AT&T: U.S. iPhone Exclusivity Will End in 2010
AT&T may eventually give up the reins on the iPhone, possibly next year.
Are the days numbered for AT&T's sole claim on Apple's iPhone? That may be the case according to AT&T Mobility CEO Ralph de la Vega, as he "strongly" implied that fact to analysts during a conference call. Although de la Vega offered no details on when or why, the idea has surfaced a few times over the last several months. There's even been talk that AT&T's deal would end sometime in mid-2010.
According to Computerworld, de la Vega was asked about the rumor, however the CEO merely talked about life after Apple's device. "We have a legacy of having a great portfolio...that will continue after the iPhone is no longer exclusive to us," de la Vega said. "We think we will continue after the iPhone...to drive [results]...."
But de la Vega acknowledged that the iPhone is a good source of new gross subscribers: in Q3, the device was one third of the overall new subscriptions. While that's certainly a large number, de la Vega seems to feel that AT&T will live without the iPhone. He also said that the company is currently working with device manufacturers to build Android phones.
"We feel really good about our non-iPhone [subscriber] adds and net adds," he said in the call. "We feel really strong about our portfolio in quick messaging devices, including BlackBerry and all the smartphones."
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This is a good thing.
bout time
They probably finally got fed up with Apples demands. The longer they hold on to the iPhone, the more power Apple would have over them.
YAY. I want one.
I concur, it's about time. I could go with an iphone or hope that the blackberry storm II isn't a POS like the first one.
At&t will live just fine without the iphone, iphone users are the worst users economically for At&t they put like 6 times more strain on the infrastructure then a normal user.
@Izzy
They were also the only reason ATT had been rolling in profit lately.
Yeah i well know that, At&t looses money for every new user but gains back that money a little extra over time as they keep the user i'm sure by now they have a good number of users who they charge a ton every month and they don't need too many more.
As far as losing money... only on paper. Sure they subsidize the cost of the iPhone (so technically they start out in the hole on every new subscription), but the contract you sign is worth many times AT&T's cost up front. It's not like you can get a subsidized iPhone then walk away.
So will they let me unlock my phone to go to another network? And even so, will it work on that other network?
"At&t will live just fine without the iphone, iphone users are the worst users economically for At&t they put like 6 times more strain on the infrastructure then a normal user."
This is exactly what they are doing! Rather than upgrade their infrastructure, they would rather dump the customer. ATT in a nutshell, someday it will catch up with them. Way to be like GM....
I would think the iPhone would only work on another GSM network. I think these only include T-Mobile and Alltel.
there were talks that Apple was working on a CDMA version to be compatible with verizon.
and Alltel is now verizon......
I would think the iPhone would only work on another GSM network. I think these only include T-Mobile and Alltel.
I'm sure also depends on how long your contract is if you're in one they might screw you out of paying the rest off the rest of the contract before you can switch.
Why create a CDMA version when Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile are all going to LTE (next gen GSM 4G technology)? Apple would also have to bend considerable to be on Verizon before they would be accepted by them. Two major things are having a removable battey, and allowing Verizon Techs to troubleshoot their phones instead of relying on Applestores, pretty much what kept them from getting on Verizon the last time.
I am not sure I'de even get one now even if they were to switch. One they can't be customized like my Windows Mobile phone (Not without warranty issues), I don't want to be forced into buying apps only at their store or stuff that is approved by them. I just like the iPhone because I wouldn't have to have an mp3 player as well.
Way to be like GM....
Hopefully not. If that happens....gov't bail outs may come for AT&T....
@IzzyThey were also the only reason ATT had been rolling in profit lately.
AT&T did not make $12.9 billion USD(2008 numbers) off of iPhone users alone(I am talking net income, not revenue). You do understand how simple math works, right? Even though I hate AT&T(and still under a contract with them, sadly), I cannot stand asinine comments that are not based in reality.
Has AT&T seen growth through the iPhone? Yes. Was it their only avenue of growth? Not likely.
Wondered how long it would take. I personally won't be buying one, but that's just me. I'm one of those people who only has a cell phone because it's almost a necessity nowadays.
I would think the iPhone would only work on another GSM network. I think these only include T-Mobile and Alltel.
Alltel has never used a GSM network. They've been CDMA since their inception. T-Mobile and AT&T are the only "nationwide" GSM carriers aside from the "pay as you go" carriers like Virgin Mobile, Boostmobile, Amp'd Mobile, etc. Sprint was a GSM carrier, but not sure as to their network since buying Nextel.
They are making a hefty profit off the iphone, the problem is they want to sell more services to more customers without actually adding to their infrastructure.
That's why I hate the way the system works. They should be forced to make the phone financing and the monthly fee's separate.
Then you can move to a new provider while still making payments on your phone. Or you can pay off what you owe on the phone or simply pay for the phone up front.
Please make a CDMA version for Verizon. I'll camp out in front of the store to buy it.
i don't think they will. over here in canada all our wireless carrier have the iphone now. the 2 that are just starting with the iphone now are moving from CDMA to GSM just for that phone.
i don't think they will. over here in canada all our wireless carrier have the iphone now. the 2 that are just starting with the iphone now are moving from CDMA to GSM just for that phone.
I doubt it's just because of the iPhone, that is a huge waste of money just to change infrastructures over a single phone. A better reason would be because GSM is more widely used than CDMA.