“Apple’s next huge move isn’t into the television or banking industries according to one expert,” Zach Epstein reports for BGR.
“Instead, Apple will take on carriers like AT&T and Verizon Wireless by becoming a direct mobile service provider,” Epstein reports. “Veteran wireless industry strategist Whitey Bluestein, who has managed strategic deals for the likes of AT&T, Intel, T-Mobile, Verizon, Microsoft, Nokia and Best Buy, says Apple will soon begin to offer wireless service directly to iPhone and iPad users.”
Epstein reports, “Apple has the distribution channels, digital content portfolio and customer base to make the move, Bluestein says, and it also has more than 250 million credit cards on file for iTunes users who could be billed directly for wireless service. ‘The battleground is set, but Apple will be the first mover,’ Bluestein said while speaking at the Informa MVNO Industry Summit in Barcelona. ‘Google will have to scramble because it lacks retail distribution, experience with subscriber services and the iTunes ecosystem of content. iTunes and the iTunes Store provide Apple with one-click buying and customer care…'”
Read more in the full article here.
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I don’t see this happening. How much does ATT actually make on a contract after paying Apple the subsidy?
A really nice mind fart Zach, but you should lay off of the sauce, it clouds your take on reality.
“The battleground is set,…”
No it’s not. It’s all in ur mind.
Apple will take on carriers like AT&T and Verizon Wireless by becoming a direct mobile service provider
RECYCLED RUMOR!
I read this rumor years ago. I read this rumor last month! And here it is back again.
AUGUST SYNDROME ALERT! <-Author on vacation! Emailed it in to work!
They could try making a breakthrough new worldwide satellite service. That would be neat. Am I missing something that makes this impossible? If they could have unlimited access for internet and phone service for a fair price I’m in.
The 2 satellite internet services I’ve seen so far are horrendous given their microscopic data limits.
I have often argued that Apple needs to provide the mobile service because that removes one huge weak point in the customer experience.
Howeve it’s hard to see how they can do that using existing systems as there are too many constraints. My guess is that Apple will need to identify the next big thing in mobile communications and get in at the beginning. They will also need to do it globally too.
The only problem I see with this is that the multiple iPhones on my plan all have contract maturity dates that are far apart from each other.
Make it cost the same or less to transition one phone at a time, and I’ll jump aboard.