AT&T doesn’t plan to let the goose with the golden eggs fly away that easily. The wireless carrier is in talks with Apple to extend the partnership for the exclusivity on the iPhone for another couple of years. 

 

The iPhone 3G has been more than a success within customers. Since it launched the revolutionary smartphone in 2007, Apple sold approximately 17 million units all around the world. AT&T had exclusivity to sell the iPhone in the United States and benefited from that partnership a lot. However, the deal of exclusivity expires next year and AT&T now plant to convince Apple to extend the partnership until 2011. 

 

The partnership with Apple was very benefic for AT&T so far and there are no reasons to think it would be different in the near future. AT&T added 4.3 million subscribers in the second half of 2008 and 40% of those were new to the carrier.     

 

According to some media reports, the executives of the two companies already met and may reach a deal. According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, AT&T’s Chief Executive Randall Stephenson and Apple executives are about to agree on an extension of the partnership until 2011.

 

However, Apple may also consider another option: selling the iPhone through other carriers as well. This would result in a deeper penetration of the market by the smartphone that already is surrounded by a cult.