If you’re waiting and hoping for a Verizon iPhone this year, you might be disappointed yet again. According to a recent analyst report highlighted over at Computerworld, the iPhone is going to remain an AT&T exclusive at least until the end of 2010. Why? Well, read on.
AT&T is offering data plans for the iPad on a non-contract basis at the reasonable price of $15 for 250MB of data and $30 for unlimited data. According to analyst Brian Marshall of BroadPoint AmTech, AT&T would not have agreed to those low prices, and no-contract plans, without receiving something big from Apple in return. That “something big”, he thinks, is an extension of the iPhone exclusivity agreement with AT&T.
“AT&T had to do something dramatic to get the iPad,” said Marshall. “For that pricing [on the iPad], AT&T was able to negotiate a six-month extension on the iPhone exclusive,” he continued.
So there you have it iPhone fans. If you’re as sick of AT&T as I was but still must have your iPhone, you’re just going to have to hang in there a a bit longer. Of course, this is just one person’s opinion, albeit an informed one. Still, he could be wrong and we may never see a Verizon iPhone.
After all, Apple usually does what’s in Apple’s best interest so going to the trouble of making a CDMA iPhone for just the U.S. market, where they already dominate the space, may be more than they are willing to do. If you believe Marshall, I guess we’ll find out at the end of the year. Until then, try not to be too hard on AT&T.
