Analysts: Apple network doesn't make much sense
602447
(InfoWorld) - Google and Intel have already expressed interest in the forthcoming 700MHz spectrum auction. Now, speculators say Apple may throw its hat into the ring. TheÂ auctionÂ is creating a bit of a frenzy because the winner will obtain some of the last available prime spectrum, ideal for delivering broadband wireless Internet access. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) expects to auction it off next year. While Google has said that it may bid in the auction, Apple's participation is pure speculation, and analysts appear split on whether it makes sense for theÂ iPhoneÂ maker to become a network operator. Apple's entry into the carrier business, while interesting to speculate, is difficult to imagine since the company already has a "sweetheart deal" with AT&T, said Michael Gartenberg, an analyst with Jupiter Research. In an unusual arrangement for the mobile industry, Apple is thought to receive a portion of the monthly service revenue that AT&T earns from iPhone customers. AT&T is the iPhone's exclusive carrier. Gartner analyst Van Baker finds it "highly unlikely" that Apple would be interested in buying the spectrum. "It's a very different business than they're in, and it's not something they have a whole lot of expertise in," he noted. Apple could decide to partner with another company that has more experience in the mobile operator business, which could make more sense, Baker said. Still, the arrangement between Apple and AT&T looks beneficial to both companies, so there probably isn't a significant incentive for Apple to want to change that setup, especially because the operator business comes with "lousy margins," he said. However, Apple might have at least one good reason for wanting to operate a network, said Avi Greengart, an analyst with Current Analysis. "They do like to control the end-to-end experience," he said. While becoming a mobile operator would be a "tremendous stretch" for Apple, it wouldn't surprise Greengart if Apple was considering it. An Apple network would likely be very tightly integrated with Apple products and come with very simple pricing, he said. Such a strategy could have a ripple effect across the industry. Operators tend to watch what competitors are doing and make adjustments to their own strategies accordingly, he said. Greengart and the others cautioned that they hadn't heard directly from the company or other sources that Apple was considering the auction. "But they're pretty good about being tight-lipped," Greengart said. Apple is known for being very secretive, with big announcements leaking out only days in advance, if ever. BusinessWeek first reported on the rumor that Apple might be interested in the spectrum auction.
165936
With Apple releasing threats of 'bricked' iPhones and Amazon's music download service making its debut, Don Reisinger can't help but wonder if Apple is heading down a slippery slope.
204936
The technology world is split over whether Apple's foray into movie downloads will be a success.
289231
An analyst for JPMorgan Chase made headlines recently by saying Apple would soon release an iPhone resembling its nano media player.  One of his colleagues, however, disagrees.
211288
The long-rumored arrival of a  hybrid mobile phone and iPod music player from Apple Computer  Inc.  has morphed from a question of "If" to "When"  among fans and analysts.
373341
&quot;Rumord reports of a $500 Macintosh has got many industry watchers wondering how this will affect Apple&#39;s standing within the computing market place.
694942
SAN FRANCISCO - Apple Inc. said that almost one out of every six iPhones sold may have been unlocked to run on unauthorized wireless networks, surprising analysts who had estimated the problem wasn't as widespread.
458
Don Reisinger tackles Mac OS X Leopard and helps you decide if an upgrade is in order.  And while he can't stand "early and often" OS upgrades, his final recommendation may surprise you.
476280
TechWeb - Unlike Microsoft and other vendors, Apple doesn't rank or rate the vulnerabilities it patches, but about two-thirds of the bugs could result in an attacker hijacking an unpatched Mac.
526084
Numerous analysts and CIOs have said the iPhone should be kept out of enterprise networks because it lacks security features.
298992
Is Apple the Kathy Lee Gifford of the technology biz, or just another U.S. company hoping that its overseas manufacturers aren't engaging in labor violations? It's a more complicated question than many might think.
551401
With Apple releasing threats of 'bricked' iPhones and Amazon debuting its new music download service, Don Reisinger can't help but wonder if Apple is heading down a slippery slope.
357778
Analysts are alarmed at a perceived discrepancy in the figures in iPhone sales figures.
525361
A survey of Apple and AT&T stores finds they're not all the same when it comes to stocking and reserving the much-hyped gadget.
484007
TechWeb - Analysts speculate wildly about Apple's Tuesday announcement. One possibility: Apple will deliver a product to solve the entertainment industry's dilemma -- how to bridge the gap between the living room TV and the computer.
258622
After announcing record-breaking revenues and profits in its most recently concluded quarter, Apple saw its stock slide precipitously in trading today. Investors were spooked by smaller than expected forecasts, although analysts say the company's fundamentals are still sound.
28511
Apple Mac users are still not taking security issues seriously enough, according to a researcher.