Will AT&T or Verizon Win w Apple iPhone 5? | Jeff Kagan Tech Analyst

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Jeff Kagan

Tech Analyst

     

This is it. This is the real test. This will answer the burning question we have all been pondering. Who will win with the new Apple iPhone 5, AT&T Mobility or Verizon Wireless?

AT&T has been selling this device over the last several years. Verizon just started this past spring in the middle of the season.

We were expecting to see a blowout from Verizon when they started several months ago, but that never happened.

There are many possible reasons for this delay. One is this was a mid season product and many users may wait for this next version. Perhaps they wanted to see how Verizon handled the pressure. There are also many users who will wait for their contract to expire.

Enough time has passed that this new introduction of the iPhone will be a great comparison between AT&T and Verizon.

I think we will see both carriers continue to sell more and be successful with the new iPhone. I don’t see AT&T losing all their iPhone customers. It just won’t happen.

Why? Many reasons including many users really like AT&T Mobility. Many travel and need international connectivity. Still others may prefer Verizon, but AT&T gives them better signal where they spend time.

On the other hand Verizon was expected to rip AT&T a new one in the spring. That didn’t happen. Why not? Are customers happy with their AT&T service or will this happen now with this new version?

I do expect Verizon Wireless to do a much stronger iPhone business with this new version. We are still halfway through the typical two-year contract period with AT&T so their sales should continue to get stronger going forward.

I would not be surprised to see these two carriers sell similar numbers taking the excitement out of watching them.

It will take several months to actually know. We’ll just have to be patient.

We’ll see. Either way this new Apple iPhone 5 will be a hot device, as it always is.

I’ll bet Sprint Nextel can’t wait to get their hands on it as well. And after Sprint Nextel, the next carrier and the next.

Before we know it we may be able to buy a iPhone hanging on the shelf in our local grocery store or gas station. Ok maybe not the gas station.

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These comments may be quoted in news stories.

Please attribute to Jeff Kagan, Tech Analyst with www.jeffKAGAN.com

If you would like to discuss, call me at 770-579-5810 or send an email to jeff@JeffKAGAN.com

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