Verizon wireless is getting the 8800 in the second Q way ahead of what is expected of a CDMA carrrier, Apple's "rich financial terms" and other demands were the primary reasons that Verizon Wireless, the No. 2 cellphone carrier in the US, passed on the chance to be the exclusive distributor of the iPhone almost two years ago.
The USA Today reported that Apple wanted a percentage of the monthly cellphone fees as well as a say over how and where iPhones could be sold. This hints at just how much Apple was, and remains today, in the driver's seat when it came to a potential iPhone deal. While Cingular does have a multi-year exclusive deal with Apple to sell the device, Apple has been responsible for defining the phone's specifications, setting the price, and building the user interface. Apple is also responsible for the decision to not allow any 3rd party applications to be installed on the iPhone, as well as the decision to not include 3G data support in the initial iPhone. The fact that there will only be only on-screen AT&T or AT&T/Cingular branding, and no such markings on the exterior of the iPhone, also shows that this really is Apple's baby, and that Cingular is just happy to have been invited to tag along for the ride.
The contract covers "all models" of the iPhone, including several other devices in the works that may be "coming out very quickly," Lurie said. His comment addressed in part a criticism that the iPhone doesn't use Cingular's new high-speed HSDPA network.
That isn't true worldwide, as Cingular only exists in the US. Apple is free to seek other partners for global distribution, he said. And Apple is also free to build other iPods without phone capability that won't be sold through Cingularxxx8212;though he was unclear on whether a Wi-Fi only version of the iPhone would fall under Cingular's thumb.
Apple CEO Steve Jobs insisted that he have hard control over iPhone distribution as well as sole discretion on warranty and replacement issues.
Getting the calculators out ...If Apple only makes a one-time profit of $50 per unit, and never another cent in the future, we're talking $1.25 billion in profits in 2007. According to Yahoo finance, their trailing 12 months earnings are $1.88 billion -- so if these projections are accurate, this could mean a 66% increase in earnings due to the iPhone!
Saying all this because of earnings RIM
must start selling future BB across all carriers equally... if not ...
and Come with the 9xxx series before the end of 2007 anything that comes after the iPhone will look outdated (interface, etc.) RIM has to impress everyone.