Apple's iPhone predicted to find home at T-Mobile U.S. in 2010

[Melech518]

While rumors of a possible Verizon-compatible iPhone in 2010 persist, one analyst has predicted that Apple will instead bring the iPhone to another GSM-based carrier in the U.S.: T-Mobile.

In a note to investors released this week, Doug Reid of Thomas Weisel Partners said his firm believes that T-Mobile, and not Verizon, will be the beneficiary when Apple's exclusive agreement with AT&T expires next year. AT&T has likely realized this, he said, and has changed its advertising focus accordingly to be less focused on the iPhone.

"AT&T advertising in the United States has in recent weeks clearly shifted away from iPhone as the carrier likely readies itself to lose exclusivity in the United States (to T-Mobile and not to VZ, we believe) while VZ ads promoting Droid and other anti-iPhone devices appear to have intensified markedly," Reid said.

AT&T's exclusive contract with Apple for the iPhone is due to expire in 2010. While earlier this year there were reports that the wireless carrier was pushing to extend the agreement through 2011, those rumors have since cooled.

While the iPhone in its current iteration is compatible with T-Mobile's network, it is not capable of connecting to its high-speed 3G network, which operates on a unique 1700MHz spectrum. The iPhone is currently compatible with UMTS/HSDPA 3G connections at the frequencies 850MHz, 1900MHz and 2100MHz. It would be necessary, therefore, for Apple to build a new hardware model that supports T-Mobile's 3G frequency.

Those changes, though, are relatively minor compared to what would be necessary to make the iPhone compatible with Verizon's CDMA network -- a technology that, unlike the GSM network of AT&T and T-Mobile, is not widely used abroad. Recent rumors have suggested Apple could enter a deal with chip maker Qualcomm. While Qualcomm plans to have a dual-mode chip that would allow connection to both AT&T and Verizon available in 2010, some have said the new chip would be too cost prohibitive for Apple to adopt so soon.

Source: AppleInsider

[Poseidon79]

Thanks.. great write up.

[rhekt]

the plot thickens

[one1]

I'm really quite tired of the rumor mill. It's been proven that nobody knows jack about what apple will do with carriers in the US. Speculation is not newsworthy IMO because it is just a continual posting of someone's random bull......

[CaptainChaos]

^agreed. No one evn knows if the exclusive deal between AT&T and Apple is even going to end.

I predict that the next iphone will work on every mobile carrier in the world. You heard it here first folks. Call me an analyst and spread the news. /sarcasm

[mawells787]

everyday is something new.

in my opinion this is catch 22 for apple. because if they go with t-mobile as oppose to Verizon they can keep a GSM iphone and just add a 1700mhz band chip which is more cost effective than a CDMA phone. However, t-mobile doesn't have that many customers 33-34million as oppose to Verizon that has 89million so apples marketshare won't increase that much with t-mobile.

i think that if verizon gets the iphone a lot of people would leave at&t but if t-mobile gets the iphone i don't think too many people would leave at&t for t-mobile. at&t has a lot more coverage and 3G coverage than t-mobile. i would stay with at&t because i rather deal with dropped calls than no service with t-mobile in NYC.

[Poseidon79]

IMO speculation is quite news worthy. Just look at all the product rumors and mock-ups that get thrown around. They spark interest and debate.

[z4kMKv]

OFFTOPIC:

What theme is that? Thanks

[Truckinlow]

im down if tmobile doesnt raise there rates. i know you can get unlim talk text and data for 2 lines for 140 a month i think.

[sucram6791]

this makes sense cuz it eliminates unlocking for the most part

[battlecrushr]

Hope they do

[fungusfeet]

OFFTOPIC:

What theme is that? Thanks

This is a very important question that needs to be answered!

[battlecrushr]

Lol it's melech MacBook 3.0 updated for 3gs theme. Here's link
http://modmyi.com/forums/new-skins-t...ated-3g-s.html

[Paul Daniel Ash]

could you please let the staff writers know if you're working on a news piece? I was working on a similar one that was not a word-for-word repost of AppleInsider | Apple's iPhone predicted to find home at T-Mobile U.S. in 2010

[xxfr0stbytexx]

so they go from a crappy service to even worse service... great...

[waroftyr]

this makes a lot more sense, esp. with the high cost of the qualcomm chips at this time and not to mention apple trying to keep up production to meet demand. kinda sucks though, i am looking for a 3g for my gf for christmas to put on her tmobile and going through hoops trying to buy an upgrade off a friend so not to pay the ridiculous prices out there, it would suck to see this get released 6 months after i accomplish that

[Fallguy]

I dont think Apple is looking for people to move from AT&T as much as they are looking for new customers . The people they have at AT&T are hooked already , their looking for bigger fish now.

[Melech518]

could you please let the staff writers know if you're working on a news piece? I was working on a similar one that was not a word-for-word repost of AppleInsider | Apple's iPhone predicted to find home at T-Mobile U.S. in 2010

Paul, If you wish to write an article based from the original go for it, I am not stopping you. I have a business to run and am merely posting articles of relevance as they come to my attention. I will not ask your permission to post an article nor will I spend the time to re-word the original article from Apple Insider, that is YOUR job as a staff writer to do. The member news section is in place for us to write or post our own found news when you haven't brought it to our attention. I never claimed the article to be my own, as you will notice the Source is documented at the bottom of the OP.

[Paul Daniel Ash]

all I'm asking is for a heads up when you plan to post something on the front page, not that you should ask for my "permission." I was researching an original article, which takes time and effort - and I too have other responsibilities. but it's not going to be interesting to anyone to read the same bit of news twice. so it just wasted time that I would have spent working on something else had I known you were going to post this.

it's a simple and reasonable request. you're - of course - free to ignore my request. sorry if you took it as anything else.

[Melech518]

Will do.