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If Apple extended to becoming a mobile phone carrier/network - Nice little poll!

Would you sign up to Apple's phone network if they created one

  • Yes - Apple is the best :P

    Votes: 47 56.6%

  • No - I would stick with my current carrier

    Votes: 36 43.4%
  • Total voters
    83
D

DryEyez

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Nov 21, 2010
314
0
UK
If apple extended to become a mobile phone network, would you join their network or stick with your current carrier.

I added a nice little poll to see if people would, also added a few top questions which might give people, such as myself an insight into why this would or wouldn't be a good idea or even viable.

PS I have been drinking the Apple kool aid.

1. Would this be possible/make logical sense?

2. What would the pros be?

3. What would the cons be?

4. Think it will ever happen?

I post this because I often wonder as I imagine many of us do what Apple's future endeavours will be...and the fact Apple do have complete control of their products, this is the one area where arguably they don't.
 
In what sense doesn't it fit the business model? It is not innovative or?
 
although I doubt it would happen I would. Even though it would cost a bundle I am kind of sick of the service and the way I am treated with my current carrier.
 
Would be an extremely risky venture, and they'd have to start extremely small... but imagine iPhones only on Apple's network.
 
Absolutely. And I would subscribe to an Apple ISP, cable service, and land line telephone.

I would buy an Apple fridge, washer, dryer, dishwasher, car, microwave stove, lamps, and beds.

I would buy Apple insurance, go to an Apple hospital, get an Apple credit card, and go to the Apple store.

I would happily contribute my income and sales tax to Apple so they can build and maintain the roads and sidewalks I use every day.

If it could happen, I wish the universe were Apple.
 
Personally, I would be glad to pay the little extra...I don't know what it's like in the US but my personal opinion of the UK is pretty crap customer service. I buy my apple stuff for two reasons.

1. They're great.
2. I know I will receive good customer service.

I would switch to an Apple network in a heartbeat, purely for the customer service. 3 (UK) sucks ass...
 
No it probably would not happen from the business and practical standpoint.

1. The carriers have to subsidize the phone out of their own pockets and if Apple start a mobile carrier they would have to subsidize it too to be competitive. This is less profit.

2. They would have to compete with the carriers they are selling their phones to which will cause more tension.

3. Their network will only support iPhones or other phones as well will be unknown.

4. If they just made their phones available on all major carriers then they are reaching a bigger customer base. They won't have to worry about managing a celluar network and infrastructure on the side.
 
MacDawg said:
Doesn't fit their business model
Click to expand...

Yes it does. Their business model is "sell more hardware." Being a carrier would lead to more hardware sales. They don't make much money at the iTMS alone, but it helps them sell a boatload of devices. Apple is the end to end experience company. This is the next logical evolution.

Plus, with some $80+ billion in the bank, they could easily buy Sprint, Clearwire and Lightsquared, then expand and improve the network. Ask Verizon if carriers are a profitable business.
 
Tilpots said:
Yes it does. Their business model is "sell more hardware." Being a carrier would lead to more hardware sales. They don't make much money at the iTMS alone, but it helps them sell a boatload of devices. Apple is the end to end experience company. This is the next logical evolution.

Plus, with some $80+ billion in the bank, they could easily buy Sprint, Clearwire and Lightsquared, then expand and improve the network. Ask Verizon if carriers are a profitable business.
Click to expand...

This was my same line of thinking when I created the thread. I know some people also commented it's not the industry that Apples in, but neither really was music to begin with or phones. Apple does what Apple chooses and always does a great job of it.
 
No thanks. Would be goddamn expensive. I'm happy enough with the prices we have in the UK at the moment.
 
DryEyez said:
Would this be possible/make logical sense?
Click to expand...
No.

DryEyez said:
In what sense doesn't it fit the business model?
Click to expand...
When in the past have they made such massive investments in infrastructure on the scale that would be required for them to operate as a brand new carrier?

Tilpots said:
Yes it does. Their business model is "sell more hardware."
Click to expand...
No, it doesn't. They've never been an infrastructure company. What infrastructure have they acquired for the development of their existing products?

Tilpots said:
Being a carrier would lead to more hardware sales.
Click to expand...
How, exactly? Where are these iPhone buyers that you imagine coming out of nowhere? Where are the numbers to back up your assertion that there are buyers that aren't buying the iPhone because Apple isn't a carrier? It would mostly shift sales from existing carriers to this hypothetical Apple carrier.
 
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