Apple and AT&T not Ready for a Threesome Just Yet

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Screen shot 2010-01-28 at 1.57.04 PM

Rumors we reported that Apple was ready to invite Verizon into the iPhone party during the iPad unveiling proved to be false. Disgruntled AT&T customers have grumbled over the exclusive arrangement between Apple and AT&T. Apple chose to take the high road and continue the monopoly. This could be simply because Steve Jobs did not want to distract from iPad’s thunder, it could be as silly as a personality conflict between him and Verizon’s head honchos. There has to be more to this story…

Wired has written a thoughtful little piece on why Verizon has been frozen out. Yes, AT&T’s network has been overworked by the iPhone which was not forseen, but to their credit they have been working to build out more coverage and taking the blame for the problems. It is likely that AT&T has bent over backwards to keep Apple happy, and the fact that they provided a $30 unlimited plan for the iPad demonstrates just that. And you can buy the iPad unlocked so it will run on any GSM network, with a few caveats. You don’t have to sign a contract with AT&T, you can activate the iPad at home. Unfortunately Verizon runs on CDMA not GSM and therefore only works in the US. This could present difficulties for the iPad which definitely is aimed at stunning the world with it’s “magical and revolutionary” technology.

Ultimately however, Apple would naturally seem to want to increase the number of carriers they deal with in the US. They deal with multiple carriers in other countries, Canada being a good example where Telus and Bell were added to the original carrier Rogers. Telus and Bell added HSPA (a GSM technology) this year. If Verizon actually gets it’s plan to leapfrog to LTE going, then there would seem to be no reason for Apple to keep the clubhouse door shut. Unless Apple and AT&T really are monogamous.

This is an AT&T article by the Apps Machine.