Letters to the Editor
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Why AT&T?
Why do people keep asking why Apple signed the deal with the devil, AT&T? Here's Apple's point of view:
* Go it alone and attempt to start your own phone network: Too risky
* Verizon: Excellent network, but Verizon is going to want a hand in designing the phone and saying what it can do, what it can't do, how much it should be, etc. Verizon certainly doesn't want a phone that undercuts their $3 per song download business. Rumors have it that Apple approached Verizon first, but Verizon turned Apple down due to Apple's terms.
* Sprint: They're in even worse shape than AT&T.
* T-Mobile: Has a good solid network and are pretty liberal about what their phones can and can't do, but only where there actually is T-Mobile service. T-Mobile has the smallest network around, and their data network may be even slower than AT&T's.
* AT&T: Largest phone company in America, but need a boost in order to be competitive. AT&T will let Apple do whatever they want with the iPhone -- no questions asked. Heck, they didn't even know what the phone would look like until January.
So, it is a marriage of convenience, Apple found a partner that would give them almost complete freedom and AT&T found a way to attract new customers.