Apple would've been incredibly stupid, if they didn't put an out clause in the contract. Apple can probably pay AT&T "X" amount of cash to get out of the contract.
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Verizon iPhone - so much for the rumors
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Apple would've been incredibly stupid, if they didn't put an out clause in the contract. Apple can probably pay AT&T "X" amount of cash to get out of the contract.
Besides the fact that it was 5 years, what other details do you know about the contract? Sorry, but not every detail has been publicized, doesn't mean the contract has a single phrase saying AT&T will carry the iPhone for 5 years. It's obviously very complicated and not all details will be public.
Let me start by saying that I have absolutely ZERO inside information about any contract dealings between AT&T, Verizon, and Apple.
But I HAVE been doing this sort of contract negotiation and drafting for over 30 years. And one thing I can tell you without a doubt is that there is STILL the very real possibility that AT&T will throw BOATLOADS of cash at Apple in order to keep exclusivity alive for as long as they can...
I can't remember where I read it now, but I do know that AT&T was making a load of $$ in the US by having the exclusive iPhone rights. So you had better believe that they are prepared to share some of that largesse with Apple in exchange for keeping exclusivity.
I'm not saying that it is going to go down that way. I'm just saying that I have seen this sort of thing happen in the telecommunications industry (and others) far more often than not.
And you can believe that Apple, At&T and Verizon are/have been engaged in a dance over how many boatloads of cash each is willing to fork over to Apple and exactly what the quid pro quo will be for each option, in terms of contract terms, subsidies, network infrastructure, etc.
And no one at the WSJ or anywhere else outside of the players locker rooms will know what the deal actually looks like until well after it's done. There are only a VERY small number of players who are actually privy to the REAL information, even in companies such as AT&T, Verizon, and particularly, Apple.
So...all I am saying is that I won't be surprised whichever way it goes, but also, don't bet the farm based on a newspaper article, even from a source such as the WSJ.
But I HAVE been doing this sort of contract negotiation and drafting for over 30 years. And one thing I can tell you without a doubt is that there is STILL the very real possibility that AT&T will throw BOATLOADS of cash at Apple in order to keep exclusivity alive for as long as they can...
I can't remember where I read it now, but I do know that AT&T was making a load of $$ in the US by having the exclusive iPhone rights. So you had better believe that they are prepared to share some of that largesse with Apple in exchange for keeping exclusivity.
I'm not saying that it is going to go down that way. I'm just saying that I have seen this sort of thing happen in the telecommunications industry (and others) far more often than not.
And you can believe that Apple, At&T and Verizon are/have been engaged in a dance over how many boatloads of cash each is willing to fork over to Apple and exactly what the quid pro quo will be for each option, in terms of contract terms, subsidies, network infrastructure, etc.
And no one at the WSJ or anywhere else outside of the players locker rooms will know what the deal actually looks like until well after it's done. There are only a VERY small number of players who are actually privy to the REAL information, even in companies such as AT&T, Verizon, and particularly, Apple.
So...all I am saying is that I won't be surprised whichever way it goes, but also, don't bet the farm based on a newspaper article, even from a source such as the WSJ.
The UK got mid cycle release on a different carrier after O2's exclusivity ended, also it was announced by the carrier, not by apple, the UK is one of the big countries that get the iPhone at the same time as the US, so Verizon announcing an iPhone release in January is not really far fetched. Vodafone UK released in January
WOW you doubters kill me! It's a wrap, the Verizon iPhone gonna happen Q1 2011.
AT&T has moved on. This Christmas season they were pushing Android and Windows 7 phones big time in their advertising and instore displays. Hardly a mention of iPhones.
It was a nice run for AT&T but Apple HAS to expand availability to continue to compete against the Android onslaught.
Things like market share and profits do matter to Apple. Verizon iPhone is the next logical step. No rocket science here.
Come on man!
