.
But according to AppleInsider, Analyst Shaw Wu with Kaufman Bros. in a research report has claimed that Verizon is willing to pay Apple a premium to ensure that the iPhone is available only on its network and AT&T. It doesn’t want rivals T-Mobile and Sprint to offer Apple ’s iPhone .
“We are hearing that (Verizon) does not want iPhone , the hottest selling smartphone, available on T-Mobile USA and/or Sprint and may be willing to pay for exclusivity (more…)

Bloomberg also noted that the arrival of these handsets has also resulted in significant retraining of its employees so that the shift from an iPhone centric network to one that offers more options to its customers, turns out to be a smooth process.
According toJohn Dwyer, senior vice president, sales operations and customer experience at AT&T,sales people in the urban areas will be subject to intensive four-hour classes while in rural areas they (more…)

While no dates have been announced, both O2 and Vodafone are allowing users to register and express their interest in getting the iPhone on their network. This also signifies that the launch is just around the corner.
highlighted that Germany, Spain and the US were the last three major iPhone markets where they had exclusive carrier agreements. That however is no longer the case with Apple inking multi-carrier distribution agreementsin Germany now, (more…)

However, according to Kaufman Bros. analyst Shaw Wu, there is a greater likelihood for the iPhone to launch on T-Mobile later this year. Wu points out to a few factors that indicates such a possibility.
Most notably, Wu underlines the similarity in cellular technology between the 3G networks of AT&T and T-Mobile. The 3G service on T-Mobile supports 1700MHz and 2100MHz frequencies, which is optimal for
. This network compatibility would mean that (more…)

While the higher end devices like the smartphones and netbooks will see an increase in ETF, ”
” lower end phones will see a drop in ETF from $175 to $150.
However, the actual fee paid by customers severing their contract will be on a prorated basis. Consequently, the ETF on lower end devices will be reduced by $4 for every month that the user has stayed with the carrier. Similarly, the ETF on iPhone and other higher end phones will be reduced (more…)

, it is widely speculated that the exclusivity may actually end this year with the launch of a
. Taiwanese publication
this year.
There is no doubt that ending iPhone 's exclusivity on AT&T will help Apple reach more customers. While this is good for consumers in general, there are also concerns that such a move may result in a significant chunk of existing iPhone users moving to the Verizon network resulting in huge losses for Ma Bell.
(more…)

However, a recent report on
may have to be taken with guarded skepticism. This is because the original AT&T's iPhone exclusivity seems to have been signed for a far longer period than initially assumed.
points out to an ongoing California class-action lawsuit where Apple is believed to have confirmed the existence of a five year exclusivity agreement with AT&T.
In the class-action suit, filed back in 2007, it was alleged that Apple and AT&T (more…)

Broadpoint AmTech research analyst Brian Marshall speculates that AT&T might have gained an extra six months of iPhone exclusivity in the US with its bid to provide data service for the iPad, extending its window through the end of 2010.
.
“AT&T had to do something dramatic to get the iPad,” said Brian Marshall, a Wall Street analyst at BroadPoint AmTech. AT&T's move was to discount their normal wireless data plans by 50% to iPad customers.
(more…)

To start with, Apple would bring the
via its direct sales channels like retail and online. However, the company shall also pursue the indirect route via third party retailers like Best Buy. Internationally, Apple shall take the premium reseller route to launch the iPad.
Cook emphasized that the decision regarding exclusivity for a market is taken on a country-by-country basis. In markets where the carriers have a ”
” relationship with customers, (more…)

In an elaborate 60 page report on the subject, Credit Suisse research analyst Jonathan Chaplin writes that there is a 50% probability for AT&T's exclusivity to end this year. However, there is another 25% probability for Ma Bell to secure another year of exclusivity through rebidding. This, he says comprehensively means a 75% chance for AT&T to retain its exclusivity through 2010. He writes:
“We conclude there is only a 50% probability that (more…)