Analysts have been increasingly pointing towards Verizon. Not only has the carrier
in partnering Apple , but also there have been reports about Apple building a
which is due to be launched next year. Besides, it is already known that Verizon is building a next gen
due to be deployed by late next year or 2011. Also, being the largest wireless carrier with 71 million subscribers, it makes business sense for Apple to expand their market by partnering with Verizon.
But could there be an anti-climax? Thomas Weisel analyst, Doug Reid predicts that given the recent spate of promotional attacks unleashed by Verizon against the iPhone as well as its growing proximity to Google, Apple 's next carrier partner might not be Verizon after all. Doug claims that the AT&T exclusivity could be ended with a partnership with Deutsche Telekom's T-Mobile instead.
That could take a lot of observers by surprise since by choosing to not partner with the country's largest wireless carrier, Apple could be committing a virtual harakiri. However, it is quite possible that this decision to not partner could be forced more from Verizon's end than from Apple . By choosing to partner a product that the company claims is
, Verizon could be diluting their own brand value and standing. Also, this is not the first time that an Apple -Verizon partnership has fallen apart. Their earlier negotiations in 2007 too was called off after Verizon's terms of the deal was not accepted by Apple .
Nevertheless, if a deal with T-Mobile indeed happens, it could be interesting to see how well T-Mobile's network can stand up to iPhone users'
. Brian Marshall predicts the new partnership to begin from June of next year; about the same time when we think Apple will
. As we had already pointed out, AT&T could be
on the iPhone from $450 to $300 in case the exclusivity ends. While that could potentially affect the sale volumes, the presence of an additional carrier in T-Mobile should effectively counter this scenario.
What do you think? Will T-Mobile make a better partner than Verizon? Please tell us your opinion.