According to the latest rumors, AT&T’s exclusive iPhone deal will end this fall with T-Mobile coming on board as the second U.S. carrier instead of Verizon. Discussions between Apple and T-Mobile are said to be in an advanced state with a high likelihood that the deal will come together.
Word of the alleged negotiations comes from an unnamed source, according to Cult of Mac, that apparently is high in the T-Mobile food chain.
The notion that Apple would strike a deal with T-Mobile before Verizon goes against the popular idea that the Cupertino-based company is working to get its combination iPod and smartphone on the largest network in the U.S. Verizon’s subscriber base includes 92.8 million customers, while T-Mobile’s customer base numbers 33.7 million.
Bringing the iPhone to T-Mobile in the U.S. could potentially be an easier technical move for Apple. T-Mobile uses wireless technology that’s already at least partially compatible with the iPhone, where Verizon’s CDMA technology would require a redesigned model.
Deutsche Telekom (T-Mobile’s parent company) CEO Rene Obermann added some fuel to the rumor that T-Mobile will end AT&T’s exclusive iPhone deal. “T-Mobile USA is hoping to start selling the popular smartphone later this year or next year,” he said.
Apple and T-Mobile have not commented on the rumor.