Craig Galbraith Blog: Verizon iPhone, Beyond the Hype: Apple Should Keep AT&T Exclusive

As speculation continues about the potential of an iPhone on the Verizon Wireless network in the near future – and T-Mobile, too, for that matter – few are looking past the hype to consider why another iPhone carrier wouldn’t be good for Apple.

Many signs in the past couple of months have pointed to an iPhone for Verizon in January. Many argue that Apple desperately needs a carrier due to the reputation of exclusive carrier AT&T’s wireless network, increasing competition from the Droid and other Android-based smartphones, etc. But when you consider some other factors, maybe Apple should avoid teaming up with Verizon or another carrier now, early next year, or at all.

Apple probably hopes that iPhone fans will get tired of waiting for another carrier, and just sign up with AT&T. It may be some time before the company feels hard-pressed to change this outlook. Yes, individual Droid phones have been selling well, but they’re not in the iPhone’s ballpark in terms of sales yet. And although the Android developer community is picking up steam, it has a long way to go to catch up to Apple’s.

Apple’s reputation might be taking a bit of a hit due to AT&T’s network issues, but what if Verizon or another wireless network experienced the same issues with heavy data usage? Adding another carrier might shift more of the blame off of AT&T and onto Apple.

Despite Apple’s struggles this year with product shortages, iPhone 4 leaks and the now-infamous ‘Antennagate,’ 93 percent of new iPhone owners recently said that they’re satisfied with their new toy. So if it ain’t broke – or if people don’t perceive that it’s broken – why fix it, now or in the near future?