Apple vs. AT&T

As you may have heard, AT&T’s chief executive disclosed last week that the second version of the iPhone > will be coming next year. And most importantly, he said it’ll be 3G >.

Think of what that does to sales of the current version of the device — and right before the most important sales period for consumer electronics. How could this not have been deliberate? It obviously hurts AT&T as well, but not nearly as much as it hurts Apple.

I agree with others that there is some sort of major rift forming between these companies >. I am happy to see such a separation, and I hope it plays out sooner rather than later.

I want the iPhone on another carrier. I’m tired of AT&T, and I think Apple will do much better with the iPhone once they are able to explore other options. So, sure, HSDPA > will be nice on AT&T next year, but I’d rather have it riding Sprint’s EVDO >.

And I hope Apple and Google do team up and buy a crapload of the 700Mhz range. These are the two companies producing the most excitement in technology today.

Just think — iPhone riding the GNet making free VOIP calls. It think it’s obvious why AT&T might not like that picture so much.: