Possibly millions of Verizon users who want an iPhone and many people who are fed up with AT&T's service and would switch in an instant it becomes available on another carrier.

 

[troop231]

This rumor is so comical. In 2008 rumors popped up that the contract would end later that year, then the same thing happened in 2009, and now it's popped again. There has been skepticism as to the real EOC date (end of contract) Hopefully this is the last time we hear of this lol

 

[addicted44]

This rumor is so tired.

It does not make sense to manufacture a verizon iPhone. The rest of the world uses GSM. It would need to be a custom design for one carrier. The unit would come at a production premium cost that Apple would not be able to pass off to the consumer. They would make less profit on the verizon model simply to make it available for that one carrier. What is the incentive?

Apple is with AT&T because they want to be. If they wanted to be on another carrier (ANY other carrier), they would be.

What's tired (and silly) is believing that
1) Its difficult for Apple to change the radio-chip in the iPhone to support CDMA. It will be very easy. Other companies have been doing it for years.
2) Its expensive for Apple to do it. Again, you can buy off-the shelf stuff that can handle it.
3) Its not worth it, because its not a future technology. Well, at least till 2012, all 30% of the smartphone market on Verizon is going to continue remaining on CDMA. And in actuality, even after the LTE rollout, most will remain on CDMA because most of the country wont be covered by LTE.

 

[AbSoluTc]

Possibly millions of Verizon users who want an iPhone and many people who are fed up with AT&T's service and would switch in an instant it becomes available on another carrier.

What makes you think big red can even handle the load? On top of that, why on earth would someone switch from a network that gives you voice AND data at the same time, to one that only gives you voice OR data but not simultaneously?

 

[Wampahoofus]

Possibly millions of Verizon users who want an iPhone and many people who are fed up with AT&T's service and would switch in an instant it becomes available on another carrier.

I have a Blackberry Tour on Verizon. Love my service compared to the crap I had with AT&T. If Verizon gets the iPhone, I will upgrade right then and there.

I'd rather pay the extra money to get an iPhone, than wait for my contract to expire, sign a 2 yr agreement with AT&T for a cheap iPhone, and go right back to Verizon because AT&T's service blows.

 

[GrayUK]

Well part of the court document says

Apple agreed to restrain from developing a CDMA2 version of the iPhone for an unspecified period of time, which would prevent the iPhone from being used on Verizon or Sprint’s networks.

Glad i live in the UK where GSM is the only option, ok it took time before just 02 had the iphone but now all the networks have it (although pricing is about the same)

My iphone 3g contract was up so when i tried to cancel on 02 they offered me 600 minutes to any landline / mobile anytime of the day, 1200 sms (not sure why i would use that many) unlimited 3g / wifi hotspots, all for the sum of £20 per month ($30) seems like the US get a bad deal all round on price and carrier

 

[iRobertM]

I don't get why this is such a big deal, if you don't like AT&T or don't get coverage then get a droid or standard phone with iPod touch. Yeah it would suck to carry two devices if you went the iPod route but its not that big of a deal. To be honest with the iPad I am thinking of going with a plain phone.

 

[theheadguy]

What makes you think Apple will ever break from ATT? Let me explain for the post-iphone-introduction members here... Apple has never been about every person using their product, they've always been about a controllable high profit market share. Hate to break it to you, but they make great products with an equal (if not occasionally higher) focus on fat profit margins. I'm sure the iphone surpassed their wildest expectations, so they are happy. They don't need to take over the world, they just need a small slice to pay them a lot of money; for god's sake they've admitted this before! If ATT offers up a lucrative enough contract, Apple will resign with them for another 5 years, no problem. They don't need the straggling few who refuse to switch from V. If they were worried about this, they wouldn't have signed a 5-year agreement!

 

[aprilfools]

I wanted the iPhone but, I'm a Verizon customer and refuse to switch to AT&T. I'm tired of all the speculation and waiting for the iPhone to come to Verizon.

I will stay with Verizon and keep my old fashioned flip phone. I am totally fine with that because I just now purchased the iPad 3G and will give AT&T $30 a month.

 

[mdriftmeyer]

My sources are just about every single person I know with an iPhone, which is at least three or four dozen. I'm not exaggerating, every single one of them has complaints about their service dropping out, not being able to make calls, having garbled voice, and spotty 3G coverage (the 3G speed is actually not bad, but the coverage is not good, even in major metro areas). It's not just me, AT&T is a national joke, you even have talk show hosts making jokes about it. I'm sure there are places where coverage is better, but New York City and Silicon Valley/SF are probably the two most important markets int he world for a gadget like the iPhone, and unfortunately iPhones just plain don't work there. When I have to call someone back three or four times just about every single time I try to make a call, something is very wrong.

You're just part of the test bed market. Having lived in San Francisco your network will vary depending on the legal/contractual rights the City of San Francisco permits these carriers to install their towers.

Having lived in Bellevue, WA, Seattle WA, Orlando FL, Redwood City, CA, etc., it's consistent that in Seattle near Verizon the signal was solid but in areas of Kirkland, Redmond and Issaquah it was considerably degraded, but T-Mobile was rock solid due to being the former Voicestream home zone.

Kirkland area was AT&T Wireless call center and development center and amazingly the signal was rock solid.

The more municipalities build to interfere with signals the more Telcos will continue to build out more towers to compensate.

If you drive in the middle of Washington State, Oregon, northern California any considerable distance east/west of I-5 or I-90 the signals drop considerably for all carriers. What's ironic about it is that the cost to deploy in those zones is far less expensive but they refuse to do it and justify it by stating you really only basic digital in those areas [never mind that Verizon's claims of 3G everywhere pops over to analog constantly > 50 miles away from the major interstates.

