US Cellular turned down iPhone over financial risk
updated 02:40 pm EDT, Fri November 4, 2011
Carrier might still pick up iPhone in future
US Cellular was offered a chance to sell the iPhone, but decided to turn it down, according to CEO Mary Dillon. The executive revealed the information during a third-quarter results call. She elaborated that Apple's terms were "unacceptable from a risk and profitability standpoint," and claimed that network capacity was not an issue. US Cellular is open to selling the iPhone in the future, Dillon added.
Apple is infamous for imposing strict terms on iPhone carrier partners. Most recently Sprint disclosed that it's paying about 40 percent more than usual for iPhone customers, and that its deal with Apple will last for four years, only turning a profit in 2014. The agreement may already be proving beneficial though, as it has allegedly reversed a tide of subscriber loss to AT&T and Verizon.
Had it agreed to a contract, US Cellular would've only become the country's second regional iPhone carrier. The first was C Spire, which announced plans somewhat unexpectedly. There are now four US iPhone carriers in all, up from just one as little as a year ago.
Mac Elite
Joined: Jan 2000
Risk?
Good God man where have these idiots been these past few years? The iPhone is a runaway success and all the other carriers are happy as clams offering the iPhone.