Just a day after Business Insider reported that Apple is planning to become a wireless carrier by launching an MVNO, the iPhone-maker’s PR team is squashing the rumor.
“We have not discussed nor do we have any plans to launch an MVNO,” said an Apple spokeswoman in a statement provided Tuesday to Reuters.
According to the rumor, Apple was also in talks with European carriers to launch the service on the other side of the pond. “Apple is doing an MVNO” rumors have been popping up since before the iPhone even launched, but Apple hasn’t come any closer to actually becoming iPhone users’ carrier for data, texts and calls.
Launching an MVNO wouldn’t be a crazy idea for Apple. Google has started its own MNVO for Nexus 6 users, and Apple’s already done some groundwork for a great MVNO experience. The company pioneered the Apple SIM, which lets iPad Air 2 users sign up for any carrier, regardless of whether they have a physical SIM card from that company. Apple has reportedly been working with Samsung to make e-Sims the new standard on all carriers.
Buster Hein is a freelance writer who lives in Phoenix, Arizona. Twitter: @bst3r.
3 responses to “Apple claims it has no interest in becoming your carrier”
So do we blame Alex Heath for this?
there’s 1 reason and 1 reason only why Google started an MVNO and it doesn’t apply to Apple: OS security. supporting an MVNO is expensive, extremely limited with limited financial upside. unlike Google, Apple has full control of their devices on every carrier they’re featured on with zero carrier interference, allowing a better customer experience and timely OS updates.
Google naively gave that up to all carriers and trying to backpedal on that hasn’t worked, even in the limited scope of their Nexus lineup. as the pile of carrier abandoned Android devices grows in pace with carrier delays in pushing Android OS updates, Google had to do something and an MVNO is the only way for them to regain control over the update process.
a bonus reason: the networks with the best coverage also dont care to compete with their own networks, the result being most MVNOs operate on the T-Mobile and Sprint networks. neither is known in a positive light for rural coverage, building penetration, speed and capacity. MVNOs survive on being cheap, not great, something Apple would never aspire to.
but keep pushing the thought of seeing “Apple” in the upper left corner of your iPhone. it’s only been recycled for 8 years now.
“Just a day after Business Insider reported that Apple is planning to become a wireless carrier… the iPhone-maker’s PR team is squashing the rumor.”
Business Insider’s record of releasing specious information—especially about Apple—is only exceeded by BGR. If only Cult would check their sources thoroughly before posting… or simply wait. We don’t need such “scoops” this badly.