As described through CNET, AT&T has found the golden goose in its iPhone partnership with Apple and it wants to keep it alive. Previous extensions to agreements are being reviewed, again for a longer term relationship.
Originally, the deal had AT&T as the exclusive carrier of the iPhone until 2008. From that point, Apple would be allowed to start selling the smartphone on other carriers. However, the companies met last August and decided to extend that partnership through the end of this year. This was not the end of it all as the AT&T Chief Executive is now in talks with Apple to keep that deal alive until 2011.
Apple has sold more than 17 million iPhones since its debut less than two years ago, and the carrier added 4.3 million iPhone subscribers in the second half of 2008. 40% of whom were new to AT&T. Last month, AT&T announced plans to sell iPhone 3Gs without a two-year contract for $599 and $699, a move that Apple quickly duplicated at its own stores. Suggestions of a $300 iPhone subsidy are also afloat, if AT&T was willing to go that far, Apple stands to clean up by negotiating contracts with other carriers.
[via CNET]
Moses=Me
Pharaoh=Apple
Plague=AT&T
People=iPhone AT&T Subscribers
“Let my people go!”
If Apple continues with AT&T past my contract term I’m going to have to find another phone.
I LOVE my 3GS and my 2G before it (on T-Mobile) but I can’t stand AT&T anymore. I drop at least one call every single day, usually WAY more than one… The 3G is a joke in Chicago which should say something. If they can’t get it right in a moderately large city of ~3 million people then New York must be truly effed.
AT&T is so bad that I WILL (for sure) get rid of my favorite phone EVER to be rid of them.
Hopefully Apple wakes up and realizes AT&T is damaging their brand.
And if anyone with AT&T is listening, I WILL NEVER USE YOUR COMPANY FOR ANYTHING AGAIN AS LONG AS I DRAW BREATH. No DSL, no land line, no home phones, no business phones, no cell phones, no TV, no fiber internet NOTHING… EVER… You burned this bridge.
I’d rather die slow in a pool of my own blood than deal with your rude, obnoxious, uninformed sanctimonious phone “support” or sales personnel. And when it comes to crap service you’re second to none.
It seems clear that you hate your customers and this customer in return DESPISES you.