No CDMA-compatible iPhone for at least 5 years - report
Being the exclusive U.S. provider for Apple's iPhone means that wireless carrier AT&T won't have to worry about a competing version of the device for rival cellular networks for at least half a decade.
That's the word from USA Today's Leslie Cauley, who appears to have confirmed that AT&T has exclusive U.S. distribution rights on the Apple handset for five years
As part of the deal, Apple is reportedly barred for that time from developing a version of the iPhone for CDMA wireless networks, such those operated by Verizon Wireless and Sprint.
Of course, the five-year embargo has been somewhat expected ever since Verizon vice president Jim Gerace began boasting over his company's decision not to bite at a similar five-year exclusive that would have made Verizon Wireless the iPhone's exclusive U.S. provider.
"We said no. We have nothing bad to say about the Apple iPhone," Gerace told USA Today back in January "We just couldn't reach a deal that was mutually beneficial."
The Verizon exec said his firm just could not come to terms on a variety of issues with the iPhone maker. Among them, Apple reportedly wanted a percentage of the monthly cellphone fees, a say over how and where iPhones could be sold, and control of the relationship with iPhone customers.
In speaking to the paper this week, AT&T Wireless chief executive Stan Sigman showed his own signs of swagger as he acknowledged the primary advantage in landing the iPhone exclusive -- which is that customers who crave the device will be forced to take their business to his front door.
"I'm glad we have (the iPhone) in our bag," he said. "Others will try to match it, but for a period of time, they're going to be playing catch-up."
That's the word from USA Today's Leslie Cauley, who appears to have confirmed that AT&T has exclusive U.S. distribution rights on the Apple handset for five years
As part of the deal, Apple is reportedly barred for that time from developing a version of the iPhone for CDMA wireless networks, such those operated by Verizon Wireless and Sprint.
Of course, the five-year embargo has been somewhat expected ever since Verizon vice president Jim Gerace began boasting over his company's decision not to bite at a similar five-year exclusive that would have made Verizon Wireless the iPhone's exclusive U.S. provider.
"We said no. We have nothing bad to say about the Apple iPhone," Gerace told USA Today back in January "We just couldn't reach a deal that was mutually beneficial."
The Verizon exec said his firm just could not come to terms on a variety of issues with the iPhone maker. Among them, Apple reportedly wanted a percentage of the monthly cellphone fees, a say over how and where iPhones could be sold, and control of the relationship with iPhone customers.
In speaking to the paper this week, AT&T Wireless chief executive Stan Sigman showed his own signs of swagger as he acknowledged the primary advantage in landing the iPhone exclusive -- which is that customers who crave the device will be forced to take their business to his front door.
"I'm glad we have (the iPhone) in our bag," he said. "Others will try to match it, but for a period of time, they're going to be playing catch-up."
Comments
That's hard to believe. I'd more likely believe that the 1G iPhone is exclusive for 5 years but a 2G iPhone or iPhone Nano could go anywhere.
Although, to me, this is more proof there won't be a 'pay as you go' vehicle (without competition, why bother?).
And it also shows how desperate Cingular must've been to make the deal they did. They're laying a lot of eggs in this one basket.
As part of the deal, Apple is reportedly barred for that time from developing a version of the iPhone for CDMA wireless networks, such those operated by Verizon Wireless and Sprint.
That's hard to believe. I'd more likely believe that the 1G iPhone is exclusive for 5 years but a 2G iPhone or iPhone Nano could go anywhere.
Nope. Its been said before that the agreement is exclusive for all iPhone devices. Cingular would be stupid to have signed such a sweetheart deal for apple as described, and then allow Apple to release another phone (and better, since its newer) for use with other's networks.
I think the headline here is ATT gets 5 year exclusive deal in the US, which was already suspected.
Nope. Its been said before that the agreement is exclusive for all iPhone devices. Cingular would be stupid to have signed such a sweetheart deal for apple as described, and then allow Apple to release another phone (and better, since its newer) for use with other's networks.
Maybe apple could develop an "apple phone" for other networks instead!
The coverage maps referenced at the start of this post show how much coverage GSM has. Generally, most new cell phones first come out as GSM and then are adapted to CDMA. Its all a question of choosing the market and deciding where to put the effort. In many way this is not much different than games companies with MS-Windows PCs and Macs.
Um, how will it work in Asia if there is no CDMA version? So, there will be a CDMA version.
I think the headline here is ATT gets 5 year exclusive deal in the US, which was already suspected.
To further your thought:
There very well might be a reason why Apple isn't showing the antenna design inside and component layout the of iPhone shell in the FCC report. It may already be ready for CDMA with slight modifications. It may be that they are still waiting on a patent to be granted. What ever the reason. I am sure that if Apple wanted a CDMA phone, it could be done, just as easily, with a license fee to Qualcomm of course.
To further your thought:
There very well might be a reason why Apple isn't showing the antenna design inside and component layout the of iPhone shell in the FCC report. It may already be ready for CDMA with slight modifications. It may be that they are still waiting on a patent to be granted. What ever the reason. I am sure that if Apple wanted a CDMA phone, it could be done, just as easily, with a license fee to Qualcomm of course.
Again, not with that nice 5-year exclusive license to Cingular, there's no reason to even care. And, perhaps by then, there won't be a need for it in North America.
And hiding stuff from the FCC report means nothing, because people will be ripping these things open immediately (wish I had that kind of money to be able to buy stuff in order to destroy it) and show you all the excitement of the antenna assembly or whatever.
Comptable, should be compatible.
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Any iPhone in Japan or Korea will hence require 3G on the same frequencies as European 3G. Draw your own conclusions.
Apple is just targeting the largest worldwide market.
verizon, can you hear me now?
AT&Tingular may think they have an exclusive on the iPhone, but I'm betting that people will be using it unlocked on T-Mobile in under one month--especially if the iPhone is not subsidized.
That depends on whether you can buy the phone without the service.
Um, how will it work in Asia if there is no CDMA version? So, there will be a CDMA version.
The article didn't say "no CDMA version". It said AT&T has a 5-year exclusive deal in the US.
If there is market demand for a CDMA version in other countries, Apple is not barred from releasing such a product. But I can't imagine there being that much demand outside of the US.
That depends on whether you can buy the phone without the service.
Every report I've read says "no".
Yet one more reason VZW is of no interest.
TFTFY.
AT&T/Cingular is not great, but VZW's continued insistence on crippling all the phones it sells just sends a big FU message to its customers. Perhaps they will rethink this strategy if and when they start losing customers to the iPhone (but they'll still be waiting a long few years).
It does make sense. Apart from some networks in the U.S. (and Iraq and possibly in the future Afghanistan
Apple is just targeting the largest worldwide market.
Actually, its not just 'some networks', CDMA is #1 in the USA... yep, more popular than GSM. CDMA is also very popular in S. Korea, and has over 300 million users worldwide.
Yes, GSM is more popular overall worldwide (over 80% marketshare), but even so, CDMA is far from being a small market and a tech that 'hardly anyone uses'... unless you consider those 300 million users (equal to the current population of the US) as being 'hardly anyone'.
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US - Verizon Customer
My contract isn't up for another year. If iPhone lives up to the hype, I'll have it this time, next year. Until then...