iphone Could Apple’s exclusive agreement with AT&T be even sweeter for Apple than we thought? Gene Munster, an analyst from Piper Jaffray, issued a report today stating that he believes Apple is receiving a portion of the monthly fees from AT&T’s iPhone data plans – on top of the revenues made from iPhone sales. Here’s how he believes it breaks down:

  • The report estimates that Apple receives approximately $3 a month from AT&T for each iPhone user
  • He also estimates Apple receives an additional $8 a month for new subscribers to AT&T thanks to the iPhone

Getting new subscribers to join a mobile network is perhaps one of the toughest challenges a mobile provider has to deal with so this deal might very well be true. According to a Piper survey performed a few weeks after the launch of the iPhone, 52 percent of iPhone buyers were new customers to AT&T. What a great way to get new people on board!

Keep in mind that these are all estimates – with nothing actually being confirmed by either company. Piper compiled this information based on the fact that AT&T has not lowered the cost of the iPhone through subsidies.

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