AT&T Trying to Extend iPhone Exclusivity

[Cody Overcash]

Since the iPhone first went on sale nearly three TWO (typo ) years ago AT&T has been the exclusive carrier here in the US. Now that the end of the exclusivity contract is coming closer (many think next year) AT&T is working to extend it. According to a report by the Wall Street Journal AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson is working keep the iPhone on AT&T and only AT&T here in the US through 2011. When asked for comment all Apple said was "We have a great relationship with AT&T."

It is no secret that the iPhone has been big business for AT&T with many customers switch off other wireless carriers and on to AT&T for the iPhone. AT&T has been committed to driving sales of the iPhone the whole time spending upwards of $1.3 billion to discount the iPhone (the subsidy). It is no surprise that AT&T wants to continue forward with the iPhone and keep it off of competing carriers.

Let's have a poll. Do you want to see the iPhone on multiple carriers in the US?

thanks JazJon for the tip

[thetoothfairy]

Was just reading this and would love to see the iphone on other carriers.... it would be great to be able to choose..... when I was with Verizon at my home I always had three to four bars and never got dropped calls... with att..... I get dropped calls in my computer room and in my kennel......

I think Apple would be smart if they offered the phone on all carriers..... maybe the rates would go down a bit because of the competition.....

Who knows..... I am not going to say that att sucks..... but would like to try the phone with Verizon.... but Verizon and or any carrier would have to accept Apples conditions...

[yiboy]

Definitely think opening the iPhone up to multiple carriers will cause enough competition between the carriers that can only benefit us, the consumers.

Come on Apple! lol

[cpjr]

Oops, we got post scrambled eggs again.

More carriers means more options

[thetoothfairy]

Wait. Did I just post BEFORE the actual post? Wowzers, I'm awesome.

You would have been more awesome if you would have gave your opinion about this threads topic....

[yiboy]

Definitely think opening the iPhone up to multiple carriers will cause enough competition between the carriers that can only benefit us, the consumers.

Come on Apple! lol

[JStraitiff]

tmobile =cheaper

i personally want a cdma version for verizon

[A Retired Mod]

Open it up to other carriers....yes

[iraethan]

AT&T would be very very stupid to let the iPhone go. it is pretty much the only thing keeping them afloat.

[Bernie-Mac]

Leave it on AT&T, at the most open it up to AT&T or T-Mobile. Verizon and Sprint both suck and Verizon already rejected the iPhone cuz they couldnt put their gay UI on it, so screw em

[Channan]

Other carriers? No. Why should EVERYONE have this awesomeness?

[JazJon]

I wonder if T-Mobile 3G would be fully supported on the iPhone 3.0

The problem is T-Mobile 3G supported bands are not the same as the world standard GSM/3G. For example my friend has the unlocked iPaq 910 (Windows Mobile 6) and the 3G doesn't work on T-Mobile. (edge only in San Diego)

HP iPAQ 910c Mobile Messenger - Support Forum - eXpansys Inc

Experiences With The HP iPAQ 910 Business Manager | My Today Screen

"The version I got was from the United States so naturally I would expect it to work well in the US. That expectation fell short because it did not support one half of T-Mobile’s 3G bands (1700MHz). While it did support the other half (2100 MHz)"

He got a pre-paid AT&T card and 3G worked fine!

I would hope a truly unlocked iphone would work at full speed on T-Mobile

It's good to know apple is working on a CDMA iPhone though, so we'll have to wait and see.

[Bernie-Mac]

It's good to know apple is working on a CDMA iPhone though, so we'll have to wait and see.

Umm...they're not

[exNavy]

The iPhone came out in June of 2007. Nearly two years. I seem to remember everyone saying it was a 5 year deal so that should put it through June of 2012.

[Riviera]

Can't wait to see that "dude" on TV walking in the middle of the California desert while talking on an iPhone and say .... "Can You hear me know?"

[JazJon]

RE: CDMA iPhone

Umm...they're not

Well it's in the rumor mill at least.............

http://www.modmyi.com/forums/iphone-...nced-june.html

"The CDMA version is a direction Apple will have to go eventually if they want to put the iPhone on every network
worldwide. If released possibly some hacking could put that CDMA phone on carriers like Verizon (who refused the iPhone originally)."

[billchase2]

CDMA = No GSM buzz... and that would make me very happy.

[DarkDragonAn]

If you we go to a different carrier you can get a better data and more text for your money. I have 2 account one with AT&T/Sprint I have the same data/text plan on 2 phone on a 3G Network on the iPhone/Window Mobile 6 and both are almost the same speed on the 3G network but I get unlimited text on Sprint for the same data plan I pay for the iPhone that is F-Up. The $69.99 plan. So yeah! Need to go to a different carrier.

P.s. If AT&T want to keep there customers happy they need give us a better Data/Text plan than just unlimited data. We need unlimited both. For $69.99 and if they want to take back the rollover min' take it I never get to use it. They should work with us the consumer.

[dillonsmith9147]

AT&T was the only carrier offered here for almost 8 years, but now that verizon is around, their service is much better along with their speeds around here, if iPhone goes to verizon i wont give it a second thought

[MC1233]

Only reason I went to AT&T is for the iPhone.. and since then I have never in my life had so many dropped calls ( with a full 3g signal too) !!!! I CANT WAIT for the iPhone to go to other carriers!!!!!!!!!