Apple Exec Hints at iPhone For Other Carriers Besides AT&T
Back in October, Apple promised that this month it would release an an iPhone SDK (software development kit), which will enable a growing third-party development community to build and release thousands of new applications for the handset. Now, it appears that it will be delayed until at least early March. (We can only guess, since the press received invitations from Apple to a March 6th event for the iPhone Software Roadmap.)
Why is this important? First, Apple hinted at enterprise solutions, which suggests more applications and security for business users, as well as the possibility that Apple may be preparing the iPhone to compete with the BlackBerry's business features.
In other iPhone news, Apple reaffirmed its confidence to selling 10 million iPhones, Jobs' goal for the product's first year. Apple's chief operating officer Tim Cook suggested that the current single-carrier system in the US -- exclusivity with AT&T -- is not permanent; Cook said to investors, "We're not married to any business model." Does this mean we'll see the iPhone on Verizon or Sprint some day?
From The Unofficial Apple Weblog, Reuters, Ars Technica, and Apple Insider
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Troy @ Feb 28th 2008 11:00PM
Sprint probably won't be around long enough to see this happen.. Hope not anyway.. save me from paying the early termination fee for their crappy service.
Trevor @ Feb 29th 2008 1:19AM
If this happens, I wonder if T-Mobile will pick up the iPhone. I know that T-Mobile isn't considered one of the three big carriers, but it's my carrier and it would be easier on me than having to pay cancellation fees.
mimi @ Feb 29th 2008 5:18AM
It's already on T-Mobile in some places (not the US, unfortunately), so i can see it happening here eventually.
Apple hints at a lot of things. I don't think it's the prestige that people like so much, but the sense of mystery. You never really know what they're going to do next. :D
They really should just unlock the thing. I can understand why they don't, though; waiting until everyone possible has either switched to or signed up for AT&T, and then they go for everyone else. Probably in their contract that they get a certain number of people to sign up for AT&T or something, or if not, someone's got a bet going... (j/k)
I've considered putting my cell phone account on hold at T-Mobile (costs $10 a month; got only 5 months left) to switch, but I changed my mind, since I want to keep my number when I do finally leave.
Andrew @ Jun 5th 2008 5:05PM
Be warned- if T-Mobile's anything like Nextel an account hold will merely extend your contract by one month for each month held.
Try something like CellTradeUSA.com. It may be worth it seeing that you have to buy an iPhone anyway.