14 DAY TRIAL // Usually, iPhone related reports talk about analysts and predictions and inferred facts. Despite rumors of this device breaking out every now and again for years now, it seems that everyone is still very much excited about it.
A recent ThinkSecret report on the iPhone is unlike the others, in that it touches on things that have little to do with the device itself. Apparently, according to their sources, "Apple and Cingular have signed an agreement that will make the US' largest cell phone provider the exclusive carrier of Apple's forthcoming phone".
Like all other such reports in the second half of this year, it places the release data in early 2007. This, however, is less interesting than the mentioning of the fact that the exclusive contract "is said to be good for the first six months, meaning other providers will be able to sell the phone in the second-half of 2007."
The report also mentions that Apple is in negotiations for the other parts of the world, regarding exclusive deals; however, this is more the domain of speculation with O2, who had the exclusive on the ROKR in Europe, being the most likely candidate for Europe.