Apple In Talks To Launch Its Own Wireless Carrier

It looks like Apple could very well be about to launch their very own wireless carrier. This would see them follow in the footsteps of Google Project Fi who have already launched their own mobile virtual network operator, or MVNO as it is more commonly known. According to a new report that we have read, the Cupertino company run by Tim Cook is currently in talks with partners over the possibility of effectively operating as its own carrier with operations in the United States and various European territories, thanks to deals with existing suppliers in those areas.

For those of your who don’t really understand all the terminology, an MVNO is essentially a virtual mobile network that allows technology companies, like Apple or Google, to purchase network space from existing and established mobile networks. The companies who have purchased said space would then create and market their own carrier packages with the intention of selling the service directly to consumers. In Apple’s case we are assuming that the carrier package would be sold alongside its own hardware. It is perhaps a great way of offering a full-stack experience that all comes under one brand name.

In Apple’s case, rather than a person buying a device from them and then paying a monthly fee to the likes of AT&T, the whole thing would be converged. Customers with an iPhone or cellular iPad would be able to get everything from Apple. They would pay Apple directly for any data sent and received, or fan any text or voice call bundles that they wished to receive. Apple would have their very own SIM which would be where all the magic would lie and it would also be able to automatically handle switching between the available networks that Apple had partnerships with.

The report sounded very promising indeed and they are also reporting that rather than this just being something that Apple is thinking about, they are actually in the process of trialling the service at present. This is in fact something that has been speculated about for quite some time and discussions with telecom companies has supposedly been going on for a number of years already. It could take another four or five years before Apple’s virtual network does make an appearance though.

Google’s Project Fi is currently available for the Nexus 6 in the United States so it does make perfect sense for Apple to be considering this also especially when you take into consideration that the company filed a patent for an MVNO back in 2006. There has been no official word from Apple as yet but we are hoping that this report proves to be true. What do you think? Would you like to see Apple have its own MVNO? Let us know in the comments below.