AT&T iPhone Exclusivity extends to 2011

It appears that Verizon [VZ] are not going to be getting the Apple iPhone on their network this year thanks to Apple [AAPL] extending the exclusive agreement until the start of 2011.

Reasons for the extension are believed to be the way AT&T handled the Apple iPad 3G subscription charges and pricing structure.

The deal is claimed to have happened as follows…

AT&T had to do something dramatic to get the iPad. [AT&T’s negotiated a 50% discount on iPad data plans with Apple] For that pricing, AT&T was able to negotiate a six-month extension on the iPhone exclusive.

Ever since the launch of the Apple iPhone in the US a number of people have claimed that the exclusive agreement is coming to an end in X amount of months. It appears that this is the first time that we have actually got a date from them which now looks to be the beginning of next year. Is there anything else AT&T could to do get that contract to last a little longer? Verizon are probably hoping not as they were rumoured to be getting the iPhone this year sometime which now obviously won’t be happening.

Via: GearLive

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