According to an analyst, AT&T and Apple probably have a deal in place that extends the mobile carrier’s exclusive deal with the iPhone in exchange for a heavily-discounted data plan pricing for the iPad.
His reasoning goes a little something like this: Apple hasn’t been happy with AT&T’s network performance for the iPhone. AT&T wanted to remain the exclusive U.S. carrier for the Apple phone, keeping it out of rival Verizon Wireless’ hands. So it offered a generous and recurring monthly data program for the iPad.
“AT&T had to do something dramatic to get the iPad,” says Brian Marshall of BroadPoint AmTech. He says AT&T’s move was to discount their normal wireless data plans by some 50% to entice iPad customers.
As part of the tit-for-tat, AT&T got what it wanted. “For that pricing [on the iPad], AT&T was able to negotiate a six-month extension on the iPhone exclusive,” Marshall said.
Most people had expected the AT&T-Apple deal to expire this summer, three years after the two companies first partnered on the iPhone. That would opened the door for Verizon to sell the iPhone later this year.
