Want the iPhone but don't want AT&T? Wait till 2012.
Submitted by Chad Shmukler on
USA Today reported in an article published today that AT&T has exclusive rights to the iPhone in the United States for a period of five years. That's right, FIVE years. Exclusivity agreements between mobile phone device manufacturers and service providers are nothing new, especially in the United States. That said, a 5 year exclusivity agreement is unheard of.
After approximately six months of FCC scrutiny, the Apple iPhone has gained FCC approval. This pending approval was the only known obstacle still standing in the way of Apple and AT&T putting iPhones on store shelves.