Mate, youre forgetting that Verizon is a CDMA network and requires 100% brand new hardware before its released. The mid-cycle release you speak of in the UK happened between GSM providers. Its easier to do.
it's not 100% brand new hardware, it's just a different radio and new baseband, so 1% brand new hardware. not really a big thing. plus they're making one for asia or wherever, to be released soon. if anything the CDMA network iPhone would be it's own seperate cycle and not in line with the standard iPhone cycle anyway......
So the Verizon iPhone would be something besides an iPhone? If it's 100% new hardware, just what kind of product is Apple building? Frankenphone?
I agree with everyone else, all Apple would really have to do is change the wavelength to be CDMA instead of GSM. It wouldn't be an entire new phone.
I'm not discrediting what you're saying by any stretch, but FWIW, I spent this past week w a friend of mine who is fairly high up with the company that makes the touch screen glass for the iPhones. We were not discussing the possibility of a Verizon iPhone particularly, just the business in general.
He has told me he's met with the CEO of At&t on several occasions, and has said that he can't wait until the exclusivity w the iphone ends, because it gives At&t such bandwidth fits, and the cost of continually upping the infrastructure to handle them, word is he's looking forward to another carrier picking up the iphone to ease the burden. I've also heard from a Verizon insider that Jan 9 there will be an announcement for the Verizon iPhone.
Don't shoot the messenger, just passing on what I've heard.
Alright so maybe it won't be a 100% different phone. But I don't think it's as easy as you think it is.
You'd need updated logic boards with a qualcomm chip soldered in. It's not like they can reprogram the existing gsm chip to allow CDMA wavelengths.
It might be different as well though. Verizon is pretty adamant about putting their software (I.e forcing subscribers to use v-CAST instead of iTunes) and their branding on the hardware. Even their Android phones, which are supposed to be "open and free" still have verizons bloatware on it. And as far as I've known verizon they've never deviated from this. In fact, I think it was one of the reasons why Verizon turned away the iPhone contract in the first place.
Besides Verizon's version of the app store, what bloatware is on Android phones?
When I owned my droid incredible:
VCast
VzwTones
My Verizon
Bing
NFL Mobile
CityID
Backup Assisstant
Also VZW Navigator (despite having google maps already integrated into the phone, WTF?)
P.s. Unrelated but bring the Domo-Kun back gecko!
CityID
well the UK networks have their own apps, but you get them through the app store like any other app, like orange has your orange, orange wifi, orange wednesday, orange maps (sounding much like VZW Navigator), O2 has your o2, vodafone has Vodafone Navigation Find & Go, my vodafone and people sync. so verizon would just have to do it that way too.
I don't mind being quoted, but I don't want to quoted out of context in order to be cast in with the doubters, believers or anything else. As I said in the full portion of my above quote, I won't be surprised whichever way it goes. And if you do a search even just on the MacRumors site alone, you see plenty of reports dating back several years, all from credible, mainstream sources saying that AT&T's exclusivity was going to end on -pick a date long since gone by!
That was my main point. Even credible, outside sources have been guessing wrong and incorrectly reading the Apple-AT&T tea leaves for a long time. Personally, I don't care one way or the other. I'm not a fan of any of the money grubbing cell phone companies doing business in the US. Verizon, AT&T, whatever. One thing's for sure though- the 'iPhone to Verizon' threads will continue unabated till it happens, which just goes to show that if you stick your head out of the window every day and say it's going to rain, eventually you'll be right!
Then everyone will marvel at your forecasting abilities.
Apple is in a precarious place. Despite the fact that Apple has NEVER announced anything with regards to a Verizon iPhone, there are now thousands (or millions) expecting one.
If Apple does not release a Verizon iPhone they are facing a massive backlash of people who are going to cry that Apple "Lied" to them.
If Apple was smart, they would absolutely make sure they release this phone NOW. The hype is at an all time high and the Android onslaught is charging ahead, full steam. They need to step in and do something to slow down this progression, and appease the CMDA crowd.
If Apple does not release a Verizon iPhone they are facing a massive backlash of people who are going to cry that Apple "Lied" to them.
