AT&T May Extend Its IPhone Reign Until 2011
By Chris Weiss
Back during the heyday of Apple obsession, rumors of Verizon cracking into the Apple business were running rampant. The stage was set for a Verizon iPhone and Verizon iPad. We didn’t get either in January and were left waiting until June for a possible second chance.
Well, after Apple failed to bring a Verizon iPad to the table and backed up AT&T in regard to its well-publicized data issues, the rumor train did an about face and is now suggesting that AT&T will remain the sole iPhone carrier through the end of the year.
Barclays Capital analyst Vijay Jayant–that must’ve been a rough one in elementary school–said of the situation: “Launch of Apple’s iPad on AT&T’s network is a vote of confidence in AT&T’s network by the equipment maker. While iPad sales are unlikely to materially impact wireless revenues in the short term, selecting AT&T to launch its second major communications product reflects Apple’s bias for the global GSM platform and the prospects of AT&T’s network capability. Moreover, it could suggest the iPhone exclusivity may continue, at least through the end of 2010.”
Other analysts offered the same sentiments. Then again, wasn’t it “analysts” that told us to expect a Verizon iPhone this year? I guess we won’t know for sure until New Year’s. [via AppleInsider]
