Apple Inc (AAPL)

[Tex]

re AT&T Laying Down the Law

I disagree. There's no sense to what Yager suggests. Why would Apple care if phones unattached to a carrier subsidy are sold locked or unlocked? To the extent an unlocked phone is more valuable to consumers and more in-demand and is capable of being sold to customers who hate AT&T, I'd think Apple would be all over the sale of unlocked phones.

The unlocked phone as a threat to Apple has been obsoleted with the end of Apple's dependence on carrier service payment sharing. The subsidy is actually an enormous risk mediator for Apple.

The unlocked international iPhone isn't a new threat by AT&T against Apple, as links from here demonstrate --
http://jadedconsumer.blogspot.com/2008/07/iphone-issues-at-or-just-issues-with.html

The iPhone's new program, in short, is a massive win for Apple and a great relief to those worried about Apple's ability to lock down phones. Phone lockdown in a post-revenue-sharing era is a who-cares issue to Apple. It only can increase unit sales and Apple-vended applications and online services. A huge win for Apple without any discernible benefit to AT&T.

Take care,
--Tex.