Will the iPhone be on other carriers in the US?

[oriolesfan23]

I thought that AT&T had a 5 year contract with Apple, so only AT&T could have the iPhone for the next 5 years. Is this correct?
My friend said he was at the Verizon store yesterday and they told him that Verizon and a few other carriers in the United States would be getting the iPhone within the next year. I told him this was a lie, but he says I'm wrong. So what's the deal??

[dturner]

ATT has a 5 year deal with the Iphone. I do not think anything can change that unless Apple wants to dig deep (not too deep for them) in their pockets and try to change that agreement.
I would say your friend got some bogus information from Verizon.

[chris]

It seems like an eternity, but we're only 1 year into this AT&T exclusivity deal. I think you'll eventually see the iPhone on other carriers, but I'd say it's a less than 20% chance it's before the contract's conclusion. I say 20 percent, because I wouldn't be surprised if Apple found some way to get around the deal. The deal itself was legendary, considering how wireless providers usually have the upper hand.

[dturner]

I say 20 percent, because I wouldn't be surprised if Apple found some way to get around the deal. The deal itself was legendary, considering how wireless providers usually have the upper hand.
I agree. You have to hand it to Apple to pull this off. On the other hand, ATT knew a profitable deal when they saw this.
I'm sure Apple has the best of the best in a law staff. If they would ever like to expand carriers before the 5 years is up they could pull if off if anyone could.

[ColsTiger]

actually the contract stipulated that apple wouldn't release a CDMA version of the iPhone for the first five years. This doesn't mean that we won't see it for another GsM carrier like T-Mobile before the five years is up.

I think the Verizon guy was just doing some wishful thinking.

[hoits2000]

Im pretty sure it stipulated that the phone would be soley sold through att. Thats why you cant buy the phone anywhere but true att stores and apple.

[kdarling]

Signing an exclusivity contract was bad for Apple. It means that Apple had to give in to ATT.

And if it really is for five years, it will go down in history as one of the worst mistakes ever made.

Not only does it not allow Apple access to 2/3 of the USA market, but it gives a lot of time for other manufacturers to fill that market with alternative phones.

[ColsTiger]

Im pretty sure it stipulated that the phone would be soley sold through att. Thats why you cant buy the phone anywhere but true att stores and apple.

Not really. The contract stipulated no CDMA which keeps Verizon, Sprint and Alltel out of the mix for five years. I think at&t was more concerned with Verizon than they were with T-Mobile.

[projectdarkside]

It might sound rude, but the iPhone just seems right on the AT&T. Although it would improve T-mobiles phone selection cause all they have is the failing sidekick, their blackberries, and their declining HTC devices :(

[Saverino]

Well as of now, its under contract with AT&T. People have been unlocking it and using it with different networks, but you cant do that with Verizon as they are still CDMA if im not mistaken. So Verizon wont be seeing the iPhone until this contract with AT&T ends.

[kdarling]

Not really. The contract stipulated no CDMA ...

No one knows what the contract says.

No one even knows how long the exclusivity is for. There were a couple of news articles back when the iPhone was first shown off. One saying two years, the other five years. Everyone started repeating the five years.

[lman]

Signing an exclusivity contract was bad for Apple. It means that Apple had to give in to ATT.

And if it really is for five years, it will go down in history as one of the worst mistakes ever made.

Not only does it not allow Apple access to 2/3 of the USA market, but it gives a lot of time for other manufacturers to fill that market with alternative phones.
Well for one thing, having the phone on one carrier has it benefits. Apple truly has control over their product and they are taking tremendous profits not only from iphone sales, but also from the contracts (which they cut a profit as well). If i remember correctly, they talked to verizon and they weren't willing to give up the control that apple desired and therefore, it wouldn't have been worth it for apple to allow their phone on multiple providers. They got their demands by being exclusive with ATT and they are making a **** load of money.

As for alternative phones entering the market. Its been said before and i'm just reiterating. Thats a good thing. With other phones threatening iphone sales, there will be a threat for apple to improve their product (which is good for us consumers).

[LAPTOP GAMER]

I would have got an i phone instead of the touch, but I have a Verizon contract and I would rather wait until it is unlocked through Apple.