In the light of recent over the top ATT-BlackBerry announcement event introducing new BlackBerry 9800 smart phone it got me thinking. Why is ATT so eager to be attaching it’s name to BlackBerry? I know they have BlackBerries on their network for a long time, but I do not have a memory of joint ATT-RIMM event.
I am thinking what good general would do at this point? There is growing competition from me-toos as they are all catching up with touch screens. Not that they are better, just only touch phones available on certain networks. I am thinking the moment the ATT relationship is more hindrance than benefit, good business would look for ways to expand the business. There are waste territories out there that allow competition to grow only because Apple is not participating in them. The ATT-RIMM event got me convinced that both ATT and Apple already know that expansion is coming. Apple will stay good partner with ATT as they need them subsidize cost of the iPhone. But they know that at this point not adding new networks would be counterproductive.
Disclosure: I long on AAPL with various AAPL options
GotWake 8:25 pm on July 29, 2010 556 days ago Reply
I guess the contract could have been modified, but I don’t think we will see anything change before 2012. Apple can’t keep up with demand now. They could sell 8 million iPhones on Verizon without blinking an eye.
I do agree that things are going to slow in the US over the next couple of years. If Apple could have handled the demand, this year would have been prime to go to multiple carriers.
I think AT&T is just trying get into a defensive position. If they can broaden their base, it may help reduce defectors.
Zee 9:18 pm on July 29, 2010 556 days ago Reply
Cult of Mac showed up when I did a Google search and then modified it for USA : How many iPhones are on T-Mobile’s USA network. You know for jail broken stuff … A July 21st story says they’re next. Like this fall. Maybe it’s like chess. Swapping pieces or when in doubt moving a pawn. No gambit though. Not always the best strategy but it does keep things moving. So, if AT&T takes the BB stuff, initial sales may/will reveal that numbers may be similar to projected Apple iPhone numbers should it end up on T-Mobile. So its like a win/win w/o having any destructive consequences to AT&T profits or T-Mobile’s relationships or iPhone/Apple $ losses or Rim/BB’s situation w Verizon/Droid. And maybe T-Mobile offers coverage where AT&T is weak. It’s only a theory. Plus T-Mobile is GSM and I think Apple does business with T-Mobile in Europe.