Verizon Wireless Inc. and Apple Inc. are reportedly in talks that could result in the carrier offering iPhones as early as next year.
USA Today reported that "high-level" discussions between Verizon (NYSE:VZ) and Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) began before CEO Steve Jobs went on medical leave. The paper cited sources it said are familiar with the situation but declined to be identified.
Vodaphone, a Verizon-owned company, already offers the iPhone in Europe but AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) offers it exclusively in the United States. AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson said last week that his company wants to extend its exclusive deal with Apple.
Verizon is scheduled to report its first quarter earnings on Monday.
AT&T reported a first-quarter profit drop of 9.7 percent from a year ago, but its net income of of $3.1 billion, or 53 cents a share, beat analyst expectations. Revenue was $30.6 billion, compared to $30.7 billion in the quarter a year earlier.
Those earnings were powered by a 40 percent increase in wireless data sales and the activation of 1.6 million iPhone 3G devices.
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