San Fran and New York are actually perfectly designed, like Seattle, Los Angeles, Portland, Dallas, Houston to test interference for dense urban centers. That's it.

 

[LagunaSol]

Sad, if true. At this point AT&T is only holding Apple back. I personally have not had a problem with AT&T service (though their texting plans are a complete ripoff and cause for outrage), but it's silly to still have an exclusive carrier with Android coming on strong.

I'd love to get an iPhone on Sprint's bargain plan pricing. As would my brother, who ended up with Android devices on Sprint because he couldn't afford AT&T family plan rates.

 

[Digital Skunk]

What makes you think big red can even handle the load? On top of that, why on earth would someone switch from a network that gives you voice AND data at the same time, to one that only gives you voice OR data but not simultaneously?

Because that network actually works in more places than AT&T. I am sure AT&T is wonderful for those that don't leave their home, or home town, but for those that travel across the US, AT&T is just the worst network possible.

It gets even worse when you need your phone to work for business purposes.

 

[ethana]

Who said that the 5 year contract started the day the iPhone was released? What is if the 5 year contract started the day it was SIGNED? Meaning it could have been signed in 2005, iPhone released in 2007, and then exclusivity ends in 2010?

Either way, don't expect a Verizon phone until 2011 at the earliest.

 

[Dwalls90]

We'll see a Verizon iPhone when Verizon goes GSM/4G/LTE/Whatever they're moving to ... it makes no sense to design a phone on a network that is being phased out (and that isn't really better than AT&T's and isn't international).

 

[ThirteenXIII]

Verizon can do Skype calling & IM; and ive seen plenty of people 'multitask' data and voice at the same time using VZ phones.

Its possible it can come, but i'm sure theyre trying to figure how to multimarket two different phones as one will definitely be att and vz specific without trying to play each company against each other and lose a resource though both want it and will do whatever it takes to keep it, i think theyre just looking out for their interests at the moment which is understandable...however somethings gotta give and even though im a strong VZ supporter theyre just not trying hard enough (or saying the right things) from what I gather.

 

[AbSoluTc]

Because that network actually works in more places than AT&T. I am sure AT&T is wonderful for those that don't leave their home, or home town, but for those that travel across the US, AT&T is just the worst network possible.

It gets even worse when you need your phone to work for business purposes.

You're confusing the question. Just because V works in more places doesn't mean it can handle the load. Again, what makes everyone think that big red can even handle the load to begin with?

 

[EchoTheDolphin]

What makes you think big red can even handle the load? On top of that, why on earth would someone switch from a network that gives you voice AND data at the same time, to one that only gives you voice OR data but not simultaneously?

Exactly, I've never gotten teh whole 'ATT's network sucks, switch now!' argument. It doesn't suck at all for me, hasn't anywhere I've travelled except for out in the south Louisiana swamp (still got edge).

Why on earth would you trade service that MAY suck a small fraction of the time, to one that has half the functionality (data OR voice never both) all of the time?

I listen to pandora while I run, but expect to get phone calls, I'll look something up on wikipedia and not have to recycle the page because the phone conversation cut off my data. Hell, I've downloaded 15-20 mb pdf's (farily quickly) gotten phone calls and chatted while waiting for them to come up so I can read them off. NO VERIZON USER WOULD BE ABLE TO DO ANY OF THIS.

The network may be reliable, but that's also saying you want to pass up the G35 for a 1980's camry for reliability. Sure the G35 might need to go to the shop every year or so, but it's a nicer damn car 100% of the time.

Thank you, good night, and God bless.

 

[hayhay]

Just My 2 Cents

It cracks me up when I read people bitching about AT&T's service...I've been an AT&T customer since before the Cingular merge and I have nothing but good things to say about them...I guess I'm just lucky and live in an area that has ample signal. IMO it's iPhone envy that causes most of the belly aching. But if you dislike the service sooooo much...leave...bye bye. And to the people that say it's a dumb move on Apple to grant exclusivity to AT&T...yeah...dumb move...I'm sure they are kicking themselves as their stock rises and their pockets get fuller...are you serious!!! Yes I agree...if it was open to other networks...they would make even more money and their stock would rise even more...but by no means are they hurting by being exclusive to AT&T...they are rolling in it regardless...like I said before...IMO...iPhone envy is the root to a lot of the criers.

 

[Digital Skunk]

Sad, if true. At this point AT&T is only holding Apple back. I personally have not had a problem with AT&T service (though their texting plans are a complete ripoff and cause for outrage), but it's silly to still have an exclusive carrier with Android coming on strong.

I'd love to get an iPhone on Sprint's bargain plan pricing. As would my brother, who ended up with Android devices on Sprint because he couldn't afford AT&T family plan rates.

I agree brother. The real real truth is that Apple doesn't have the foothold on "amazing-smartphone-user-interfaces" as it once did. Apple is far behind with Palm having real multitasking (now being backed up by HP, we'll see how that goes) and Android having "me-too" apps in their growing app store.

The biggest difference is that BOTH Palm and Google have their phones on many more networks, giving users many more choices.

You're confusing the question. Just because V works in more places doesn't mean it can handle the load. Again, what makes everyone think that big red can even handle the load to begin with?

No, I understood the question. I just didn't answer all of it.

If I had to give a real quick answer for that other half, I'd say that it would handle it far better than AT&T due to the shear size of V's 3G network. But whose to say? I'd rather not have dropped calls in the middle of metropolitan areas.