I don't think there is any chance Apple would build their own network. It would take, what, 5 years before they got decent national coverage? In the meantime the existing carriers would do everything they could to kill the iPhone.
Apple has various patents in this area and I remember reports of Jobs ready to go it alone if he had to. Makes more sense to deal with the carriers and let them do all of the marketing and distribution and just collect the profits for Apple. It wouldn't make sense to build out a network. But, they could easily buy one or more of the tower companies. Bam. Instant network (unless I am missing something). Not likely to do so but I think that Apple has the upper hand here. If they didn't, they never would have been able to arrange the lucrative deals they have in the first place. If the telecoms were indeed in control, they would have said, "Apple, go pound sand, we are going only sell Android and Windows phones." That never happened and I don't expect it ever will.
Another possibility is that Apple is already buckling to the pressure. Note the reduced prices across the large retailers. Something is going on there. I don't think it would happen under Jobs, but Cook is an unknown. You know, with the recent cut backs in prices, I am starting to think that Apple might get back on their June iPhone release schedule. From a marketing perspective, it would make sense and they could take the wind out of the Samsung sails. From a technical/manufacturing perspective, I don't see why it is not possible. Rumor was that there was an iPhone 5 phone almost ready to go when the iPhone 4S was released. They could pop this baby out this summer with some new Macs and then release a HDTV and maybe a smaller iPad later this year. "Plenty of products in the pipeline" Mr. Cook says. |
