You bought the PC, the iPod and all manner of peripherals, so how about
connecting your iPod phone through Apple's own mobile network? That is a future
which the company is exploring, according to US publication
Forbes.
Apple declined to comment, and most analysts polled today by
vnunet.com think that the speculation is
unlikely to be true.
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James Governor, co-founder of
Red Monk, said: "That's
really silly. It's feasible that Apple would become a virtual network operator
like Virgin, but it doesn't seem reasonable that it would pay to build a
network, and neither would it want to upset other mobile operators by doing so.
"But I could be wrong. After all, Apple is supposed to be
working with Motorola to develop a hybrid phone/iPod and
it has 70 per cent of the MP3 device market, so it could well have lofty
ambitions."
Tom Uhart, a partner at billing company
Nimbus Systems, told
vnunet.com: "If there is truth in this
rumour, it will be one to watch.
"Taking the iPod/iTunes business, Apple controls every part of the supply
chain including its significantly strong brand. Apple also manages the
relationship with the customer, which is direct. There is no intermediary."
Clem Chambers, chief executive at shares website
ADVFN, added: "Rumours
suggest that Apple may turn the iPod into a mobile phone. So why not expand iPod
into telecoms too? It's a huge market ripe for revolution.
"Can iPod gobble up the mobile handset market, or will handsets gobble up the
MP3 market? Only one thing is for sure: if anyone can do it, it's a rampant Ap
ple led by the brilliant Steve Jobs."
The Sunday Telegraph claimed last weekend that Apple will unveil the
first fruits of its relationship with Motorola at the
V music
festival on 20/21 August.
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