T-Mobile UK to get an iPhone?
By Dusan Belic on Sunday, May 13th, 2007 at 1:54 AM PST In Apple, Devices, Rumors, T-Mobile, iPhone
Just as we thought that Orange and Vodafone (NYSE: VOD) are the only real contenders fighting for the iPhone rights in the UK, we have a new bit of information suggesting that T-Mobile (NYSE: DT) will most likely carry the Apple (NSDQ: AAPL)’s flagship device. It gets confusing.
According to an article on Marketing Week: “It is thought that the company has narrowed the European shortlist to Vodafone and T-Mobile, but sources say the Deutsche Telekom (NYSE: DT)-owned brand is the favorite to land the deal.”
Somehow, I don’t see this happening. Vodafone seems like a perfect fit for Apple, given the fact that they have the largest network. Still, Verizon (NYSE: VZ) is the largest carrier in the States, and it doesn’t get to carry the iPhone… (via: DarlaMack)
Just a note - VZW is not the “largest” carrier in the States. AT&T-Cingular has the most subscribers and about 3 or 4 carriers play with numbers to show they have the “largest” network.
DT-TMO would be the odd choice because their US arm isn’t the one getting it (the Voda-VZW situation doesn’t really apply here)
Well, Verizon actually turned down the iPhone - they were approached first. I agree with Dusan that Vodafone is likely to get the iPhone.
In terms of retail subscribers VZW is back on top, although this does not seem to include government contracts. This of course changes every quarter but I have not seen any new number being released. VZW turned it down due to negotiation issues, vodafone may do this as well just like T-Mo can too, or it may not…it really comes down to the terms on how Apple wants to do business, and as seen by the terms that were offered to VZW & the ones that AT&T has- Apple wants full control over the phone; where it sells, how much, what services it has, including the support (which might not be a bad idea. AT&T needed something like the iPhone in order not to become another Sprint-Nextel type merger (where the churn rate rises) or for AT&T to be followed by it’s previous reputation as a sub par carrier, so I was not surprised that they were able to come to an agreement with Apple. The point being that it really is up in the air as to who gets the phone until an agreement between carrier and manufacture arises, knowing Apple it will go with who ever gives them the most control.
“According to a market research made recently by IDC, Verizon is again the market leader with a total of 56.8 million subscribers, compared to Cingular’s 56.3 million.
“Verizon became the new market leader in terms of total direct retail subscribers/customers, with a total of 56.8 million, against 56.3 million for Cingular,†said IDC’s Julien Blin in a statement.
The market research firm said there were 236 million U.S. wireless subscribers at the end of 2006. Their data revenue totaled $4.8 billion in the fourth quarter and that figure represented 13.5% of the ARPU, or $6.74 a month. Also, Sprint earns more wireless data revenue per subscriber than any other carrier, with $8.32, regaining its lead over Verizon, which only has $7.91.
Via: Mobile Burn”
I spoke to a t-mobile operator yesterday because i wanted to leave them at the end of my contract at the end of the month. I told him the reason for this is that i want to move to O2 in order to get an iPhone.
He informed me that O2’s exclusivity runs out on the 1st of May 2009 and that T-Mobile are a front runner in the bid for the renewal. Only time will tell on this.