Analyst Predicts the iPhone Will Soon Be Available from Multiple U.S. Carriers

The Apple iPhone has been exclusively available from AT&T in the U.S. since it launched back in 2007. But if a market analyst is correct, that could change in the next 12 months.

Gene Munster, a senior analyst with Piper Jaffray, has issued a research note predicting that Apple will allow additional carriers to offer its smartphone by the summer of next year.

He is basing this on Apple's move in France, where the company opened the iPhone up to multiple carriers and saw its market share rise "dramatically". Its share in that country is now around 40%, while in the U.S., where the iPhone is available from only one wireless carrier, it's around 15%.

Who Else?
Munster doesn't predict what other carrier might get the iPhone, but there have been persistent rumors that Apple has been in talks with Verizon Wireless for some time. 

If Verizon did pick up Apple's smartphone, a special version would have to be created for it -- this carrier uses the CDMA wireless standard, not GSM like the current version.

Apple isn't planning on breaking its exclusivity contract with AT&T. According to unconfirmed reports, this contract expires next year.

Source: Piper Jaffray via AppleInsider