Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Is Apple Testing the Waters for an Unsubsidized iPhone Push?






According to businessweek There may be more to Apple’s new deal with Leap Wireless than meets the eye. Apple could be using Leap through its Cricket Wireless brand as a guinea pig carrier to test if American consumers are ready to pay full price for their iPhones, according to BTIG analyst Walter Piecyk. If that’s the case, the implications could be enormous: Apple could shed the mortal coil of the operators and start selling its iconic smartphone directly to consumers.

Apple already offers unsubsidized iPhones in the Apple Store and through other sales channels, but it’s hardly the focus of its strategy. Apple’s primary sales channel is the carriers, which absorb much of the cost of the device up front. In exchange, the carriers lock subscribers into long-term contracts and ultimately charge their customers higher voice and data rates to recoup those subsidies….

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