The possibility that Apple might at
long last break its exclusivity with AT&T has been a dream ever
since the iPhone launched. The carrier has developed its own particular
brand of fail with service limitations (MMS, tethering), app
heavy-handedness (reputedly being behind Google Voice getting yanked)
and dropped call records broken daily.
Yet publicly both Apple
and AT&T have denied any rumors of a split and Cupertino even gave
the carrier a one year extension. Rumors continued to proliferate that
Apple was ready to jump ship for Verizon or at least to open up the
handset to other carriers. If new leaks are to be believed, there might
be some truth in this.