Based on the trends regarding the current working relationship between AT & T and Apple, the iPhone may yet find itself under a new distributor by 2011. This was the prediction shared by Gene Munster of Piper Jaffray regarding the exclusivity of distribution by AT & T for now. Much of this is attributed to the shortcomings shown by AT & T, particularly the current status of video availability on the iTunes store.

And the apparent successor for AT & T points towards the direction of Verizon. Verizon seems to be the logical choice considering other companies like Sprint and T-Mobile have the Palm and the Android to address at the moment respectively. Will Verizon be the next exclusive distributor of Apple’s iPhone? We have 4 months to find out.

(Source) Crunchgear

Tags: 4 months, Android, Apple, Apple iPhone, Business, exclusivity, iPhone, logical choice, munster, Palm, Piper Jaffray, relationship, shortcomings, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon, Verizon, video availability

This is the true story of how T-Mobile UK has been able to sell iPhone 3G units despite the official Apple partner in the UK is O2. And O2 exclusivity deal will expire in September if not later.

T-Mobile has been offering iPhone 3G units to its most exclusive clientele. The company apparently has been selling up to 150 phones a week to those customers that have contracts of at least £75 per month. T-Mobile is basically a reseller that offers SIM-free iPhones as an incentive method for its high-roller customers. That means T-Mobile UK isn’t doing anything illegal. Immoral, sure, but we’re living some rough economic times.

When will T-Mobile start selling that hot new iPhone 3GS? Maybe sometime in October?

via theregister

Tags: 3G, 3gs, Apple, Apple, exclusivity, iPhone, Mobile News, O2, Other Brands, T-Mobile, T-Mobile, UK

Just yesterday it was spotted that the Palm Pre is now selling for $99 with a 2-year contract on Sprint. Today, we get confirmation that Verizon will in fact be selling Palm’s newest handset for their service early next year.

This news comes to use from an investor conference call that went down earlier today where they also announced that most of their earnings are up compared to last year.

However, the call wasn’t all good news as Verizon has stated that due to a 21% drop in profits they are going to cut close to 8,000 workers. Bummer.

Read (Verizon)

Tags: Business, Cell Phones, conference call, economy, exclusivity, investor, Mobile News, Palm, Palm Pre, recession, T-Mobile, Verizon, workforce

If you’re looking for a Palm Pre in Canada then it looks like Bell is the carrier to go to. We have just heard that Bell will be the exclusive Bell carrier for a six-month period. In case you don’t exactly want to become a Bell customer then you’ll have to wait a short while until everyone else will get the Pre too. It’s funny how this six months exclusive keeps popping up. Sprint was rumored to have a similar agreement with Palm but Dan Hesse, Sprint’s CEO, denied everything. Will Bell deny the six-month exclusivity too?

via mobilesyrup

Tags: Bell, Canada, Dan Hesse, exclusivity, Mobile News, Other Brands, Palm, Palm, pre, Sprint, Sprint

Now, this might seem obvious, but at least we can now say we have official confirmation — AT&T CEO, Randall Stephenson, recently took center stage at the Brainstorm: Tech conference to say “there will be a day when you are not exclusive with the iPhone”.

Don’t go canceling your AT&T subscriptions just yet because he gave us no word on when exactly said exclusivity will end. It could be next year, it could be 5 years from now, for all we know.

However, if recent rumors about Apple and Verizon gettin’ all buddy-buddy are to be believed, we may have a hint as to what carrier will get the iPhone next.

via Engadget

Tags: Apple, At&T, brainstorm tech, Business, carrier, Cell Phones, CEO, exclusivity, iPhone, Mobile News, randall stephenson, Verizon

Verizon is getting ready to face the FCC, and anyone else for that matter, when it comes to exclusivity deals. The company has announced a totally new policy for its exclusivity deals. Any future exclusive handset will last for just six months and after that carriers with less than 500,000 subscribers will be able to sell the same phone. Lowell McAdams, Verizon’s CEO said:

Any new exclusively arrangement we enter with handset makers will last no longer than six months – for all manufacturers and all devices… Exclusivity arrangements promote competition and innovation in device development and design. This new approach is fair to all sides.

What will happen after six months for other large carriers? When will they be able to get the new device? We’re waiting to see if other carriers will take a similar approach before the FCC steps in and starts telling everyone what to do.

Tags: exclusivity, fcc, Mobile News, Policy, Verizon, Verizon Wireless

Verizon customers looking to get their hands on the Palm Pre in 6 months, like rumors suggested, are sure to be discouraged. Sprint CEO Dan Hesse took the stage at a press event and when informed of the rumors regarding Sprint’s Pre exclusivity running out in 6 months he responded with:

They need to check their facts. That just is not the case. Both Palm and Sprint have agreed not to discuss the length of the exclusivity deal. But I can tell you it’s not six months.

While this statement effectively squashes rumors of the Pre coming to Verizon in 6 months, the phone is inevitably bound to show up on the carrier sooner or later; when remains the question.

Read (CNet)

Tags: Business, Cell Phones, Dan Hesse, exclusivity, Mobile News, Palm, Palm Pre, rumors, Sprint, Verizon

The Pre is really hot right now and it’s no wonder every carrier out there will want to sell it at some point in the future. AT&T has disclosed its intentions of selling the Pre at some point in the near future and Verizon Wireless went even further and said that the phone will be available in the next six months. That’s why Sprint decided to set things straight and said about the Pre exclusivity that:

We have the Pre through 2009.

There you have it folks, the Pre will not be available anytime this year from a Verizon Wireless store. You’ll have to wait to at least January of next year to see if Verizon will really get this amazing new Palm. Will Sprint sell millions of Pres by that time?

Tags: At&T, At&T, exclusivity, Mobile News, Palm, Palm, Portable Devices, pre, Sprint, Sprint, Verizon, Verizon Wireless

Quickly following the announcement that Verizon Wireless would be picking up the Palm Pre within the next 6 months comes Sprint’s James Fisher who claims, “We have the Pre through 2009″, effectively confirming Verizon’s announcement.

Now, Palm’s Pre is cool and all but just how long is it going to be top of the line? I mean, if and when it does hit Verizon it’s sure to be subsidized into oblivion leaving buyers just a small fee on a 2 year contract. Oh well, I’m not complaining.

Read (Smartmoney)

Tags: exclusivity, james fisher, Palm Pre, Uncategorized