Verizon scuppers Sprint iPhone, analyst claims he's 'heard'

Apple may have hatched a deal with Verizon under which T-Mobile and Sprint will be locked out of the sexy, beautiful iPhone everywhere post-ATT exclusive in the US next year, an analyst said.

I hasten to note that the analyst here is one Kaufman Bros., Shaw Wu, and I’ve noted that his analysis while widely reported is often incorrect. But here’s the story.

As reported by Apple 2, Wu reckons Verizon wanted to ensure T-Mobile and Sprint didn’t get the iPhone to boost its market position. Wu writes that he is”picking up that iPhone economics to Apple are likely to be favorable, similar to that offered by AT&T.”

Then he comes up with some weird remarks that iPhone economics could be less favorable given the strength of Android and component costs.

*Which will be why the iPhone already accounts for most of the revenue/profit in the smartphone sector*

“Last but not least,” he concludes, “we are hearing that VZ does not want iPhone, the hottest selling smart phone, available on T-Mobile USA and/or Sprint and may be willing to pay for exclusivity to itself and AT&T.”

Image: Via Fastcompany