Business Insider: ‘Apple in Talks to Launch an MVNO in the US and Europe’

James Cook, reporting for Business Insider:

Apple is in talks to launch a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) service in the US and Europe, Business Insider has learned.

Sources close to Apple say the company is privately trialling an MVNO service in the US but is also in talks with telecoms companies in Europe about bringing the service there too. […]

There is no guarantee Apple’s service will launch beyond a test phase, and if it does, it will not roll out anytime soon. Telecoms sources say Apple is looking long-term with its MVNO and could take at least five years to fully launch the service. Apple has been in talks with telecoms companies for years over its MVNO plans, those sources say, adding that it’s an “open secret” among carriers that a virtual Apple network is on the way.

Dave Wiskus asks:

If Apple becomes a wireless carrier, what would the phone say for carrier in the status bar?

★ Monday, 3 August 2015