Many industry pundits and analysts have speculated that the popular touch screen phone would come to what is generally considered the country's best overall network.
This is the most solid report yet.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Apple is readying a model that would use a technology that would allow the iPhone to run on Verizon and Sprint's networks.
Most industry insiders predict a new iPhone, version 4.0, to be released this summer, in keeping with Apple's past release policies. The 4.0 is expected to be thinner, faster and have much better battery life.
Some industry analysts are saying the new phone, called iPhone HD, will debut on June 22 and will have a front-facing camera, enabling video chat. It also allow multi-tasking (using more than one app at once).
Losing the iPhone exclusivity could be a big blow for AT&T, which has more than 43 percent of the country's smart phone users. Verizon has 23 percent.
In the fourth quarter of last year alone, AT&T activated 3.1 million iPhone users. All those iPhone users have created a drag on AT&T's network. Users often flood message boards (and reporter's emails) with reports of dropped calls and slow service. AT&T has been active to try to revamp its network and has taken steps here in Charlotte to improve.
For Apple, opening up the iPhone to more companies could mean more money. The company has sold 25.1 million iPhones worldwide, but Verizon has 91 million customers, many of whom are wanting to try Apple's touchscreen technology.
For the customer, this could be good. Earlier this year, Verizon and AT&T cut $30 off their unlimited service plans, dropping from around $150 to $120 per month.
If the iPhone hits Sprint, with its potentially $99 everything plan, my guess is that the other two companies would have to follow.
Stay tuned.
3 comments:
I'll believe it when I see it. I've seen these claims for a long time. And yet, here we are, the iPhone still on AT&T. So I'll believe it when I see it.
For starters, even the iPad uses AT&T.
Second, Verizon uses the inferior CDMA technology. AT&T and most of the world uses GSM. Granted, GSM may not seem superior because AT&T is a mess, but if you ever travel to Europe, which is only GSM, you'll see how much better cell phone service is. Verizon has the best American service, and its service is as good as Europe's 5 year ago, the last time I was in Europe. Going CDMA isn't just changing a chip on the inside. It requires a major redesign.
Third, anybody who says Apple is opening doesn't know Apple. Apple is all about control and limiting choices. Why can't you put Apple's OS X on a custom built computer? Why does Apple only allow pre-approved programs on iPod/iPhone/iPad? Opening up to more than one carrier goes against the Apple way. It is this control the reason why I avoid Macs.
Fourth, not even Verizon would be able to handle the influx of iPhone users. One of the main problems with the AT&T network is capacity because of the iPhone. iPhone users overload the network badly. Granted, the other problem with AT&T's network is AT&T miserly ways. But the fact still is, upgrading capacity is difficult and very expensive. It takes a great deal of time to upgrade capacity. iPhone on any other network would cause the same problems. But probably not to the same degree because of AT&T's incompetence.
For the record, I'm a Blackberry person and I don't like the iPhone.
I hope it's not just another rumor. AT&T is brutal. I talked about it on my show today http://bit.ly/dnuVeu
I'm holding out. If Apple wants more $$$ they'd do this
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