If Apple was smart, they would absolutely make sure they release this phone NOW. The hype is at an all time high and the Android onslaught is charging ahead, full steam. They need to step in and do something to slow down this progression, and appease the CMDA crowd.
I don't consider Bing to be Verizon's bloatware. In fact, considering how smartphones run vs how PCs run, these are just apps that don't really add bloat per se (they aren't running in the background).
I could easily see Apple saying ok to adding 2-3 apps on a Verizon iPhone. As long as they don't harm the operation of the phone in any way. I don't think they would allow a list that long.
Domo will make a come back soon.
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I see both sides being more forgiving this go-round. I think Verizon will relinquish some control to make the iPhone a reality. I also think Apple may concede slightly to get this done. They "Need" each other.
This concerns me. Had the same crap when I was on Verizon (and still have a company phone with them).
Good grief. So much drama over nothing.
Who cares if carriers put on some extra apps that you might or might not use?With Android, all that means is that you'll see them in the seldom-used master app list.
So if you don't want to use them, simply don't leave a shortcut on the homescreens for them. Done. Out of sight, out of mind. So easy, a child can do it.
It's no different, and actually a bit better, than trying to get rid of Apple's own set of apps you don't want to use. Half the population wants to get rid of Stocks, for example. Unlike Android, you can't remove it from a homescreen. Sure, you can hide it in a "Misc" folder, but you still have to see the folder.
Either way, no big deal.
Who cares if carriers put on some extra apps that you might or might not use?With Android, all that means is that you'll see them in the seldom-used master app list.
So if you don't want to use them, simply don't leave a shortcut on the homescreens for them. Done. Out of sight, out of mind. So easy, a child can do it.
It's no different, and actually a bit better, than trying to get rid of Apple's own set of apps you don't want to use. Half the population wants to get rid of Stocks, for example. Unlike Android, you can't remove it from a homescreen. Sure, you can hide it in a "Misc" folder, but you still have to see the folder.
Either way, no big deal.
Hey guys, I'm making my very first post here.
It just seems like we've heard way too many sources stating that its going to happen this time. Not to mention the suppliers who have been placing orders for CDMA chips. I also agree with the poster about AT&T pulling away from iPhone ads. If they were negotiating for an extension, they wouldn't have stopped all their iPhone marketing. At all of our local stores here, all the signs in front are for Windows 7, Blackberry and Android phones. You actually have to walk all the way to the back to even see anything about iPhone. That's not something they would do unless they knew their exclusive was coming to an end and they want to broaden their horizons.
And also, even with LTE, CDMA will still be used for many years to come, just like the edge network at AT&T. In fact, I've heard that LTE will be data, while voice calls will still go through CDMA. Either way, they will need a new antenna, or more likely a duel mode phone.
One more item....has anyone seen that Sam's Club is offering iPhone 4 for $147? Why would Apple let them go so cheap? Seems as if they are dumping inventory....perhaps a duel mode iPhone 4 is what's coming out for both carriers to use?
It just seems like we've heard way too many sources stating that its going to happen this time. Not to mention the suppliers who have been placing orders for CDMA chips. I also agree with the poster about AT&T pulling away from iPhone ads. If they were negotiating for an extension, they wouldn't have stopped all their iPhone marketing. At all of our local stores here, all the signs in front are for Windows 7, Blackberry and Android phones. You actually have to walk all the way to the back to even see anything about iPhone. That's not something they would do unless they knew their exclusive was coming to an end and they want to broaden their horizons.
And also, even with LTE, CDMA will still be used for many years to come, just like the edge network at AT&T. In fact, I've heard that LTE will be data, while voice calls will still go through CDMA. Either way, they will need a new antenna, or more likely a duel mode phone.
One more item....has anyone seen that Sam's Club is offering iPhone 4 for $147? Why would Apple let them go so cheap? Seems as if they are dumping inventory....perhaps a duel mode iPhone 4 is what's coming out for both carriers to use?