Although it’s amusing to think of a scenario in which the Internet threw a hype party for the a device that never came, it would be a sucker bet indeed to gamble that Apple won’tl announce a tablet-like device on January 27th. That said, the Tablet can’t be the only thing Apple has up its sleeves for Wednesday, and Hot Hardware is claiming that the media event will herald another much anticipated announcement from Apple: the end of AT&T iPhone exclusivity in the United States.
The rumor comes by way of an anonymous source within AT&T. They don’t have any details about what carriers we can expect to see the iPhone on if carrier exclusivity does indeed end, but according to Hot Hardware’s source, this might actually be a welcome development for AT&T, since having iPhone exclusivity has essentially crippled AT&T’s underdeveloped 3G network, with no end in sight. Although the iPhone has made AT&T incredibly profitable, it’s also generated such extreme bad press that their recent advertising efforts have been almost solely dedicated to fighting off network attacks.
In short, ending iPhone exclusivity might not just be a welcome development for Apple, who could then double or even triple the numbers of iPhones they sell, but for AT&T, would be given more breathing room in upgrading their 3G network to cope with growing demand. It’s also a huge win for consumers, who will be able to choose their network and pay less for their service and their phones as network iPhone competition drives prices down. A win for everyone!
It’s an interesting rumor, but I’m not inclined to believe it, if only because of the timing: it seems like an announcement more likely to be made at Apple’s iPhone-oriented media events in June than as an afterthought announcement during the Tablet frenzy.
